Synopses & Reviews
Have you stopped believing in happily ever after?Women today are settling for less than we want when it comes to men, relationships, sex, and marriage. But we dont have to, argues Elizabeth Kantor. Jane Austen can show us how to find the love we really want.
In The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After, Kantor reveals how the examples of Jane Austen heroines such as Elizabeth Bennett, Elinor Dashwood, and Anne Elliot can help us navigate the modern-day minefields of dating, love, relationships, and sex. By following in their footsteps—and steering clear of the sad endings suffered by characters such as Maria Bertram and Charlotte Lucas—modern women can discover the path to lifelong love and true happiness.
Charged with honesty and humor, Kantor's book includes testimonies from modern women, pop culture parallels, the author's personal experiences and, of course, a thorough examination of Austen's beloved novels.
Featuring characters and situations from all of Jane Austens books (including unfinished novels, and stories not published in her lifetime), The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After tackles the dating and relationship dilemmas that we face today, and equips modern women to approach our love lives with fresh insights distilled from the novels:
- Dont be a tragic heroine
- Pursue Elizabeth Bennets rational happiness” —learn what it is, and how you can find it
- Dont let cynicism steal your happy ending
- Why its a mistake to look for your soul mate”
- Jane Austens skeleton keys to a mans potential
- How you should deal with men who are afraid of commitment” (from Jane Austens eight case studies)
- Learn how to arrange your own marriage—by falling in love the Jane Austen way
Review
Praise for The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever AfterWhat a wonderful book! Elizabeth Kantor writes with immense sense and sensibility about how single young women in todays confusing world can find happiness by applying the principles of Jane Austen. I feel certain that Jane Austen would appreciate this witty and authentic take on her work, unlike so many wrong-headed pop interpretations one gets these days. I am heartily recommending this delightful and original book even to my more mature friends who are no longer looking for a single young man. Lovely writing.”
Charlotte Hays, senior fellow at the Independent Womens Forum and bestselling co-author of Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral and Somebody Is Going to Die if Lilly Beth Doesnt Catch That Bouquet: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Wedding
Review
Praise for The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever AfterWhat a wonderful book! Elizabeth Kantor writes with immense sense and sensibility about how single young women in todays confusing world can find happiness by applying the principles of Jane Austen. I feel certain that Jane Austen would appreciate this witty and authentic take on her work, unlike so many wrong-headed pop interpretations one gets these days. I am heartily recommending this delightful and original book even to my more mature friends who are no longer looking for a single young man. Lovely writing.”
Charlotte Hays, senior fellow at the Independent Womens Forum and bestselling co-author of Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral and Somebody Is Going to Die if Lilly Beth Doesnt Catch That Bouquet: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Wedding
"A thorough analysis of love and dating through the eyes of Jane Austen, sure to spark discussions and provide a lot of food for thought. If you need a fresh perspective on love, start here."
Lori Smith, author of A Walk with Jane Austen and The Jane Austen Guide to Life
In The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After Elizabeth Kantor asks, Can we have Jane Austen-style elegance, dignity, and happy love only at the cost of modern freedom and equality? The answer is yes if, like Austens heroines, we approach romance with a rational balance to sex and love and work hard on all our relationships, not just the romantic ones. The Guide is filled with information and advice gleaned from Jane Austens novels. Case studies of major male characters examine their commitment phobias, and close scrutiny of Janes clear-eyed heroines reveals how they get love exactly right. This book is packed with information that had me thinking about Jane Austens novels in a new light. One thing is for certain: The reader will gain a new perspective on how to approach modern romance from one of the world's most famous regency spinsters!”
Vic Sanborn, author of the Jane Austens World and Jane Austen Today blogs
"Influenced by the master of love and romance, Elizabeth Kantors wise, witty, and insightful advice book should be added to Mr. Darcys reading list for any truly accomplished woman. It will transform you into the heroine of your own life.”
Laurel Ann Nattress, author of Austenprose A Jane Austen Blog” and editor of Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literatures Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart
"This book would have helped me avoid a few broken hearts for sure! Kantor teaches you how to guard your emotions in an independent, sophisticated, and empowered way through Jane Austens works. She offers timeless wisdom for the modern woman, and most importantly, encourages us to take our relationships seriously."
Amy Bonaccorso, author of How to Get to "I Do"
Synopsis
Women today are settling for less than what we want when it comes to men, relationships, sex, and marriage. But we dont have to, argues author and editor Elizabeth Kantor. We can have the relationships, love, and happiness we truly deserve, just by asking ourselves one simple question: What would Jane Austen do?
In her new book, The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After, Kantor shows how Austen heroines such as Elizabeth Bennett, Elinor Dashwood, and Anne Elliot can teach us how to navigate the modern-day minefields of dating, love, relationships, and sex. By following these heroines' examplesand steering clear of the examples set by Austens tragic characters such as Maria Bertram and Charlotte LucasKantor reveals the path to lifelong love and true happiness. Featuring relationships, characters, and situations from all of Jane Austens books, The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After tackles the dating and relationship dilemmas women face today, including:
- Settling for lesswhy lifelong love and happiness depend on NOT settling for less and how you can avoid doing so
- Figuring out his intentions and how to exit a situationwith your pride intactif hes just not that into you”
- Handling commitment-phobes and why waiting for a guy to commit is much better than waiting for guy to be ready to commit
- Friendshipwhy being a good friend now will help you be a better mate and wife down the road
Complete with Tips for Janeites,” ways to Adopt an Austen Attitude,” and What Would Jane Do” callouts, The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever is the perfect book for Jane Austen enthusiasts or women searching for lifelong love and true happiness.
About the Author
Elizabeth Kantor is author of
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to English and American Literature and an editor for Regnery Publishing. She earned her Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. in philosophy from Catholic University of America. Kantor has taught English literature and written for publications ranging from National Review Online to the
Boston Globe. An avid Jane Austen fan, she is happily married and lives with her husband and son in Gaithersburg, Maryland.