Synopses & Reviews
Covering many aspects of Jane Austen's life, works and historical context, this collection of essays provides the most complete one volume introduction to her life and times. The generously illustrated collection of concise contributions is arranged alphabetically, and covers topics ranging from biography to portraits, critical responses to translations, agriculture to transport. An essay on the reception of Austen's work is also included, showing how criticism of Austen has responded to literary movements and fashions.
Review
"Jane Austen deserves, and here gets, the reward of other people's skillful work on her little bit of ivory, two inches wide.... The Cambridge Edition justifies its claim to the 'the first ever scholarly edition of the works of Jane Austen', and is a fine tribute to her for the twenty-first century."
-Jane Austen Society Newsletter
Synopsis
A lively illustrated collection of short essays on a wide range of aspects of Austen's life, work and times.
Synopsis
Jane Austen in Context is a generously illustrated collection of short, lively contributions arranged alphabetically. It covers topics from biography to portraits and translations, and from agriculture to transport. Essays on the reception of the novels show how criticism has responded to literary movements and fashions, and how Jane Austen, once a minority taste, has become one of the most popular and most often quoted writers in English. This is a work of reference that readers and scholars will turn to again and again.
About the Author
Janet Todd is Herbert J. C. Grierson Professor of English at the University of Aberdeen.
Table of Contents
Preface Janet Todd; Chronology Deirdre Le Faye; Part I. Life and Works: 1. Biography Jan Fergus; 2. Composition and publication Kathryn Sutherland; 3. Language Anthony Mandal; 4. Letters Deirdre Le Faye; 5. Literary influences Jane Stabler; 6. Memoirs and biographies Deirdre Le Faye; 7. Poetry David Selwyn; 8. Portraits Margaret Kirkham; Part II. Critical Fortunes: 9. Critical responses, early Mary Waldron; 10. Critical responses, 1830-1970 Nicola Trott; 11. Critical responses, recent Rajeswari Sunder Rajan; 12. Cult of Jane Austen Deidre Lynch; 13. Publishing history David Gilson; 14. Sequels Deidre Lynch; 15. Translations Valerie Cossy and Diego Saglia; Part III. Historical and Cultural Context: 16. Agriculture Robert Clark and Gerry Dutton; 17. Book production James Raven; 18. Cities Jane Stabler; 19. Consumer goods David Selwyn; 20. Domestic spaces Claire Lamont; 21. Dress Antje Blank; 22. Education and accomplishments Gary Kelly; 23. Food Maggie Lane; 24. Landownership Chris Jones; 25. Landscape Alistair M. Duckworth; 26. Literary scene Richard Cronin; 27. Manners Paula Byrne; 28. Medical theories John Wiltshire; 29. Money Edward Copeland; 30. Nationalism and empire Warren Roberts; 31. Pastimes Penny Gay; 32. Philosophy Peter Knox-Shaw; 33. Politics Nicholas Roe; 34. Professions Brian Southam; 35. Psychology John Mullan; 36. Rank Tom Keymer; 37. Reading practices Alan Richardson; 38. Religion Michael Wheeler; 39. Trade Markman Ellis; 40. Transport Pat Rogers; Select bibliography.