The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret C. Sullivan

August 26, 2014     erinbook     Book review

The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret C. Sullivan


Release Date: January 1, 2007
Publisher: Quirk Books
224 Pages
Received: Finished copy from publisher
Format: Hardcover


Rating: 

Description: What would Jane do?
Every young lady dreams of a life spent exchanging witty asides with a dashing Mr. Darcy, but how should you let him know your intentions? Seek counsel from this charming guide to Jane Austen’s world. Its step-by-step instructions reveal the practicalities of life in Regency England, including sensible advice on:
– How to behave at your first ball
– How to ride sidesaddle
– How to decline an unwanted marriage proposal
– How to improve your estate
– How to throw a dinner party
and much more. Offering readers a glimpse into day-to-day life in Jane Austen’s time, The Jane Austen Handbook is the perfect companion for fans of her novels and their film adaptations, complete with detailed information on love among the social classes, currency, dress, and nuances of graceful living.
Review: Oh hey, it’s Austen in August! So let’s talk Austen and the era that people have fallen so in love with through her novels. The Regency period was set apart by the many rules and conventions that permeated every day life. Ever wondered why the girls couldn’t inherit Longbourn is Pride & Prejudice? Perhaps you want to know how to become an “Accomplished lady” by Regency standards.  What did it really mean to marry well? How in the heck does someone ride sidesaddle? This book explains these and more.
I’ve been an Austen fan for a very long time but there were still things in this book that I didn’t know. There’s a lot to know about the world Austen wrote about that just isn’t as obvious in a cursory read of her books. Certainly the world of the uppercrust is much more complicated and requires much more savvy than even her books show.
 Now just so you all know, this book is directed mostly towards women. It covers women’s roles and concerns during this time, with only a few asides that cover male clothing, manners, etc… I did find it disappointing that there wasn’t more concerning men and the politics that they navigated just as well as the women had to to survive.
Fans of Austen should add this book to their library, I doubt many others would care enough to read the book all the way through. The book is an excellent companion to your Austen library, complete with pictures and colored text (for people who are attracted by that sort of thing). Another excellent Quirk title!
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2 responses to “The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret C. Sullivan

    • Have you watched any of the movie adaptations of her novels? There's some really good ones out there. I hope you pick up this book, it's a good read! Thanks for visiting.

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