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  • What Matters in Jane Austen

  • Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved
  • By: John Mullan
  • Narrated by: Paul Collins
  • Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (6 ratings)

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What Matters in Jane Austen

By: John Mullan
Narrated by: Paul Collins
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Publisher's Summary

Which important Austen characters never speak? Is there any sex in Austen? What do the characters call one another, and why? What are the right and wrong ways to propose marriage? In What Matters in Jane Austen?, John Mullan shows that we can best appreciate Austen's brilliance by looking at the intriguing quirks and intricacies of her fiction. Asking and answering some very specific questions about what goes on in her novels, he reveals the inner workings of their greatness.

In 20 short chapters, each of which explores a question prompted by Austen’s novels, Mullan illuminates the themes that matter most in her beloved fiction. Listeners will discover when Austen's characters had their meals and what shops they went to; how vicars got good livings; and how wealth was inherited. What Matters in Jane Austen? illuminates the rituals and conventions of her fictional world in order to reveal her technical virtuosity and daring as a novelist. It uses telling passages from Austen's letters and details from her own life to explain episodes in her novels: listeners will find out, for example, what novels she read, how much money she had to live on, and what she saw at the theater.

Written with flair and based on a lifetime's study, What Matters in Jane Austen? will allow listeners to appreciate Jane Austen's work in greater depth than ever before.

©2012 John Mullan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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For die-hard Austen fans

It is often said by Jane Austen fans that they discover something new with each re-reading of an Austen novel. Just how much is lurking in the text for the discerning reader to discover is revealed in John Mullan's book. Mullin goes way beyond the obvious plot themes of marriage, money, and misunderstandings to examine nuances and hints within the text. He also provides historical and social contexts as well as insight into Austen's personal views by referring to her letters and other documents. It's a fascinating read which prompts me to re-read the novels with an eye to the subtleties Mullan has pointed out, and things which would have been obvious to Austen readers 100 to 200 years ago but which pass the modern reader by. This is not a book for the Austen novice - it would make little sense to anyone not very familiar with all of the Austen novels. Narrator Paul Collins' narration may be too much for some listeners, he's certainly not easy on the ear. Although he has a pleasant voice and accent, his narration totally lacks emotion and brought to my mind a nervous elocution student reading to his teacher in stilted fashion to demonstrate his mastery of pronunciation.

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Great romp through Austen

I really loved this look at Jane Austen’s work, Mullan is deeply knowledgeable and a fun writer. I would have loved a bit more in depth criticism as well as this more light hearted analysis. I would have dearly loved to have John Mullan read this himself - he is an entertaining and engaging speaker and I was looking forward to his reading of his own work! I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others interested in looking at Austen’s work more closely.

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