I devoured this. Jane’s back story is told by Lucy Worsley in vivid prose and a compassionate manner. We meet not only Jane but her family, extended relations and the connections she made throughout her (too short) life that helped to shape her novels. Jane's frustrations with her situation, the displacement she felt from being kicked out of her home and her unfailing sense of humour about the whole 'Vile' business of life make for a compelling read. There are also lots of interesting snippets. Such as how Jane and her sister wore pattens to protect their shoes from the mud (wooden overshoes held on with an iron ring). How much Jane received for her first published novel £10 (which equates to £900 today). How her father actively encouraged her writing, bought her a writing desk, created a room for her to write and approached publishers for her. I liked Worsley's personal involvement in the story too, like she was discovering interesting things about Jane as she researched, and her enthusiastic interjections give an immediacy to the narrative. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves Jane Austen and her novels and wants to learn more about her life.
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As a writer and a woman and a carer, this history book was perfect. Well researched, well written... overall excellent. So good I bought a paperback copy for my mum.
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Very enjoyable biography of Jane Austen, especially to read after her books.
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Lucy Worsley has written an excellent and very readable book about the life and homes of Jane Austen. She has researched the details of Jane’s life from the contemporary evidence still available and backed this up with her own belief and understanding of Jane Austen’s importance in the development of the novel as an art form and mirror to the world of the Georgians. I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the author of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma and the other books in the canon of works by this great author. You will be both surprised and delighted by the level of personal detail concerning Jane’s daily life that Lucy Worsley has included as well as saddened by the plight of Jane and her female relatives at the manner in which their lives played out in the largely masculine world of the time. This is a ‘tour de force’ which should be in the reading list of anyone who has either read the books or watched the film adaptations.
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There are numerous books about Jane Austen’s novels and excellent biographies of her life, therefore no publisher would want to publish yet another one. This book takes a different approach looking at her life through the places she lived and how her life was shaped as a member of the pseudo-gentry. The reader gains an insight into how little control Jane possessed over her life, being passed to different relatives in search of a marriage partner. How money and the lack of it, affected her independence and how little money she made even from her most celebrated works.
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Having watched all of Bridgerton, I veered off in the direction of Jane Austen. This book is a fabulous companion to have, filling in the background social history with a biography of Jane. I was sad to finish the book, Lucy has such insight into Jane, her trials as a writer and a spinster and a thorough appreciation of the novels, she has done Jane proud!
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Worsley writes well and knows how to make a story out of her material. She is strong on the fact that Jane, her mother and sister all lived on the breadline quite a lot. The brothers could have helped more but didn't and then later they papered over the cracks and made it all a lot more genteel than it was. Worsley winkles this out.
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The author took up an interesting angle to Jane Austen's life by identifying her various homes and telling us what was going on in her life while she lived in each one of them. It gives a much more rounded and tangible impression of the woman, often through letters to her family that are rarely quoted. I came away with a far better understanding of the woman that her family tried so hard to fit into a "respectable" mold.
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There are many, many bios of Jane Austen, all with their own angle on her life and personality. Some are dull as ditchwater. Some are just plain biased in one way or another. This one? This one is fun , friendly and searchable….. and includes, in several places, the phrase, “ Jane Austen was joking! “ That is something that needs to be said far more often about this enigmatic genius. It also firmly plants her in her own domestic environment, with the chapters based around the homes and regions where she lived. If you can only afford one Austen bio, this is worth considering!
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I love Lucy Worsley - her documentaries and books. They are always very informative and entertaining. This book is no exception. It flows well and gives us a lot of information about Jane Austen, her life, family and friends. I was totally engrossed by the book.
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Livre neuf dont la première page est déchirée. Déçue surtout quand on voit le coût de la livraison désormais (ce n’était pas le seul article commandé, et en plus de cela, il me manque un autre article…).
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This book provides a very interesting insight into Jane Austen, her books and of course the homes where she lived. A must for any Austen fans. It’s easy to read and very enjoyable.
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I love the way Lucy Worsley writes about Jane Austen's life. I learn a lot of things and honestly, I heard her voice when I was reading!
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