Jane Austen Handbook [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

However stuffy that may sound (except to Austen fans of course), stuffy it is not! This is a light-hearted, often hilarious read packed with genuine guidelines and advice. Each chapter presents the correct conduct and unspoken social rules for differing occasions which make it very easy to look up a particular subject at the drop of hat. So many of the topics are still relevant and useful today ('How to get rid of unwanted guests'), some are what should be relevant today ('How to become known as a valuable neighbour') and others are full of amusing facts, some of which I did not previously know (Why Regency ladies usually did not wear underwear!)Between chapters are pages of fascinating information such as who influenced fashion's of the era and the hierarchy of the social order.The appendix are thorough and helpful; my favourite of which is the glossary of terms from the era which is quite invaluable for truly understanding the details of Regency life and Jane Austen novels.If you are enjoying Jane Austen novels, films and the Regency era for the first time or if you would like to know more than you already do then this book is 'must have'. If you are a long time Austen fan then you may not benefit from every bit of knowledge packed into this book but you will still enjoy the playful way so much of it is written....Vintage Lifestyle, May, 2011---Excellent, compcat, informative andsurprisigly relevant to today...a superb companion to the Regency world, and fans of Jane Austen's works... --Hampshire Society, April, 2011

To start with, it is a pleasure to be holding a book with a hard cover and with a glimpse of the brown and cream page binding at the top and bottom of the spine. It gives the reader the interesting, pleasurable knowledge that this is a sewn binding in the old style. Kindle can give us the effect, on its screen, of real paper but this book, solid and sharp cornered, is the real thing, an object with weight, a valued, well made artefact nice to hold. Having it in your hands is a pleasure to experience.I love the contents pages divided into sections and then all the different article headings within each section beginning with,'How to...' There is something poetic in the repetition of these opening two words followed by an assertive verb.Yes, the contents are a pleasure to read in themselves and could be read out with passion, emphasise and feeling at any live poetry night, at my local pub anyway... I think the sections at the back of the book are excellent. There is a very thorough and detailed index, a good glossary covering many words and terms. There is a good bibliography and resources list. These end sections will give the Jane Austen, and 18th century student a good starting point in a life long exploration. Who do I think this book would be a good buy for? My daughter Emily is just completing her A levels before she goes to university next year. Some of her friends are doing A level English literature. This book would give them an excellent background and springboard into the life of Jane, her characters and the world of the 18th century. It would be an ideal companion to anybody beginning to read Jane Austen. They would be able to get their compass bearings set on a true course ---Jane Austen's World, June, 2011-The book's organization is clear and the information easy to find. As a reference it is accurate, but it is written with gentle humor and with an easy style that makes it a joy to read. The Jane Austen Handbook: Proper Life Skills from Regency England is equally helpful to the Jane Austen neophyte as to the seasoned Janeite. I highly recommend it. --Janeits, April, 2011

"The Jane Austen Handbook" is an elegant, literary extension of Quirk's very successful handbook series. This charmingly illustrated book not only provides step-by-step instructions for navigating the travails of Regency manners, it also acts as a companion to present-day readers and filmgoers, explaining the ins and outs of the class system, currency, dress, and nuances of graceful living.