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Deirdre Le Faye

Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels Paperback – 1 Sept. 2003

by Deirdre Le Faye (Author)

64 ratings

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With a wealth of fascinating details about Jane Austen’s life and times, this book brings to life the world of her novels. Austen scholar Deirdre Le Faye first gives a meticulously researched overview of the period, from foreign affairs to social ranks, from fashion to sanitation. She goes on to consider each novel individually, explaining in detail its action, its setting, the reaction of public and critics and Jane’s own feeling about it. The lavish illustrations, many never seen before, allow the reader to visualize the places and people of the novels.

This book is essential reading for students of literature and of social history, and for all Jane Austen enthusiasts who want to gain a new insight into her work.

Reading age

10 - 14 years
Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Dimensions

14.76 x 2.06 x 21.11 cm
Publisher

Frances Lincoln
Publication date

1 Sept. 2003
ISBN-10

0711222789
ISBN-13

978-0711222786
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Product description

About the Author

DEIRDRE LE FAYE is an expert on Jane Austen, and the author of several books about her, including the definitive biography Jane Austen: A Family Record for the British Library, and a completely new edition of Jane Austen’s Letters (OUP). She lives in Portishead, North Somerset.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Frances Lincoln (1 Sept. 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0711222789
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0711222786
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 14 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.76 x 2.06 x 21.11 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 550,905 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 249 in Criticism on Novels & Novelists
- 5,002 in Biographies on Novelist & Playwrights
- 5,591 in Journalistic Communication Studies

Customer reviews:
64 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

64 global ratings

5 star		75%
4 star		21%
3 star		4%
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Mrs. D. J. Smith

Jane Austen's World brought to life

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 18 January 2005

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This is without a doubt one of the best Jane Austen related books. Le Faye starts with a concise biography of Jane Austen, to help readers put her life into some sort of historical context. The second part of the book deals with all sorts of Life & Times issues - carriages, clothing, occupations, architecture, coinage, filigree.... and of course she explains that Gowlands Lotion, so heartily recommended by Sir Walter Elliot in Persuasion, was actually a sort of chemical peel!
The third part of the book looks at each of the novels in turn, and includes the fragments The Watsons and Sandition. Le Faye gives a synopsis of the plot of each novel and along the way picks out things for us that would have needed no explanation to contemporary readers, but may now need some enlargement. For example in the Sense & Sensibility chapter she tells us about the places in London where the characters live or lodge, and what this says about them and their status.
On top of all this, the book is beautifully illustrated with period county maps, contemporary portraits that match Austen's character descriptions and of course illustrations of all the Life & Times elements discussed - filigree work, fashion plates, coinage examples, etc. In a word: Excellent!

77 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 9 November 2018

Verified Purchase

This is a wonderful book that anyone keen on Jane austen's work will love. I have it and bought another copy for a friend. Very informative and so interesting as it puts the novels in context with places and customs of the time.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 27 October 2016

Verified Purchase

Didn't mind, but book has a few pages fully marked with pink and green markers. I don't remember having seen that warning before purchase.
Very good book anyway!

the world of jane

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 19 October 2011

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This book arrived promptly and instantly took me to the world of Jane (and Lizzy, Emma, Marianne etc). It is full of interesting background information which is set out in a form that is easy to read. I am really enjoying reading it and know that it is something that I will refer back to in the future.

very interesting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 26 May 2016

Verified Purchase

delightful...good for austen fans...recommended

Adriana Stankiewicz Serra

The best book about Jane Austen that I have ever read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 14 May 2015

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A must have for fans of Jane Austen's novels. The book is beautiful, pretty well written and rich in illustrations.

Thoroughly enjoyable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 23 November 2012

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Really enjoyed this book setting the works of Jane Austen in context and very well illustrated. Can recommend it to all Jane Austen fans.

Mrs Mollie G Mills

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 16 January 2018

Verified Purchase

Excellent,brilliant book