Jane Austen's Stop
One cannot, of course, discuss the Regency without discussing Jane Austen! She was my introduction into the
world of the Regency, and I declare myself to be quite Fond of her.Here do I offer up a list of her works and my
opinions about them.
Sense and Sensiblity
Miss Austen's first novel was published in the year 1811. It was based on an earlier story of hers entitled "Elinor and
Marianne". As far as Miss Austen's works go, this is my least favorite. The heroines are too extreme for my tastes, although
acadmically I can appreciate that as a literary device. Also I care not for the heroes of the Novel - it is exceedingly easy
to see that this is a first novel, as charecters are not graced with that same perception as occurs in Miss Austen's later works.
Howsomever, it is still a fine Book and very much enjoyable.
Pride and Prejudice
Perhaps Miss Austen's best known novel, published in 1813, the tale tells of the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Miss Elizabeth
Bennett. Origionally titled "First Impressions", Miss Austen's novel is keen in its insight into human nature, and just goes
to show that, in the words of the immortal Dr. Seuss in his book Horton Hears a Who, "a person is a person no matter how
small [minded]". As there is much written about this book, I shall not endevor to persist, since on this point I find myself
sadly lacking in origionality.
Mansfield Park
Difficult as it may be to believe, when Miss Austen wrote that she felt she had created a heroine whom no one would like, she was
talking about Emma Woodhouse, not Fanny Price. Fanny is terribly shy, to the point of pain, really. She is desperatly in love with her
cousin Edmund, with whose family she lives at Mansfield Park. It is my belief that one must have something of Fanny's shyness in one
to be able to understand her. This is not a prejudiced statement, but rather one garnered from discussions and classrooms. People who
have never known what it is to be shy find Fanny stuck up and holier-than-thou. As most of the world, or at least those who have the
courage to speak their opinions, are not shy, Fanny and Mansfield Park have been relegated to the back of Austen's works as "that strange
book that is nothing like Pride and Predjudice."
Emma
I am not an Emma Woodhouse fan. She, with her manipulations of other people's lives, is too closly resembling all the people that ever
frightend me. One might say that she ressembles Mary Crawford in the above novel. However, I seem to be alone in this opinion, as most people
claim Emma as their favorite heroine. Better to read what they have to say on the subject, as I most likely would be found offensive.
Northanger Abbey
Before one reads this highly amusing novel, based on a short story of Austen's titled "Susan", I would recommend reading the novels of which it makes direct fun: Ann Radcliffe's
The Romance of the Forest and The Mysteries of Udolpho. I can assure you of a VERY amusing read! Northanger itself pokes fun
at the Gothic novel, the aforementioned two in particular. The heroine, who was not born to be a heroine, is excessivly fond of these books, and
coupled with an imagination quite out of control, manages to get herself into some highly amusing scrapes. Add to this the delectable Mr. Tilney,
and you have one of Austen's strongest and most pleasing novel.
Persuasion
Miss Austen's last novel, published after her death in 1818, is probably the sweetest of the batch. It tells of the sad and withdrawn Anne Eliot
who is much too easily persuaded by her friends and family. They all take advantage of her sweet nature and think only of themselves. They do not
see Anne for herself, and how much she has been hurt by their persuading her to refuse her beloved Captain Wentworth eight years prior
to the novel's opening. Anne is probably the only one of Miss Austen's heroines to find her happiness within herself as well as in the form
of a man. Terribly inspiring and musically written.
Lady Susan
One of Miss Austen's shortest pieces, Lady Susan was written in 1805 but not published until the mid-1800's. It is quite a different sort of
tale than her others, being told in an epistolary style. It is also far darker than her other works, as the titular heroine is a cruel and
manipulative person. A vaguely disturbing book, this.
Juvenelia
Miss Austen's juvenailia is delightful and witty. It is no where near as subtle as her later works, but this only adds to the lunacy of such tales
as "The Beautiful Cassandra", "Love and Freindship" [sic], and "The History of England". These are often to be found with her sister Cassandra's
highly amusing drawings, and give one an insight into the birth of Miss Austen's remarkable style.
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Email: ladybecca@hotmail.com
