Maggie Lane

“More than any other kind of relationship to food, hospitality reflects the underlying assumptions of society, assumptions which can and do shift with time. Social forms which once served society well by regulating and polishing behaviour for the better comfort of all can become ossified, empty and oppressive to the individual. Change may be necessary, but change must be motivated by good feeling and concern for others, not by desire to create an impression. Elegance and propriety are always desirable, because they smooth over any social disharmony, but they should be accompanied by real generosity of spirit; and where there is such generosity, want of elegance and propriety may be excused.”
― Maggie Lane, Jane Austen and Food

“As an aspect of Jane Austen's work ignored by the traditional critics (perhaps because they were mostly men and thought it too domestic, too mundane), the study of her treatment of food yields new insights into the skill with which she creates character and establishes her moral values. Equally, it can help us pose the feminist, political and ideological questions which, if not the sole purpose of literary criticism, certainly add something fresh and valuable to the discipline. For example, consideration of Fanny Price's 'niceness' as regards to eating makes some contribution to the political debate between whether the resolution to Mansfield Park most supports or subverts the dominant ideology within which it was created.”
― Maggie Lane, Jane Austen and Food