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Jane Austen For Dummies
Explains Austen's methods, motivations, and morals
The fun and easy way(r) to understand and enjoy Jane Austen
Want to know more about Jane Austen? This friendly guide gives the scoop on her life, works, and lasting impact on our culture. It chronicles the events of her brief life, examines each of her novels, and looks at why her stories - of women and marriage, class and money, scandal and hypocrisy, emotion and satire - still have meaning for us today.
Discover
* Why Austen is so popular
* The impact on manners, courtships, and dating
* Love and life in Austen's world
* Her life and key influences
* Her most memorable characters
The fun and easy way(r) to understand and enjoy Jane Austen
Want to know more about Jane Austen? This friendly guide gives the scoop on her life, works, and lasting impact on our culture. It chronicles the events of her brief life, examines each of her novels, and looks at why her stories - of women and marriage, class and money, scandal and hypocrisy, emotion and satire - still have meaning for us today.
Discover
* Why Austen is so popular
* The impact on manners, courtships, and dating
* Love and life in Austen's world
* Her life and key influences
* Her most memorable characters
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2006
25 people are currently reading
1019 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
January 23, 2021
So like with all of the books in the "For Dummies" series I have read to date (but no, I really do NOT as a rule find these book titles all that appealing, all that acceptable, since I do tend to think they are not really humorous and in fact, more than a bit insulting), Joan Elizabeth Klingel Ray's Jane Austen for Dummies is a good, general and yes, also rather fun and entertaining introduction to Jane Austen and her time. Because yes indeed, Klingel Ray’s presented text is readable, often even really engaging, showing not only Jane Austen's literary oeuvre, but also historical and social backgrounds, as well as decent and usable lists for further reading (nothing spectacular, nothing too intensive, but for basic and extensive background information, Jane Austen for Dummies is most definitely and indeed quite majorly and highly recommended).
And well, the one main caveat I do offer is while Jane Austen for Dummies should indeed work very well for general reference purposes (and as a beginning secondary source to get the proverbial ball rolling so to speak), I would suggest, no, I would actually exceedingly strongly suggest that if especially students (both high school and college/university) are considering using Jane Austen for Dummies for reference, for a secondary work, to ONLY ever consider it as a basic navigational tool for all things Jane Austen, to search for and locate more information on the author (such as in-depth analyses and interpretations). And no, I would certainly NEVER consider quoting from Jane Austen for Dummies academically, or even having it appear in a list of works cited or consulted (a bibliography), in particular for college and university level term papers. For while the "For Dummies" series is definitely superior and more thorough than, say, the well-known (but also often criticised and denigrated) Coles Notes or Cliff's Notes, I know that many teachers and professors still do NOT consider these types of books as even remotely acceptable secondary works to be used and especially quoted from in hand-in term papers, essays and assignments.
And personally, I therefore tend to make use of the "For Dummies" series ONLY for getting acquainted with a given topic (or in Jane Austen for Dummies with a given author) and for making a list of primary and secondary books or articles to peruse, to check out from the library (for further study and research), but I generally would not ever consider the “For Dummies” series as a quasi one shot deal or even as acceptable for bibliographies, for lists of academic works cited (as the For Dummies series is in my opinion simply not rigorous enough for serious academics).
And well, the one main caveat I do offer is while Jane Austen for Dummies should indeed work very well for general reference purposes (and as a beginning secondary source to get the proverbial ball rolling so to speak), I would suggest, no, I would actually exceedingly strongly suggest that if especially students (both high school and college/university) are considering using Jane Austen for Dummies for reference, for a secondary work, to ONLY ever consider it as a basic navigational tool for all things Jane Austen, to search for and locate more information on the author (such as in-depth analyses and interpretations). And no, I would certainly NEVER consider quoting from Jane Austen for Dummies academically, or even having it appear in a list of works cited or consulted (a bibliography), in particular for college and university level term papers. For while the "For Dummies" series is definitely superior and more thorough than, say, the well-known (but also often criticised and denigrated) Coles Notes or Cliff's Notes, I know that many teachers and professors still do NOT consider these types of books as even remotely acceptable secondary works to be used and especially quoted from in hand-in term papers, essays and assignments.
And personally, I therefore tend to make use of the "For Dummies" series ONLY for getting acquainted with a given topic (or in Jane Austen for Dummies with a given author) and for making a list of primary and secondary books or articles to peruse, to check out from the library (for further study and research), but I generally would not ever consider the “For Dummies” series as a quasi one shot deal or even as acceptable for bibliographies, for lists of academic works cited (as the For Dummies series is in my opinion simply not rigorous enough for serious academics).
January 5, 2010
Ok, who wants to be called a dummy, or heaven forbid, admit that you are a dummy? Show of hands please. Well, not me, and certainly not any of those accomplished, well educated, and urbane literati who call themselves Janeites! Right? So, Jane Austen for Dummies? Let’s be kind folks. Would Jane approve?
As a bookseller, I have seen the amazing rise in popularity of the Dummies book series over the last decade that has fueled Wiley Publishing into a mighty empire. There are now Dummies books available on every imaginable subject from Beekeeping for Dummies to Napoleon for Dummies; the list of titles is staggering.
When Jane Austen for Dummies hit the book stores in 2006, I was repulsed. The words in the title are a diametric polar vertex; complete opposites to my feelings of what MY Jane Austen stood for. As Lizzy Bennet said when she heard that Charlotte Lucas was engaged to Mr. Collins, “impossible”.
Among my merry Internet travels, I ran across this great article entitled, Jane Austen, Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, in which the book Jane Austen for Dummies is sandwiched in as an example of how the recent Austen mania has teetered off the edge of decorum.
“In addition, when constructing our soundbites, we ought not to forget the sheer breadth of today’s Austen craze; it’s more than just films and television adaptations we’re in for. New books have appeared, too, like Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (2007) and Jane Austen for Dummies (2006). Though I worry that these books make reading her fiction sound like something done at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for slow learners, surely it’s not too late for some well-placed damage control?”
Ouch. I was a bit suspicious as the author, Prof. Devoney Looser, had lumped Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict into the mix. I had read it. In my opinion, it was not insulting to the memory of Miss Austen. Quite the contrary. Pastiche’s can be the closest form of a complement around. So was my first impression of Jane Austen for Dummies correct?
As I finished reading the article, I noticed that the author of Jane Austen for Dummies, Joan Klingel Ray, PhD, had posted a comment responding to the mention of her book in such an unprudential light, - and she was really going after the slight full force.
“But as the author of JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES, I take issue with her grouping my book with CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, which like other books of that ilk tap into Austen’s name recognition to sell fiction, dating guides, courtesy guides, etc.”
Ok Dr. Klingel Ray. I know that you are a past president of The Jane Austen Society of North America (2000-2006), and I curtsy reverently, but that condescension of another author’s work, and the genre in general was just mean, and not worthy of your rank and education. This seems to be turning into a kicking match that Caroline Bingley would be pleased to join in.
“Had Professor Looser even skimmed JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES, she would have seen that, like other books in the “Dummies” series, JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES is written to introduce interested persons to a subject-in this case, Jane Austen-in a straightforward, accessible way. Specifically, JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES explains to today’s readers of Austen’s fiction the cultural background of the novels that Austen, of course, assumed, her original readers-her contemporaries-would have immediately understood, but which may baffle today’s readers.”
She continues, at length, to elaborate the charms and practicalities of Jane Austen for Dummies, and concludes…
“So rather than preciously worrying about damage control, Professor Looser might read and then give the university employee a copy of JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES, designed for those who wish to be Austen-Smarties, but need just a little extra information about Austen and her times to become so. In fact, if Professor Looser sends me the university employee’s name and school address, I will send him an autographed copy of the book.”
Ooo, Jane Austen academic cat fight!
The next day at work, intrigued by the brouhaha, I track down Jane Austen for Dummies, and you know, Dr. Klingel Ray was right. Anyone who reads this book will become a Jane Austen Smarty, which is much more agreeable to my sensibilities than being a dummy any day! It is a fun and fact filled volume, great for an introduction to Jane Austen, a brush up, or further research sources. Deeply readable, it truly demystifies our authoress, and adds to her charms. Thanks Dr. Klingel Ray. Now if you could sallie forth and gently nod to all of those Austenesque writers who did not intend to rip-off Jane Austen, there could be harmony and plenty in the Jane Austen community.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
As a bookseller, I have seen the amazing rise in popularity of the Dummies book series over the last decade that has fueled Wiley Publishing into a mighty empire. There are now Dummies books available on every imaginable subject from Beekeeping for Dummies to Napoleon for Dummies; the list of titles is staggering.
When Jane Austen for Dummies hit the book stores in 2006, I was repulsed. The words in the title are a diametric polar vertex; complete opposites to my feelings of what MY Jane Austen stood for. As Lizzy Bennet said when she heard that Charlotte Lucas was engaged to Mr. Collins, “impossible”.
Among my merry Internet travels, I ran across this great article entitled, Jane Austen, Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, in which the book Jane Austen for Dummies is sandwiched in as an example of how the recent Austen mania has teetered off the edge of decorum.
“In addition, when constructing our soundbites, we ought not to forget the sheer breadth of today’s Austen craze; it’s more than just films and television adaptations we’re in for. New books have appeared, too, like Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (2007) and Jane Austen for Dummies (2006). Though I worry that these books make reading her fiction sound like something done at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for slow learners, surely it’s not too late for some well-placed damage control?”
Ouch. I was a bit suspicious as the author, Prof. Devoney Looser, had lumped Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict into the mix. I had read it. In my opinion, it was not insulting to the memory of Miss Austen. Quite the contrary. Pastiche’s can be the closest form of a complement around. So was my first impression of Jane Austen for Dummies correct?
As I finished reading the article, I noticed that the author of Jane Austen for Dummies, Joan Klingel Ray, PhD, had posted a comment responding to the mention of her book in such an unprudential light, - and she was really going after the slight full force.
“But as the author of JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES, I take issue with her grouping my book with CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, which like other books of that ilk tap into Austen’s name recognition to sell fiction, dating guides, courtesy guides, etc.”
Ok Dr. Klingel Ray. I know that you are a past president of The Jane Austen Society of North America (2000-2006), and I curtsy reverently, but that condescension of another author’s work, and the genre in general was just mean, and not worthy of your rank and education. This seems to be turning into a kicking match that Caroline Bingley would be pleased to join in.
“Had Professor Looser even skimmed JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES, she would have seen that, like other books in the “Dummies” series, JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES is written to introduce interested persons to a subject-in this case, Jane Austen-in a straightforward, accessible way. Specifically, JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES explains to today’s readers of Austen’s fiction the cultural background of the novels that Austen, of course, assumed, her original readers-her contemporaries-would have immediately understood, but which may baffle today’s readers.”
She continues, at length, to elaborate the charms and practicalities of Jane Austen for Dummies, and concludes…
“So rather than preciously worrying about damage control, Professor Looser might read and then give the university employee a copy of JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES, designed for those who wish to be Austen-Smarties, but need just a little extra information about Austen and her times to become so. In fact, if Professor Looser sends me the university employee’s name and school address, I will send him an autographed copy of the book.”
Ooo, Jane Austen academic cat fight!
The next day at work, intrigued by the brouhaha, I track down Jane Austen for Dummies, and you know, Dr. Klingel Ray was right. Anyone who reads this book will become a Jane Austen Smarty, which is much more agreeable to my sensibilities than being a dummy any day! It is a fun and fact filled volume, great for an introduction to Jane Austen, a brush up, or further research sources. Deeply readable, it truly demystifies our authoress, and adds to her charms. Thanks Dr. Klingel Ray. Now if you could sallie forth and gently nod to all of those Austenesque writers who did not intend to rip-off Jane Austen, there could be harmony and plenty in the Jane Austen community.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
June 3, 2019
This book is a breakdown of Jane Austen's world and her characters.
The author Joan Klingel Ray gives an overview of Jane Austen and her family and family life.
She also discusses the times that the novels are set in and how society existed. Women were expected to marry. They were viewed as the property of their fathers and then became the property of their husbands.
The book also discussed generally the class system. The different levels of aristocrats and the landed property owners.
My favorite part is the discussions about the different characters. She listed their strength and their flaws.
I have been reading Jane Austen since I was ten years old. I have read many bios about her. This, however, is a great general book about the author and her world.
The author Joan Klingel Ray gives an overview of Jane Austen and her family and family life.
She also discusses the times that the novels are set in and how society existed. Women were expected to marry. They were viewed as the property of their fathers and then became the property of their husbands.
The book also discussed generally the class system. The different levels of aristocrats and the landed property owners.
My favorite part is the discussions about the different characters. She listed their strength and their flaws.
I have been reading Jane Austen since I was ten years old. I have read many bios about her. This, however, is a great general book about the author and her world.
October 14, 2008
I am a librarian and I lead a monthly Coffee Club for seniors, as well as two book discussion groups, one at the library and one at the senior center. Our book for September was Sense and Sensibility. To get ready, I spent the month of August immersed in Jane Austen's world. I listened to Pride and Prejudice on tape while I was reading Sense and Sensibility. I was also reading Jane Austen for Dummies, watching Jane Austen movies, and preparing a powerpoint called "The Life and Times of Jane Austen" for Coffee Club and Monday Book Talk.
Reading the Dummies book gave me many insights into Jane and her world. I had read Pride and Prejudice when I was in college, but didn't think much of it. This time I really enjoyed the experience and that's definitely what it is, an experience. Jane transports the reader to another place and time. Did you know that after World War I, Britain's Army Medical Corps recommended that shell-shocked soldier read Jane Austen for her books' soothing effects? Jane definitely soothed me and brought me back to a slower pace. You can't read Jane quickly or absent-mindedly. You must read her deliberately, with your mind all in one place. Our modern, multi-tasking world doesn't offer many opportunities for this. Thanks Jane!
Reading the Dummies book gave me many insights into Jane and her world. I had read Pride and Prejudice when I was in college, but didn't think much of it. This time I really enjoyed the experience and that's definitely what it is, an experience. Jane transports the reader to another place and time. Did you know that after World War I, Britain's Army Medical Corps recommended that shell-shocked soldier read Jane Austen for her books' soothing effects? Jane definitely soothed me and brought me back to a slower pace. You can't read Jane quickly or absent-mindedly. You must read her deliberately, with your mind all in one place. Our modern, multi-tasking world doesn't offer many opportunities for this. Thanks Jane!
Want to read
July 26, 2011despise the title, but the favorable reviews convinced me to add it!
February 25, 2008
I'm sort of a trivia junkie, and this book is just full of info about Jane Austen - her life, her society, her books, and England when she was alive. I absolutely loved it, but there was no way to retain everything in it, so I could probably read it again and still feel like I was learning new things! If you are a Jane Austen fan I highly recommend this book!
July 15, 2012
This is a wonderful reference book for fans of Jane Austen. There is a lot of repetition, which is good. By the time you have finished reading it, the facts stick.
June 9, 2020
3.5 stars
The book was so informative and got the job done for me, as “For Dummies” books always do. I now know that I’m gonna enjoy Austen’s novels WAY more than I did the only one I read (and that I’m definitely gonna reread after I’ve learnt what I’ve learnt in here) Pride And Prejudice. But the 3.5 rating is because I had two issues with the book: one being that there was no chronological order of the events of Austen’s life neither a chronological mention and discussion of her novels. And my second and biggest issue was that the author assumed that the reader must have already read Austen’s novels before they picked up this book. And being the spoilers allergic, totally unforgiving of one kind of reader that I am, I had to skip a lot of paragraphs and skim through some chapters fearing that I would come across a major spoiler (not that Jane Austen’s novels are the greatest thrillers of all literature or something, but still!), so I would’ve appreciated if the author talked about the novels in a more general and spoiler-free way, or at least did them both and given me the chance to get a glimpse of the novels and just their essence, and not spoil the whole thing so that I would actually be able to read the whole book.
The book was so informative and got the job done for me, as “For Dummies” books always do. I now know that I’m gonna enjoy Austen’s novels WAY more than I did the only one I read (and that I’m definitely gonna reread after I’ve learnt what I’ve learnt in here) Pride And Prejudice. But the 3.5 rating is because I had two issues with the book: one being that there was no chronological order of the events of Austen’s life neither a chronological mention and discussion of her novels. And my second and biggest issue was that the author assumed that the reader must have already read Austen’s novels before they picked up this book. And being the spoilers allergic, totally unforgiving of one kind of reader that I am, I had to skip a lot of paragraphs and skim through some chapters fearing that I would come across a major spoiler (not that Jane Austen’s novels are the greatest thrillers of all literature or something, but still!), so I would’ve appreciated if the author talked about the novels in a more general and spoiler-free way, or at least did them both and given me the chance to get a glimpse of the novels and just their essence, and not spoil the whole thing so that I would actually be able to read the whole book.
March 18, 2010
This book gives a good overview of the life and times of Jane Austen in a crisp, clear, and engaging manner. It is well-organized and easy to read with illustrations and pictures where relevant, and includes a broad spectrum of subjects ranging from dancing, courtship and marriage in Regency times to authors who influenced and who were influenced by Austen.
There are very relevant examples from Austen's works under each topic, which makes it entertaining and understandable. The book also has discussion sections on Austen's books and film adaptations (up until 2006), and Ray does insert her views a bit here, thus breaking the instructional tone that books in the Dummies series sometimes tend to have. Initially, I was a bit skeptical on even reading a book from this series cover to cover, but I could not pass on a book by Joan Klingel Ray. Ray is a professor of English and was also the president of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) from 2000 to 2006.
The one thing I did not enjoy in this book was someone's inability to proofread. The book does contain a few minor errors, mostly grammatical. However, these are very minor and do not take away from the book, unless the reader is particularly picky about these things.
Overall, I heartily recommend this book both to the Austen newbie as well as to more experienced Janeites. However, be sure to have read all the six major works of Austen before you read this (in spite of the book telling you otherwise), as one cannot really write such a book as this without spoilers! A more detailed review is on my blog.
There are very relevant examples from Austen's works under each topic, which makes it entertaining and understandable. The book also has discussion sections on Austen's books and film adaptations (up until 2006), and Ray does insert her views a bit here, thus breaking the instructional tone that books in the Dummies series sometimes tend to have. Initially, I was a bit skeptical on even reading a book from this series cover to cover, but I could not pass on a book by Joan Klingel Ray. Ray is a professor of English and was also the president of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) from 2000 to 2006.
The one thing I did not enjoy in this book was someone's inability to proofread. The book does contain a few minor errors, mostly grammatical. However, these are very minor and do not take away from the book, unless the reader is particularly picky about these things.
Overall, I heartily recommend this book both to the Austen newbie as well as to more experienced Janeites. However, be sure to have read all the six major works of Austen before you read this (in spite of the book telling you otherwise), as one cannot really write such a book as this without spoilers! A more detailed review is on my blog.
April 24, 2021
Vous connaissez certainement la série "Pour les Nuls", en français, et je suis certaine que, comme moi, vous rêveriez d'y voir figurer un livre sur Jane Austen. Malheureusement, s'il existe bien, il n'a jamais été traduit... Enfin, je dis malheureusement mais si c'est ce que je pensais avant de le lire, ce n'est plus tout à fait mon avis aujourd'hui.
Tout d'abord, il faut savoir que le livre a été écrit par une américaine, pour les américains. Ce n'est pas n'importe qui, l'une des présidentes de la JASNA, la société américaine Jane Austen, et Joan Klingel Ray, est également professeur d'anglais. Pour autant, cette vision est parfois un peu étrange. Non seulement, toutes les explications et les comparaisons se font en référence à la culture ou à la monnaie américaine, par exemple, mais cela implique également que l'auteur explique le contexte d'une manière, il me semble, sans vouloir être désobligeante, qui ne serait pas utile avec un lecteur européen. Qu'on le veuille ou non, il y a véritablement un gouffre entre nos deux cultures. Bref, nous avons un texte qui se penche sur l'oeuvre et la vie de Jane Austen, à travers une lorgnette purement américaine, et ça, ça ne m'emballe déjà qu'à moitié.
Un autre point que j'ai du mal à supporter : les suppositions présentées comme des vérités. Et s'il semble que ce soit devenu une habitude dernièrement dans ce genre d'ouvrage, cela m'agace toujours autant. Il y a même, par ailleurs, quelques erreurs et beaucoup de simplifications dans un livre dans lequel on s'attendrait pourtant à avoir une explication, détaillée et argumentée si besoin.
D'ailleurs, le dernier point noir de cet ouvrage est sa structure même. En fait, il n'en a aucune. C'est brouillon, incohérent et extrêmement répétitif. Je pense que j'ai du lire certaines informations pas moins de dix fois. En plus, l'auteur nous renvoie sans arrêt à tel ou tel chapitre, telle ou telle page et on finit par avoir l'impression de lire un index...
Pour être tout à fait juste, j'ai aimé le chapitre sur les endroits à visiter et les explications pour s'y rendre. Quand c'est bien, il faut le dire aussi, non ? Cela fait donc un chapitre sur vingt ! En bref, je suis certaine que vous pourrez apprendre tout un tas de choses sur Jane Austen, son univers et son oeuvre si vraiment vous n'y connaissez rien. Mais en même temps, si c'est le cas, j'ai de nombreux autres livres à vous conseiller à la place de celui-ci.
http://janeausten.hautetfort.com/arch...
Tout d'abord, il faut savoir que le livre a été écrit par une américaine, pour les américains. Ce n'est pas n'importe qui, l'une des présidentes de la JASNA, la société américaine Jane Austen, et Joan Klingel Ray, est également professeur d'anglais. Pour autant, cette vision est parfois un peu étrange. Non seulement, toutes les explications et les comparaisons se font en référence à la culture ou à la monnaie américaine, par exemple, mais cela implique également que l'auteur explique le contexte d'une manière, il me semble, sans vouloir être désobligeante, qui ne serait pas utile avec un lecteur européen. Qu'on le veuille ou non, il y a véritablement un gouffre entre nos deux cultures. Bref, nous avons un texte qui se penche sur l'oeuvre et la vie de Jane Austen, à travers une lorgnette purement américaine, et ça, ça ne m'emballe déjà qu'à moitié.
Un autre point que j'ai du mal à supporter : les suppositions présentées comme des vérités. Et s'il semble que ce soit devenu une habitude dernièrement dans ce genre d'ouvrage, cela m'agace toujours autant. Il y a même, par ailleurs, quelques erreurs et beaucoup de simplifications dans un livre dans lequel on s'attendrait pourtant à avoir une explication, détaillée et argumentée si besoin.
D'ailleurs, le dernier point noir de cet ouvrage est sa structure même. En fait, il n'en a aucune. C'est brouillon, incohérent et extrêmement répétitif. Je pense que j'ai du lire certaines informations pas moins de dix fois. En plus, l'auteur nous renvoie sans arrêt à tel ou tel chapitre, telle ou telle page et on finit par avoir l'impression de lire un index...
Pour être tout à fait juste, j'ai aimé le chapitre sur les endroits à visiter et les explications pour s'y rendre. Quand c'est bien, il faut le dire aussi, non ? Cela fait donc un chapitre sur vingt ! En bref, je suis certaine que vous pourrez apprendre tout un tas de choses sur Jane Austen, son univers et son oeuvre si vraiment vous n'y connaissez rien. Mais en même temps, si c'est le cas, j'ai de nombreux autres livres à vous conseiller à la place de celui-ci.
http://janeausten.hautetfort.com/arch...
July 25, 2020
surprisingly very good.
July 17, 2020
4 stars. This was so much fun. Very informative and interesting. I learned a lot more than I was expecting to about Jane Austen which is great because she was an intriguing woman. I hadn’t read a For Dummies book since junior high so I had honestly forgotten how these were set up and I was kinda worried that this wouldn’t be good but I was wrong. The author did a lot of research and is passionate about the topic and it shows. It’s well written and I think it’s definitely worth the read if you’re a fan of Jane Austen.
January 24, 2012
If you dice this book up by sentence, I think you would find this book to be pretty equally divisible into four logical buckets. Bucket one is the interesting trivia and history. Bucket two is the repetition of bucket one. Bucket three includes the not-so-interesting bits, like the author's favorite Jane Austin cookbook. And bucket four is what I'd call structure, such as "For more on impromptu balls, see Chapter 5." The analysis was pretty interesting, and I haven't ready any Austen. It could probably be considered along the lines of Cliffs Notes, with attitude. But probably because of the Dummies method of bookwriting, many of those topics are repeated twice, three times, four times, or more within the book, usually in different sections. There are also sections that are really just filler, B-sides of trivia, such as the descriptions of all the TV productions of Austen's work. And the structural prompts, such as referring to earlier or later chapters, repeat to the point of overwhelming the meat of the book. Editing also appears to be missing, such that some sentences don't make sense, words are misspelled, names are presented inconsistently, etc. The editing and structure of this book knock it down a star. My suggestion, don't try to read this straight through -- this book is best read a random page at a time. I read it straight through, and give it an "OK" rating.
August 10, 2010
If you own just one book on Jane Austen and her novels, this is the one to get. Full of insights, details, and a listing of spinoff books and films, this will satisfy anyone wanting to know more about this Classic English writer, and does so without pain or intimidation. Very much recommended!
To see the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_43860...
To see the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_43860...
November 1, 2016
Am definitely sure that the format of the Dummies book is the reason why such an interesting subject turned into such a drab book. Well, the facts are all good, but it's the format that want quite what I enjoy.
January 13, 2018
Not much I didn't already know
I think the author inserted her opinion way too much. That said, if you know nothing about Jane Austen, this would be a good reference if you're reading a novel and are confused about the manners or customs.
I think the author inserted her opinion way too much. That said, if you know nothing about Jane Austen, this would be a good reference if you're reading a novel and are confused about the manners or customs.
July 10, 2017
At least occasionally I pick up a Dummies guide and enjoy reading through it [1], and in this case there would be few people more qualified to write this book, as the author is (or at least was at the time of writing) the president of JASNA, the Jane Austen Society of North America. My own identity as a Janeite is pretty well-known to readers of my blog [2], and this book fits right into that existing interest. It is pretty obvious, therefore, that I go into this book a bit better prepared and more knowledgeable about Jane Austen and her context than many readers will. Yet any reader with some interest in Jane Austen will find much to enjoy here. This is not a book that requires a lot of background knowledge on the part of the reader, but it is also a book that provides some encouragement and suggestions for further reading/watching to even those readers who are very knowledgeable about Jane Austen. As a result this has a wide potential audience and no one should feel like a dummy for being given or recommended this sort of book.
This book, at a bit over 300 pages, has all of what one would expect from a book in the series. After a short and friendly introduction, the author introduces Jane Austen as a lady and as a novelist, giving a short biography and discussing her period and what inspired her as an authoress. The second part of the book shows Austen observing ladies and gentlemen in dancing, courtship, marriage, and seduction. The third part of the book looks at life in Jane Austen's world, examining the limited rights of women, the roles and responsibilities of men, the nature of life at home, manners, as well as religion and morality. The fourth part of the book looks at how a reader is to enjoy Jane Austen's novels, the various adaptations of her writings in other mediums, as well as determining her literary descendants. The book closes with the customary part of tens with memorable characters, best Austen-related books, best Austen places to visit, and the best Austenisms, along with a chronology and index.
It is obvious from reading this book that the author has a great love for Jane Austen and an appreciation of her place. The author defends Jane Austen as an early feminist, making a strong case for her discretion as well as the polite radicalism of her views, shown and not told in a tiresome and didactic fashion. While having a great love for Austen's novels, the author is honest about her lack of interest in the genre of Austen sequels, of which I am myself slightly familiar. This is not a book that panders to its audience, but rather one that seeks to share the infectious love and high regard that the author has for Austen's integrity as an author and for the insights about human nature that she still can share with contemporary readers. This is not to say that everyone who reads this book will enjoy it or will share the author's perspective, but rather that there is a great deal of value in what the author has to say for anyone who happens to be a fan or who wants to know more about Jane Austen as a person and as an author. Fortunately, this book is the sort of work that will likely encourage many people to be Janeites themselves, or at least to realize that they already are and to enjoy what that means in some detail.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2010...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
This book, at a bit over 300 pages, has all of what one would expect from a book in the series. After a short and friendly introduction, the author introduces Jane Austen as a lady and as a novelist, giving a short biography and discussing her period and what inspired her as an authoress. The second part of the book shows Austen observing ladies and gentlemen in dancing, courtship, marriage, and seduction. The third part of the book looks at life in Jane Austen's world, examining the limited rights of women, the roles and responsibilities of men, the nature of life at home, manners, as well as religion and morality. The fourth part of the book looks at how a reader is to enjoy Jane Austen's novels, the various adaptations of her writings in other mediums, as well as determining her literary descendants. The book closes with the customary part of tens with memorable characters, best Austen-related books, best Austen places to visit, and the best Austenisms, along with a chronology and index.
It is obvious from reading this book that the author has a great love for Jane Austen and an appreciation of her place. The author defends Jane Austen as an early feminist, making a strong case for her discretion as well as the polite radicalism of her views, shown and not told in a tiresome and didactic fashion. While having a great love for Austen's novels, the author is honest about her lack of interest in the genre of Austen sequels, of which I am myself slightly familiar. This is not a book that panders to its audience, but rather one that seeks to share the infectious love and high regard that the author has for Austen's integrity as an author and for the insights about human nature that she still can share with contemporary readers. This is not to say that everyone who reads this book will enjoy it or will share the author's perspective, but rather that there is a great deal of value in what the author has to say for anyone who happens to be a fan or who wants to know more about Jane Austen as a person and as an author. Fortunately, this book is the sort of work that will likely encourage many people to be Janeites themselves, or at least to realize that they already are and to enjoy what that means in some detail.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2010...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
February 4, 2018
Well, I like the topic (Jane Austen) and I enjoy learning more about her books because I was never lucky enough to study her works in school. I appreciate the goal of the entire Dummies series and similar series. I found the number of typos astounding when the author has a PhD. It was really distracting each time a word was missing, misspelled, or the entirely wrong word was used. Does Dummies not use editors???
November 30, 2025
Some of the book is too dumbed down for me--not surprising considering the subject. But I learned plenty of details & took some notes (especially about the Assembly Rooms in Bath--I need to go back over Chapter 1 of a gothic novel I set in an alternate Regency England).
The book includes a chapter on locations associated with Jane Austen, a chapter on film & TV adaptations, an appendix and an index.
The book includes a chapter on locations associated with Jane Austen, a chapter on film & TV adaptations, an appendix and an index.
January 10, 2018
I wouldn't call myself a dummy, but I figured this book would be a good read and give me greater insight into Jane Austen and her novels.
Which it did! Although I noticed quite a few typos in the text, but they didn't detract from the book and I liked reading the author's insights into Austen's life and her books.
A good read for those wanting to get started on Jane Austen.
Which it did! Although I noticed quite a few typos in the text, but they didn't detract from the book and I liked reading the author's insights into Austen's life and her books.
A good read for those wanting to get started on Jane Austen.
September 27, 2023
More often than not, a Dummies guide is pretty dull, and often very cursory information. Jane Austen for Dummies was a very pleasant surprise. Even though it was written about 18 years ago, the author does an excellent job covering Austen's life and writing, as well as the Regency period and how it affected Austen. It really turned out to be a must-read for all Jane Austen lovers.
February 2, 2020
This was definitely repetitive and seemed like it was meant as a reference and not to be read through. Most interested in the etiquette and the things Jane would know that we're not familiar with today.
January 16, 2019
Perfect book to introduce readers to Jane and her literary
significance
significance
January 28, 2019
This was such a good reference manual for Jane Austen. I learned a bunch of new things about her.
May 20, 2020
Some chapters seemed repetitive and the constant referring to other chapters was sometimes annoying but all in all I appreciated the context that this book provided to Jane and her works.
May 8, 2022
This book was very interesting! It has lots of information.
April 22, 2025
This is helpful. I tried to read Pride & Prejudice, and the dialect is very complicated. It helps me understand Jane Austen's books better. Do I plan on completing them? We'll see.
January 27, 2017
Good book to get an overview of the books and to learn about the times Jane Austen lived.
June 8, 2024
Neatly arranged and informative, this beginner’s guide has lots of tidbits even a more seasoned Austen officionado can appreciate.
June 11, 2020
The information is good, but ridiculously repetitive. I guess that’s the style of the dummy books and not meant to be read straight through.
If you haven’t read Jane Austen’s books and don’t want spoilers don’t read this book until you’ve read JA’s books. For whatever reason the author gave away a great deal of information but for one book that she kept a mystery. I found that odd.
There were a lot of editing mistakes that were annoying as well. But it was worth the 50 cents I paid for it.
I’d request it at your library and read it piecemeal and not straight through as I did.
If you haven’t read Jane Austen’s books and don’t want spoilers don’t read this book until you’ve read JA’s books. For whatever reason the author gave away a great deal of information but for one book that she kept a mystery. I found that odd.
There were a lot of editing mistakes that were annoying as well. But it was worth the 50 cents I paid for it.
I’d request it at your library and read it piecemeal and not straight through as I did.
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