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An A-Z of Jane Austen
Jane Austen's richly textured worlds have enchanted readers for centuries and this neatly organised, playful book provides Austen enthusiasts and students alike with a unique insight into the much-loved writer's way with words.
Using a lively A-Z structure, Greaney provides fresh angles on familiar Austen themes (D is for dance; M is for matchmaking), casts light on under-examined corners of her imagination (R is for risk; S is for servant), and shows how current social and cultural concerns are re-shaping our understanding of her work (Q is for queer; W is for West Indies). Through this approach, we learn how attention to the tiniest linguistic detail in Austen's work can yield rewarding new perspectives on the achievements of one of our most celebrated authors.
Sharply focused on textual detail but broad in scope it broaches questions that, like Austen's work, will intrigue, delight and inspire: Why are children so marginal in her storylines? Who is the best exponent of matchmaking in her fiction? Why are many of her female characters – but none of her heroines – called Jane? Providing a new close-up encounter with one of our most celebrated writers, this book invites a renewed appreciation of the infinite subtlety and endless re-readability of a body of writing in which every word counts.
Using a lively A-Z structure, Greaney provides fresh angles on familiar Austen themes (D is for dance; M is for matchmaking), casts light on under-examined corners of her imagination (R is for risk; S is for servant), and shows how current social and cultural concerns are re-shaping our understanding of her work (Q is for queer; W is for West Indies). Through this approach, we learn how attention to the tiniest linguistic detail in Austen's work can yield rewarding new perspectives on the achievements of one of our most celebrated authors.
Sharply focused on textual detail but broad in scope it broaches questions that, like Austen's work, will intrigue, delight and inspire: Why are children so marginal in her storylines? Who is the best exponent of matchmaking in her fiction? Why are many of her female characters – but none of her heroines – called Jane? Providing a new close-up encounter with one of our most celebrated writers, this book invites a renewed appreciation of the infinite subtlety and endless re-readability of a body of writing in which every word counts.
- GenresNonfiction
168 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 11, 2022
A FRESH LOOK AT AUSTEN AND HER AUTHORSHIP
I love all things Austen. I'll read the book. I'll watch the movies. And I'll read every retelling, prequel and sequel. So this book was certainly right up my alley. And I was not disappointed. I would recommend this book to all Austenites!
👍 What I Enjoyed 👍
Themes: This is an encyclopedia of Austen's world and authorship. For each letter of the alphabet, Greany has chosen a word connected in some way to Austen to enlighten. Some words were places, some words were people. Some were things. But my favourite ones were probably the themes. Like F for friendship. I loved how Greany took that theme and analyzed it across Austen's different writings. It gave me a new appreciation of the stories, I have always loved.
Context: Austen and her writing has stood the test of time. She is still read and loved by readers around the world. But often it is easy to take her writing out of context. Out of her time. Out of the environment that she wrote in. Greany goes a long way to reintroduce that context.
Austen: As I said, I read a lot of Austen - and a lot of things related to Austen. Earlier this year I even went on an Austen vacation and visited her house in Chawton. But this was something I had never come across before. It was a completely new and fresh take on Austen and her writings that was both informative and entertaining.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
I love all things Austen. I'll read the book. I'll watch the movies. And I'll read every retelling, prequel and sequel. So this book was certainly right up my alley. And I was not disappointed. I would recommend this book to all Austenites!
👍 What I Enjoyed 👍
Themes: This is an encyclopedia of Austen's world and authorship. For each letter of the alphabet, Greany has chosen a word connected in some way to Austen to enlighten. Some words were places, some words were people. Some were things. But my favourite ones were probably the themes. Like F for friendship. I loved how Greany took that theme and analyzed it across Austen's different writings. It gave me a new appreciation of the stories, I have always loved.
Context: Austen and her writing has stood the test of time. She is still read and loved by readers around the world. But often it is easy to take her writing out of context. Out of her time. Out of the environment that she wrote in. Greany goes a long way to reintroduce that context.
Austen: As I said, I read a lot of Austen - and a lot of things related to Austen. Earlier this year I even went on an Austen vacation and visited her house in Chawton. But this was something I had never come across before. It was a completely new and fresh take on Austen and her writings that was both informative and entertaining.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
January 3, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one!
I love anything "Jane Austen" and this book had such a fun concept! Short essays about Jane Austen's works using an A-Z type layout. Each letter of the alphabet has a word that represents a place, actively, etc For example...B stands for Bath, J stands for Jane...this would make an excellent gift for an Jane Austen fan!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I love anything "Jane Austen" and this book had such a fun concept! Short essays about Jane Austen's works using an A-Z type layout. Each letter of the alphabet has a word that represents a place, actively, etc For example...B stands for Bath, J stands for Jane...this would make an excellent gift for an Jane Austen fan!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
September 1, 2022
This is a series of essays about Jane Austen's fiction using an A to Z as a starting point, so we have A for accident, B is for Bath, and so on. They are pretty academic essays, so they are thought provoking, but no less very readable for that. This would be better read once familiar with Austen's main novels at least, but the author has read everthing,so his points are made using the letters, juvenalia and the unfinished novels as well as the novels. Both entertaining and informative.
*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
October 27, 2022
I love all things Austen - books, retellings, movies, spinoffs etc. Therefore this book was obviously something I would be drawn to - especially given the delightful cover and I was not disappointed being the firm Austenite that I am.
‘Be sure to have something odd happen to you’, Austen once wrote to Cassandra, ‘see somebody that you do not expect, meet with some surprise or other.’
This is an A-Z dictionary or mini encyclopedia of matters to do with Jane Austen. The author has taken each letter of the alphabet and selected a word that is somehow connected to Jane Austen’s world. There might be places such as Bath, themes such as Kindness or activities such as Dance. These twenty six key words are the prompt for an essay on each taken from not only Jane's books but also her letters, unfinished novels and other observations.
‘Nowhere in Austen are relations of status, hierarchy and precedence more formally paraded and stringently enforced than on the dancefloor.’
The book can be read from cover to cover, used to cross reference or simply to browse through certain themes. This fresh structure and thematic approach lends itself to new and thought provoking perspectives. It would be a wonderful addition to any lover of Jane Austen’s collection or, given its academic approach, those seeking to study deeper into her books, reflections and writing.
‘Letter-reading is a significant social activity in Austen, one that frequently reveals as much about those reading as it does about the text under consideration.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
‘Be sure to have something odd happen to you’, Austen once wrote to Cassandra, ‘see somebody that you do not expect, meet with some surprise or other.’
This is an A-Z dictionary or mini encyclopedia of matters to do with Jane Austen. The author has taken each letter of the alphabet and selected a word that is somehow connected to Jane Austen’s world. There might be places such as Bath, themes such as Kindness or activities such as Dance. These twenty six key words are the prompt for an essay on each taken from not only Jane's books but also her letters, unfinished novels and other observations.
‘Nowhere in Austen are relations of status, hierarchy and precedence more formally paraded and stringently enforced than on the dancefloor.’
The book can be read from cover to cover, used to cross reference or simply to browse through certain themes. This fresh structure and thematic approach lends itself to new and thought provoking perspectives. It would be a wonderful addition to any lover of Jane Austen’s collection or, given its academic approach, those seeking to study deeper into her books, reflections and writing.
‘Letter-reading is a significant social activity in Austen, one that frequently reveals as much about those reading as it does about the text under consideration.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
September 14, 2022
I've read and enjoyed essays based on Jane Austen's work before, so I was hoping to find a lively, entertaining collection of thoughts in this book. Instead, it was a rather dry, scholarly work, probably more suited to research if you are hoping to write your own thesis on Jane Austen. But for a casual reader looking to be entertained, there's not much here that's relatable or fresh. It feels more like reading a dictionary or an encyclopedia.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Academic for this digital review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Academic for this digital review copy.
July 28, 2022
An A-Z of Jane Austen is a sort of small encyclopedia about the famous author.
By using 26 keywords, Greaney explores a lot of topics which concern Austen's books but also what we know of her life from her memoirs, letters, and documents that her family kept.
As an English language and literature postgraduate and as an Austen fan, I couldn't miss such a book. I really like the cover, it conveys the aim of this book. Like I said, this is a sort of small encyclopedia about Austen and her most used topics, words and plots. It can function as a way to understand Austen's writing from a critical point of view, but it is also as a way to find more about Austen herself if one is just curious. I found the writing academic, but it can also appeal to a wider audience of people who just want to read more about the author because it isn't strictly academic.
This book is not divided into chapters but into letters, so the readers are free to wander and read from the letter they prefer. Every letter offers a critical analysis of the discourses of the topic given, and the author gives practical examples of situations, characters, and the words from the books to prove the main point/keyword. If a keyword/topic appears in another paragraph, it is in bold, which makes it easier for the reader to go to that other word to expand the insight into that topic.
The book has a nice structure, but I would have liked it more if the author had provided us with sub-paragraphs with subtitles. The writing flows well, but if the reader wanted to find a specific point (for example, a point where the author talks about a specific book/character), they would have to re-read the keyword paragraph or highlight it. I'm saying this mostly for the paperback edition of this book. Other than that, I find it a good analysis of Austen and her books, which are timeless.
Thank you Bloomsbury Academic and Netgalley for letting me read this title in advance. All opinions are my own.
By using 26 keywords, Greaney explores a lot of topics which concern Austen's books but also what we know of her life from her memoirs, letters, and documents that her family kept.
As an English language and literature postgraduate and as an Austen fan, I couldn't miss such a book. I really like the cover, it conveys the aim of this book. Like I said, this is a sort of small encyclopedia about Austen and her most used topics, words and plots. It can function as a way to understand Austen's writing from a critical point of view, but it is also as a way to find more about Austen herself if one is just curious. I found the writing academic, but it can also appeal to a wider audience of people who just want to read more about the author because it isn't strictly academic.
This book is not divided into chapters but into letters, so the readers are free to wander and read from the letter they prefer. Every letter offers a critical analysis of the discourses of the topic given, and the author gives practical examples of situations, characters, and the words from the books to prove the main point/keyword. If a keyword/topic appears in another paragraph, it is in bold, which makes it easier for the reader to go to that other word to expand the insight into that topic.
The book has a nice structure, but I would have liked it more if the author had provided us with sub-paragraphs with subtitles. The writing flows well, but if the reader wanted to find a specific point (for example, a point where the author talks about a specific book/character), they would have to re-read the keyword paragraph or highlight it. I'm saying this mostly for the paperback edition of this book. Other than that, I find it a good analysis of Austen and her books, which are timeless.
Thank you Bloomsbury Academic and Netgalley for letting me read this title in advance. All opinions are my own.
October 19, 2022
Starting with a few key words, it was possible for me to dive back into the universe of Jane Austen's books and also to recall situations I had forgotten and to better understand a certain type of expectations and attitudes of the time.
For many anyway, but not for everyone, especially if you are not a lover of Victorian literature.
Partendo da alcune parole chiave, mi é stato possibile tornare ad immergermi nell'universo dei libri di Jane Austen e anche di ricordare situazioni che avevo dimenticato e di capire meglio un certo tipo di aspettative ed atteggiamenti del tempo.
Per molti comunque, ma non per tutti, specialmente se non siete amanti della letteratura vittoriana.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
For many anyway, but not for everyone, especially if you are not a lover of Victorian literature.
Partendo da alcune parole chiave, mi é stato possibile tornare ad immergermi nell'universo dei libri di Jane Austen e anche di ricordare situazioni che avevo dimenticato e di capire meglio un certo tipo di aspettative ed atteggiamenti del tempo.
Per molti comunque, ma non per tutti, specialmente se non siete amanti della letteratura vittoriana.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
December 23, 2023
five stars because it’s written by michael
November 15, 2024
Jane Austen is a pillar of British literature and even though her oeuvre is limited to six novels, some unfinished work, and juvenilia, thousands of popular and scholarly works have found inspiration in her writings. This book continues that tradition with 26 short essays covering a wide range of topics examined across all of Austen. As an Austen fan, I enjoyed the author's insights and connections between works. Where I struggled with the book was how to classify it. It was published by an academic press, but while the essays dug deeper into Austen's work than a casual reader might, I didn't find it scholarly enough for an academic library collection. I also thought the convention of using each letter of the alphabet was limiting and the author stretched a bit, especially with letters X (Xis--six spelled backwards, an essay on wordplay) and Z (Zizag--which was actually about embarrassment).
Overall, this volume falls in a place between popular and scholarly, which might make it a difficult sell to readers, and the alphabet framing sometimes got in the way of the author's ideas. The cover is adorable, though!
Thank you Bloomsbury Academic for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Overall, this volume falls in a place between popular and scholarly, which might make it a difficult sell to readers, and the alphabet framing sometimes got in the way of the author's ideas. The cover is adorable, though!
Thank you Bloomsbury Academic for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 26, 2023
A really well done and informative piece of work by Greaney.
A collection of essays arranged in alphabetical order according to the subject matter. Very insightful and some interesting / lesser known facts that do not immediately spring to mind when thinking of Austen. I, for one was amused and surprised by the section on children, or rather the lack thereof in Austen's works, and why this might have been.
There's a wealth of supporting material alongside each essay, whether its taken from letters, journals, biographies or Austen's novels themselves.
I read this across a couple of days but this is easily something you could take bitesize chunks out of every few days. The essays are not too lengthy that you could easily read one in a short sitting if you didn't have the time to commit to long chapters.
A collection of essays arranged in alphabetical order according to the subject matter. Very insightful and some interesting / lesser known facts that do not immediately spring to mind when thinking of Austen. I, for one was amused and surprised by the section on children, or rather the lack thereof in Austen's works, and why this might have been.
There's a wealth of supporting material alongside each essay, whether its taken from letters, journals, biographies or Austen's novels themselves.
I read this across a couple of days but this is easily something you could take bitesize chunks out of every few days. The essays are not too lengthy that you could easily read one in a short sitting if you didn't have the time to commit to long chapters.
July 28, 2022
Michael Greaney, An A-Z of Jane Austen, Bloomsbury Academic, 2022.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bloomsbury Academic, for providing me with this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
What a delightful read!
An A-Z of Jane Austen is informative, fun and captivating, delivering an accessible and thoughtful approach to some of Jane Austen’s ideas. It provides a fine starting off point to debate about the meaning of so many of the features that appear time and again in Austen’s novels, shorter works in the Juvenilia, Love and Freindship, letters and unfinished work. The book is arranged alphabetically, naming and developing one feature and referring to the works in which it appears. There is a brief analysis of the role, meaning and import of the feature. The wealth of examples raises questions, and sometimes answers, about the way in which Austen viewed seemingly simple aspects of her work. After all, what can a section on Horses tell us? And Risk? Kindness? Servant, Theatre, and Bath are familiar to Austen readers, along with Matchmaking and Visit. But X is for Xis? Z for ZigZag?
Acknowledgements begin the book, outlining the way in which it was developed from modules on Austen that Michael Greaney taught at Lancaster University. Credit is also given to his students. The explanatory notes and abbreviations are useful. The way in which the citations appear throughout the text in an unobtrusive manner, ensuring the reader knows immediately the Austen work from which the example is taken are ideal. The introduction explains the way in which the book is organised around keywords, including places, things, concepts, activities and practices, and categories of personhood. There is a short biography, including information about the writing and publication of Austen’s work. Greaney acknowledges that the words he has chosen for each letter are not definitive – others could as easily be chosen. If this book were to be used in a classroom study of Austen, what an innovative approach could be adopted if this idea were to be followed.
An A- Z of Jane Austen would be an excellent addition to any study of Austen, perhaps most importantly because it stimulates discussion and innovative approaches to her work. It also provides a template for developing studies about other writers and their writing. However, it would be a mistake to think this is its only use. The book is a delightful read for anyone interested in Austen, and further, in thinking about any literary work. I appreciated reading An A- Z of Austen as a person interested in analysing Austen’s writing, and as someone who just wants to read Austen and enjoy. To find serious analysis, wrapped in short fun segments is a pleasure. A pleasure that deserves to be shared. Michael Greaney has made this possible.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bloomsbury Academic, for providing me with this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
What a delightful read!
An A-Z of Jane Austen is informative, fun and captivating, delivering an accessible and thoughtful approach to some of Jane Austen’s ideas. It provides a fine starting off point to debate about the meaning of so many of the features that appear time and again in Austen’s novels, shorter works in the Juvenilia, Love and Freindship, letters and unfinished work. The book is arranged alphabetically, naming and developing one feature and referring to the works in which it appears. There is a brief analysis of the role, meaning and import of the feature. The wealth of examples raises questions, and sometimes answers, about the way in which Austen viewed seemingly simple aspects of her work. After all, what can a section on Horses tell us? And Risk? Kindness? Servant, Theatre, and Bath are familiar to Austen readers, along with Matchmaking and Visit. But X is for Xis? Z for ZigZag?
Acknowledgements begin the book, outlining the way in which it was developed from modules on Austen that Michael Greaney taught at Lancaster University. Credit is also given to his students. The explanatory notes and abbreviations are useful. The way in which the citations appear throughout the text in an unobtrusive manner, ensuring the reader knows immediately the Austen work from which the example is taken are ideal. The introduction explains the way in which the book is organised around keywords, including places, things, concepts, activities and practices, and categories of personhood. There is a short biography, including information about the writing and publication of Austen’s work. Greaney acknowledges that the words he has chosen for each letter are not definitive – others could as easily be chosen. If this book were to be used in a classroom study of Austen, what an innovative approach could be adopted if this idea were to be followed.
An A- Z of Jane Austen would be an excellent addition to any study of Austen, perhaps most importantly because it stimulates discussion and innovative approaches to her work. It also provides a template for developing studies about other writers and their writing. However, it would be a mistake to think this is its only use. The book is a delightful read for anyone interested in Austen, and further, in thinking about any literary work. I appreciated reading An A- Z of Austen as a person interested in analysing Austen’s writing, and as someone who just wants to read Austen and enjoy. To find serious analysis, wrapped in short fun segments is a pleasure. A pleasure that deserves to be shared. Michael Greaney has made this possible.
July 24, 2022
An A-Z of Jane Austen by Michael Greaney is an entertaining and accessible look at the whole of Austen's work rather than a focus on a particular work or period.
I'll admit my exposure to Austen, both reading and teaching, is limited to her major novels, so this served as an excellent way for me to see them within the larger context of her other writing as well as her life. I found the writing to be serious but not academic, though some may disagree. I found the writing to be such that anyone with a desire to follow along would be able to, which is my idea of accessible. Some might use a lower bar, but I prefer to think better of readers. Also, I guess I've read so many "academic" texts that this just doesn't fall into the way I use that term when assessing books that are for a general readership. This doesn't require any specialized knowledge of literary theory just having read Austen and a desire to better understand her work.
The entries are all self-contained so feel free to jump around. In my case, I read straight through, but would have been just as happy keeping this by the bedside and picking a chapter/letter at random every night.
What made this most enjoyable for me was bringing together things I was familiar with but in new ways, making new connections across works and themes. Add in the many things I didn't know and this was both an entertaining and educational read for me.
Definitely recommended for anyone who rereads Austen on a regular basis, or even someone like me who only did rereads when I was teaching one of them. This is particularly useful for readers who would like to know more about Austen and her other writing but don't want to devote that much time and energy beyond the novels. This will connect dots and provide background quit painlessly.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I'll admit my exposure to Austen, both reading and teaching, is limited to her major novels, so this served as an excellent way for me to see them within the larger context of her other writing as well as her life. I found the writing to be serious but not academic, though some may disagree. I found the writing to be such that anyone with a desire to follow along would be able to, which is my idea of accessible. Some might use a lower bar, but I prefer to think better of readers. Also, I guess I've read so many "academic" texts that this just doesn't fall into the way I use that term when assessing books that are for a general readership. This doesn't require any specialized knowledge of literary theory just having read Austen and a desire to better understand her work.
The entries are all self-contained so feel free to jump around. In my case, I read straight through, but would have been just as happy keeping this by the bedside and picking a chapter/letter at random every night.
What made this most enjoyable for me was bringing together things I was familiar with but in new ways, making new connections across works and themes. Add in the many things I didn't know and this was both an entertaining and educational read for me.
Definitely recommended for anyone who rereads Austen on a regular basis, or even someone like me who only did rereads when I was teaching one of them. This is particularly useful for readers who would like to know more about Austen and her other writing but don't want to devote that much time and energy beyond the novels. This will connect dots and provide background quit painlessly.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
October 13, 2022
An A-Z of Jane Austen is an enticing collection of themes related to Austen including places, concepts, activities and practices and personhood. Each of her novels and other writings such as letters are used as references in this witty, sharp, thoughtful and delectable book. I love that it causes one to think and (re)interpret...so many examples but I will pay particular attention next time I re-read such as Lady Middleton's headdress grazing her daughter's neck in the Accident section, one of my favourites. Not only does the reader re-live scenes but look at them differently and contemplate the reasoning behind such details.
B is for Bath and before reading this book I had not thought of the fact that no one in Austen's books originates from Bath but some do visit the beautiful city. The F for Friendship section is wonderful and provides insight into pseudo friendships such as with Catherine Morland and Isabella Thorpe. Some are even expelled. Gifts are powerful things, as the author notes. She explains why. The Illness chapter is gripping as well. In ways it was fashionable and exaggerated as "performance". Letters are included for a plethora of reasons and the "xis" code bit later on is especially enchanting. Saying No (often in a muddled fashion) is another compelling chapter. Servants are in stories but are never more than glimpses and brief appearances. This is just a sliver of what to expect in this delightful book.
Jane Austen is one of my most beloved authors and always will be. I bet she would enjoy reading this! What fun it would be to learn her thoughts on it. Adoring fans of Austen (and those who simply wish more insight into her writing and life) will enjoy learning more.
My sincere thank you to Bloomsbury Academic and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this simultaneously fun and eye-opening book
B is for Bath and before reading this book I had not thought of the fact that no one in Austen's books originates from Bath but some do visit the beautiful city. The F for Friendship section is wonderful and provides insight into pseudo friendships such as with Catherine Morland and Isabella Thorpe. Some are even expelled. Gifts are powerful things, as the author notes. She explains why. The Illness chapter is gripping as well. In ways it was fashionable and exaggerated as "performance". Letters are included for a plethora of reasons and the "xis" code bit later on is especially enchanting. Saying No (often in a muddled fashion) is another compelling chapter. Servants are in stories but are never more than glimpses and brief appearances. This is just a sliver of what to expect in this delightful book.
Jane Austen is one of my most beloved authors and always will be. I bet she would enjoy reading this! What fun it would be to learn her thoughts on it. Adoring fans of Austen (and those who simply wish more insight into her writing and life) will enjoy learning more.
My sincere thank you to Bloomsbury Academic and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this simultaneously fun and eye-opening book
February 3, 2023
“Emma is shocked when Mr Elton proposes, but everyone - characters and readers alike - is shocked when word gets out that Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax are engaged. What's shocking here is not the relationship itself but the fact that we have somehow contrived not to notice it for several hundred pages. Having satirized its know-it-all heroine for her faulty predictions and wayward misreadings, the novel confronts us with our own readerly limitations.
The novel's very structure cautions us against replicating the heroines smug one-upmanship by obliging us to repeat her mistakes.”
Very informative and enjoyable - I love Jane Austen, but that doesn’t mean I always enjoy everything written about her. This book, though, was a delight to read; filled with short essays (so not at detailed as books like ‘The Secret Radical’) but I still learnt new things. I found the essays on Friendship fascinating as it introduced to me the idea that, when Jane was writing, the term ‘friend’ was going through a notable semantic shift - from naming as friends influential and important people to those you have an actual connection with. It explains a lot about the decisions characters in the novels make about the people they feel they should spend time with and those who are actually their friends. I also loved the essay about Bath - very interesting and the ‘unexpected’ one, which was hilarious.
I liked that the essays didn’t focus on just the main seven novels, but also the juvenilia and letters too. It was a nice touch.
Such a great book that luckily didn’t try to be a biography of Jane Austen’s life , which we realistically know so little. But instead focuses on Jane through her writing - Always the best way to do it and such a pleasure to read.
The novel's very structure cautions us against replicating the heroines smug one-upmanship by obliging us to repeat her mistakes.”
Very informative and enjoyable - I love Jane Austen, but that doesn’t mean I always enjoy everything written about her. This book, though, was a delight to read; filled with short essays (so not at detailed as books like ‘The Secret Radical’) but I still learnt new things. I found the essays on Friendship fascinating as it introduced to me the idea that, when Jane was writing, the term ‘friend’ was going through a notable semantic shift - from naming as friends influential and important people to those you have an actual connection with. It explains a lot about the decisions characters in the novels make about the people they feel they should spend time with and those who are actually their friends. I also loved the essay about Bath - very interesting and the ‘unexpected’ one, which was hilarious.
I liked that the essays didn’t focus on just the main seven novels, but also the juvenilia and letters too. It was a nice touch.
Such a great book that luckily didn’t try to be a biography of Jane Austen’s life , which we realistically know so little. But instead focuses on Jane through her writing - Always the best way to do it and such a pleasure to read.
July 18, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Academic for my copy in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
As someone who has studied Austen on and off but consistently for the past decade or so, I was super excited to see this. Professionally and academically, one of my goals is to help make Austen more accessible and understandable for younger generations (especially here in the US where across the board, the K-12 education system has severely failed 20 and younger but that's a discussion for a different day) so when I came across "An A-Z of Jane Austen", I thought "Oh wow, this sounds awesome and seems simplistic enough to start an easy discussion about Austen!" I think I might have been wrong.
I think the cover, which is very cute and would look lovely on my bookshelf, kind of gives off that this is a basic surface level book about all things Austen. However, the actual material inside the cover is not basic or surface level. The book does open with an introduction from the author about how this was essentially a dissertation which at that point, I was very skeptical about the accessibility of this topic. As I read through, that skepticism was right; this is not a light and easy read but something more for the serious Austen academics. If I were somebody who was casually acquainted with Austen (whether that be through the TV and film adaptations or through her more widely read works), I think that I would feel very overwhelmed by the information in this. This book is great if you're a more serious academic and/or your studying Austen.
I wouldn't recommend this book if you're a casual reader, but if you're like me and love Austen, this book is heavenly!
As someone who has studied Austen on and off but consistently for the past decade or so, I was super excited to see this. Professionally and academically, one of my goals is to help make Austen more accessible and understandable for younger generations (especially here in the US where across the board, the K-12 education system has severely failed 20 and younger but that's a discussion for a different day) so when I came across "An A-Z of Jane Austen", I thought "Oh wow, this sounds awesome and seems simplistic enough to start an easy discussion about Austen!" I think I might have been wrong.
I think the cover, which is very cute and would look lovely on my bookshelf, kind of gives off that this is a basic surface level book about all things Austen. However, the actual material inside the cover is not basic or surface level. The book does open with an introduction from the author about how this was essentially a dissertation which at that point, I was very skeptical about the accessibility of this topic. As I read through, that skepticism was right; this is not a light and easy read but something more for the serious Austen academics. If I were somebody who was casually acquainted with Austen (whether that be through the TV and film adaptations or through her more widely read works), I think that I would feel very overwhelmed by the information in this. This book is great if you're a more serious academic and/or your studying Austen.
I wouldn't recommend this book if you're a casual reader, but if you're like me and love Austen, this book is heavenly!
June 14, 2023
[This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review]
4.5 stars
A really lovely collection of essays on all things Jane Austen, from her novels and letters to biography and critical afterlives. Each essay takes its theme from a single word, and Greaney traces the impact of that word or idea through Austen’s life, fiction, and legacy.
All of the essays were interesting, often offering tidbits about historical context or Jane’s personal life that prove illuminating to the way she frames concepts in her fiction (Did you know that the concept of ‘friendship’ underwent a semantic shift in the Georgian period? Or that eighteenth-century England was in the grip of a ‘gambling fever’? I didn’t!). Some of the title letters were slight reaches to fit the alphabet theme (X for ‘xis,’ or ‘six’ reversed, as in one coded-for-fun letter Austen wrote to her niece—the essay was on Austen’s delight in puzzles, word games, and narrative reversals), but each was genuinely thoughtful and worthy of a place in the collection. There wasn’t a single essay that felt superfluous or more tenuous in its conclusions than the rest.
It’s not a book to read in a day; I’d recommend taking on one or two at a sitting, and letting the thoughts digest. Nor is this a book for someone who’s never read Jane Austen, though I’d say it’s perfectly accessible to non-academics. I would recommend having read at least three Austen novels before picking this up; but if you do pick it up, I promise you’ll find it rewarding.
4.5 stars
A really lovely collection of essays on all things Jane Austen, from her novels and letters to biography and critical afterlives. Each essay takes its theme from a single word, and Greaney traces the impact of that word or idea through Austen’s life, fiction, and legacy.
All of the essays were interesting, often offering tidbits about historical context or Jane’s personal life that prove illuminating to the way she frames concepts in her fiction (Did you know that the concept of ‘friendship’ underwent a semantic shift in the Georgian period? Or that eighteenth-century England was in the grip of a ‘gambling fever’? I didn’t!). Some of the title letters were slight reaches to fit the alphabet theme (X for ‘xis,’ or ‘six’ reversed, as in one coded-for-fun letter Austen wrote to her niece—the essay was on Austen’s delight in puzzles, word games, and narrative reversals), but each was genuinely thoughtful and worthy of a place in the collection. There wasn’t a single essay that felt superfluous or more tenuous in its conclusions than the rest.
It’s not a book to read in a day; I’d recommend taking on one or two at a sitting, and letting the thoughts digest. Nor is this a book for someone who’s never read Jane Austen, though I’d say it’s perfectly accessible to non-academics. I would recommend having read at least three Austen novels before picking this up; but if you do pick it up, I promise you’ll find it rewarding.
July 13, 2022
A brilliant idea and fly by stop of Jane Austen’s most iconic reads. With Interconnected discussions of 26 keywords (an alphabet letter prompt for each word) providing a gloriously insightful and fresh perspective of this famous and well know stories.
They read like little mini essays on each word, focusing a dialogue around each prompt and incorporating the array of Austen’s work centred around the word representing the letter of the alphabets. From Accidents to Matchmaking to Horses to ZigZag, I loved how the author got inventive with the chosen words.
It provided a new and novel perspective for me to Austen’s books (even though I have yet to read them all. I’m currently at half of her works). Getting a glimpse into her potential thought processes, her experiences in life and what life was like in that era. I think the book would have benefited from a few illustrations though to break up the text, as it felt like a lot of heavy writing at times.
It’s certainly a must read for any literary fan and lover of Jane Austen’s books. It would be of great benefit too to any students of literatures or those doing their A-levels on such a topic.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book via NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
They read like little mini essays on each word, focusing a dialogue around each prompt and incorporating the array of Austen’s work centred around the word representing the letter of the alphabets. From Accidents to Matchmaking to Horses to ZigZag, I loved how the author got inventive with the chosen words.
It provided a new and novel perspective for me to Austen’s books (even though I have yet to read them all. I’m currently at half of her works). Getting a glimpse into her potential thought processes, her experiences in life and what life was like in that era. I think the book would have benefited from a few illustrations though to break up the text, as it felt like a lot of heavy writing at times.
It’s certainly a must read for any literary fan and lover of Jane Austen’s books. It would be of great benefit too to any students of literatures or those doing their A-levels on such a topic.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book via NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
July 12, 2022
First off I loved the cover so twee and very Austen
I liked this book and found out lots of information I did not know about Jane Austen. The layout of the A-Z was good, I liked how some of the sections were unexpected and bit quirky…not what you would you automatically think of when you first think of Jane Austen.
I found the extracts from Jane’s writing a nice touch, the made me want to reread the novels.
I found some odd sections drawn out and a bit boring but in main I liked the style of writing and the information that I already knew and that of what I did not kept me interested and wanting more.
I think this would be good book for someone coming Austen’s works for the first time, perhaps a teenager about start English Lit at award level,
Would have liked to see illustrations inside the book I feel that would have added something and made the basic pages match the interesting facts. Plus as the cover was so nice these little sketches would have fitted well.
All in all this is a book for both new and old fans of Austin full of facts and some lovely extracts from some of best novels ever written
I liked this book and found out lots of information I did not know about Jane Austen. The layout of the A-Z was good, I liked how some of the sections were unexpected and bit quirky…not what you would you automatically think of when you first think of Jane Austen.
I found the extracts from Jane’s writing a nice touch, the made me want to reread the novels.
I found some odd sections drawn out and a bit boring but in main I liked the style of writing and the information that I already knew and that of what I did not kept me interested and wanting more.
I think this would be good book for someone coming Austen’s works for the first time, perhaps a teenager about start English Lit at award level,
Would have liked to see illustrations inside the book I feel that would have added something and made the basic pages match the interesting facts. Plus as the cover was so nice these little sketches would have fitted well.
All in all this is a book for both new and old fans of Austin full of facts and some lovely extracts from some of best novels ever written
September 6, 2022
The book is set up alphabetically so each chapter is headed by a letter... "A is for Accident, B is for Bath, C is for Children etc and after each letter the author leads us into a short essay covering observations, opinions, facts and highlights on each lettered topic from Jane Austens most famous works.
🌼This book would be a wonderful addition to any Jane Austen fans library, a novelty gift for a fellow Janite or for someone studying Austen's work.
I did enjoy reading it as I'm a MAHOOSIVE Janite (especially the inclusion of The Watson's as I'm a bit obsessed with its unfinished-ness), its an ideal book to dip into every now and again....Im not sure how entertaining it would be for non Austen fans as it does read a little like study notes 🙈 ..an addition of illustrations would have been a bonus
🌼This book would be a wonderful addition to any Jane Austen fans library, a novelty gift for a fellow Janite or for someone studying Austen's work.
I did enjoy reading it as I'm a MAHOOSIVE Janite (especially the inclusion of The Watson's as I'm a bit obsessed with its unfinished-ness), its an ideal book to dip into every now and again....Im not sure how entertaining it would be for non Austen fans as it does read a little like study notes 🙈 ..an addition of illustrations would have been a bonus
October 31, 2022
I will qualify this by saying that I am a middle-of-the-road Austen enthusiast. I've read her work, seen the various film/TV adaptations, and read a few analyses and reference texts like this, but I have never done any formal or extensive study of her work and therefore my thoughts need to be considered in that context.
That said, this was interesting reading and contained insights I hadn't seen or considered thoroughly before. The conceit of "A-Z" didn't feel particularly necessary, but didn't detract from my enjoyment either. The author's ideas seemed well supported and text is cited when appropriate. I appreciated the variety of concepts discussed in this and found it very readable. I learned a little something and enjoyed myself while doing it--what more can one ask, really?
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
That said, this was interesting reading and contained insights I hadn't seen or considered thoroughly before. The conceit of "A-Z" didn't feel particularly necessary, but didn't detract from my enjoyment either. The author's ideas seemed well supported and text is cited when appropriate. I appreciated the variety of concepts discussed in this and found it very readable. I learned a little something and enjoyed myself while doing it--what more can one ask, really?
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
October 7, 2022
(October 6th, 2022)
For Jane Austen fans, this is one of the best books one can read to discover the most intricate details about her life, her letters and her novels.
I took me a while to finish this book, but it was worth every second. I learned so much from it, from how the word 'eye' fits into Austen's narratives or even 'xis' was written as a riddle or something more. It truly taught me a lot about one of the best author's from the English literature and the smallest details from her books.
Interesting and informative, Michael Greaney really did an amazing job to show the world of Jane Austen in ways I never saw it. Also, the cover is absolutely amazing and I love every part of it.
Signing off,
B.
For Jane Austen fans, this is one of the best books one can read to discover the most intricate details about her life, her letters and her novels.
I took me a while to finish this book, but it was worth every second. I learned so much from it, from how the word 'eye' fits into Austen's narratives or even 'xis' was written as a riddle or something more. It truly taught me a lot about one of the best author's from the English literature and the smallest details from her books.
Interesting and informative, Michael Greaney really did an amazing job to show the world of Jane Austen in ways I never saw it. Also, the cover is absolutely amazing and I love every part of it.
Signing off,
B.
November 26, 2022
Really loved this book, I am a fan of Austen and have read her most popular works and watched a fair few adaptations over the years.
Format is really great - 26 short essays, each focused on a different topic. While it would suit a student/ more scholarly reading, the language and style was accessible and fun for the everyday Austen reader. What I really liked about it is that it illuminated themes in her work that are often there - matchmaking, marriage refusals - but I hadn't really thought about these and their importance in the structure of her stories until I read this.
Couldn't recommend this enough, made me appreciate Jane Austen's skill as a writer and gave me new ways to think about her work.
Format is really great - 26 short essays, each focused on a different topic. While it would suit a student/ more scholarly reading, the language and style was accessible and fun for the everyday Austen reader. What I really liked about it is that it illuminated themes in her work that are often there - matchmaking, marriage refusals - but I hadn't really thought about these and their importance in the structure of her stories until I read this.
Couldn't recommend this enough, made me appreciate Jane Austen's skill as a writer and gave me new ways to think about her work.
July 18, 2022
This book provides a unique look at both commonly occurring and somewhat overlooked concepts found throughout Jane Austen’s writings. The author, Michael Greaney, uses an A-Z outline rather than formatting the chapters by a specific work. Each letter covers one topic with multiple examples cited spanning the different works of Jane Austen.
While this is not the most comprehensive guide to Jane Austen, the arrangement makes it a helpful companion for research. The is a listing of “works cited” at the end of the book for further reading. The author has also included an index for easier use.
This volume would make a great addition to any classical literature library or the home library of any Jane Austen fans.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Academic!
While this is not the most comprehensive guide to Jane Austen, the arrangement makes it a helpful companion for research. The is a listing of “works cited” at the end of the book for further reading. The author has also included an index for easier use.
This volume would make a great addition to any classical literature library or the home library of any Jane Austen fans.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Academic!
January 30, 2023
I really enjoyed this collection of short essays investigating aspects of the works of Jane Austen.
Arranged in an A - Z format, with entries such as M for Matchmaking, ,Q for Queer and W for West Indies, each essay concentrates on that particular aspect of the novels and shows us "...how attention to the tiniest linguistic detail in Austens work can yield rewarding new perspectives on the achievements of one of our most celebrated authors."(quote from back cover of book)
I borrowed this from my local library but I intend to purchase a copy, I think it is an excellent guide to Austens view of her world
Arranged in an A - Z format, with entries such as M for Matchmaking, ,Q for Queer and W for West Indies, each essay concentrates on that particular aspect of the novels and shows us "...how attention to the tiniest linguistic detail in Austens work can yield rewarding new perspectives on the achievements of one of our most celebrated authors."(quote from back cover of book)
I borrowed this from my local library but I intend to purchase a copy, I think it is an excellent guide to Austens view of her world
October 10, 2022
If you love Jane Austen and have read most of her novels, this fast read is for you!
The author, Dr Michael Greaney is a senior lecturer at Lancaster University, whose research focuses on fiction since 1800. In this book, his passion shines and helps us dive into the Austen Universe. It’s filled with big themes and fun details, common throughout her books. It delights you with “Aha moments” and “Oh, I’ve noticed that too!” – at least it did for me, an avid reader of all Jane Austen’s novels.
My full review: https://readfinebooks.com/2022/10/10/...
The author, Dr Michael Greaney is a senior lecturer at Lancaster University, whose research focuses on fiction since 1800. In this book, his passion shines and helps us dive into the Austen Universe. It’s filled with big themes and fun details, common throughout her books. It delights you with “Aha moments” and “Oh, I’ve noticed that too!” – at least it did for me, an avid reader of all Jane Austen’s novels.
My full review: https://readfinebooks.com/2022/10/10/...
November 14, 2022
𝐽 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑎𝑛𝑒 🤍
This was such an interesting read! Jane Austen is my all-time fav, and I always jump at the chance to learn more about her and her life.
I took so many notes and made too many annotations, but there were so many important passages and I just wanted to highlight everything! 26 short essays highlight keywords concepts and activities that would’ve been important to Jane Austen, and discussed in her books. Some stand out chapters include B is for bath, H is for horse, D is for dance, and V is for visits. I loved these essays and learned even more about Jane and the Regency era 🤍
This was such an interesting read! Jane Austen is my all-time fav, and I always jump at the chance to learn more about her and her life.
I took so many notes and made too many annotations, but there were so many important passages and I just wanted to highlight everything! 26 short essays highlight keywords concepts and activities that would’ve been important to Jane Austen, and discussed in her books. Some stand out chapters include B is for bath, H is for horse, D is for dance, and V is for visits. I loved these essays and learned even more about Jane and the Regency era 🤍
July 12, 2022
A book all about Jane Austen, from A-Z we get an insightful look of Austen’s themes and fun little details and facts. This was honestly such a delightful read, you get to learn so much and discover more about Jane Austen’s world. Filled with linguistic detail and fun new perspectives and and insight, this book is the perfect book for fans of Jane Austen!
*Thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury Academic for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*Thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury Academic for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
October 13, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
"An A-Z of Jane Austen" by Michael Greaney is a great read for any Austen fans out there and I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy once it hits shelves. The book takes readers through an "A to Z" list of themes and motifs from Austen's books, letters, and juvenilia. I found it to be extremely interesting to think back on my past experiences reading Austen through the lens of some of the topics in this book. This book would make a fantastic gift for any individual who loves Austen and is interested in adding more context to her work.
"An A-Z of Jane Austen" by Michael Greaney is a great read for any Austen fans out there and I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy once it hits shelves. The book takes readers through an "A to Z" list of themes and motifs from Austen's books, letters, and juvenilia. I found it to be extremely interesting to think back on my past experiences reading Austen through the lens of some of the topics in this book. This book would make a fantastic gift for any individual who loves Austen and is interested in adding more context to her work.
August 2, 2022
A really enjoyable and easy to follow look at Jane Austen, her life and works.
I always think when reading a book like this you could be overwhelmed with information and opinions but this was really well done. It took a lot of what is familiar and presented in a different way.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I always think when reading a book like this you could be overwhelmed with information and opinions but this was really well done. It took a lot of what is familiar and presented in a different way.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
September 23, 2022
An A-Z of Jane Austen is a collection of 26 short essays about Jane Austen's works based around a word starting with each letter of the alphabet. I enjoyed this book, but it definitely has more of an academic tone. Overall, I found this to be very informative.
*I received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley
*I received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley
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