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Speaking of Jane Austen
286 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1943
1 person is currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Kaye-Smith
113 books13 followersThe daughter of a country doctor, Shelia Kaye-Smith was born in St Leonards-on-Sea near Hastings. Her first novel, The Tramping Methodist was published when she was 21. In 1923 her book, The End of the House of Alard became a best-seller and gave her national prominence. She went on to write over 40 books.
Kaye-Smith's early novels were chiefly pre-occupied with rural life in Sussex and Kent. They focused on farming, land inheritance, agricultural mechanisation and changing women's roles in rural life. Joanna Godden, arguably her most famous novel, was adapted into a film in 1947.
Her later books focused on her religious pre-occupations, and her conversion to catholicism. She was also a passionate scholar of Jane Austen and with her friend, G.B. Stern wrote Speaking of Jane Austen and More About Jane Austen.
Kaye-Smith's early novels were chiefly pre-occupied with rural life in Sussex and Kent. They focused on farming, land inheritance, agricultural mechanisation and changing women's roles in rural life. Joanna Godden, arguably her most famous novel, was adapted into a film in 1947.
Her later books focused on her religious pre-occupations, and her conversion to catholicism. She was also a passionate scholar of Jane Austen and with her friend, G.B. Stern wrote Speaking of Jane Austen and More About Jane Austen.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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August 10, 2016I don't understand why this book isn't reprinted, at least in ebook form, given how huge the Jane Austen industry has grown.
Whatever. I was delighted to discover this book wherein G. B. Stern, whose delightful books I've only discovered in the last decade (they are very hard to find in Southern California) and Sheila Kaye-Smith, who I have not come across before, talk about their first discovery of Jane Austen, and then go on to discuss the books.
It was more than a hundred years ago that one of the authors discovered Austen (1905), which marks a rough halfway point between Austen's original publication and now. I think it's well to keep that in mind as one reads these delightful airings of opinion; I suspect that some of the conclusions they draw stem from the cultural milieu of a century ago.
And of course some is opinion, shared with many readers now. The book makes no attempt to masquerade as critical analysis. I think it's meant to be enjoyed a chapter at a time over tea, or before bed (which is how I read it), but I do think that to get the most out of it, it's probably best to have read Austen numerous times. Being able to instantly identify quotes, names, and situations from the novels lends itself to the pleasure.
The biggest take-away I got from this book was that delightful sense of a book discussion. Sometimes I spoke aloud, "No, no, you're totally wrong, how could you think that," and other times, "Yes, yes!" -- that gratifying feeling that comes of someone agreeing with you.
And there were things to learn, too, such as Sheila Kaye-Smith's chapter about how Austen's people were dressed. On the surface, one might think such a subject would take up about a paragraph, as Austen provides only the briefest clues to what anyone is wearing. We learn in Mansfield Park that Edmund liked Fanny's white gown with the glossy spots, and we learn more about muslins (and how they wash, or wear) in Northanger, through the absurdities of Mrs. Allen, but otherwise? However, Kaye-Smith teases out some of the hidden-to-us-modern meanings in Mrs. Elton's vulgarities, such as her preoccupation with trimmings (while denying that she ever thinks of dress).
They talk about characters they like, ones they don't, ones they don't believe Austen did justice to, and then they turn around and extrapolate entire lives for characters who are barely mentioned.
I was sorry to end the book; I would have liked so much to sit down and listen to these women talk forever about Austen, as we all drank tea.
Whatever. I was delighted to discover this book wherein G. B. Stern, whose delightful books I've only discovered in the last decade (they are very hard to find in Southern California) and Sheila Kaye-Smith, who I have not come across before, talk about their first discovery of Jane Austen, and then go on to discuss the books.
It was more than a hundred years ago that one of the authors discovered Austen (1905), which marks a rough halfway point between Austen's original publication and now. I think it's well to keep that in mind as one reads these delightful airings of opinion; I suspect that some of the conclusions they draw stem from the cultural milieu of a century ago.
And of course some is opinion, shared with many readers now. The book makes no attempt to masquerade as critical analysis. I think it's meant to be enjoyed a chapter at a time over tea, or before bed (which is how I read it), but I do think that to get the most out of it, it's probably best to have read Austen numerous times. Being able to instantly identify quotes, names, and situations from the novels lends itself to the pleasure.
The biggest take-away I got from this book was that delightful sense of a book discussion. Sometimes I spoke aloud, "No, no, you're totally wrong, how could you think that," and other times, "Yes, yes!" -- that gratifying feeling that comes of someone agreeing with you.
And there were things to learn, too, such as Sheila Kaye-Smith's chapter about how Austen's people were dressed. On the surface, one might think such a subject would take up about a paragraph, as Austen provides only the briefest clues to what anyone is wearing. We learn in Mansfield Park that Edmund liked Fanny's white gown with the glossy spots, and we learn more about muslins (and how they wash, or wear) in Northanger, through the absurdities of Mrs. Allen, but otherwise? However, Kaye-Smith teases out some of the hidden-to-us-modern meanings in Mrs. Elton's vulgarities, such as her preoccupation with trimmings (while denying that she ever thinks of dress).
They talk about characters they like, ones they don't, ones they don't believe Austen did justice to, and then they turn around and extrapolate entire lives for characters who are barely mentioned.
I was sorry to end the book; I would have liked so much to sit down and listen to these women talk forever about Austen, as we all drank tea.
September 14, 2013
What a delightful book. Just like talking to someone about Jane Austen's books. What's similar about them, what's different, which characters you like or don't like and why. Two different authors who alternate chapters and don't always agree. Very fun!
January 29, 2021
A really lovely collection of essays by true Jane Austen lovers - a true pleasure to read ☺️✨
February 25, 2014
4 Regency Teacups. While extremely dated, 1944, many interesting points. As many said on Goodreads, I certainly disagree with the authors on many points. However, very interesting points. The best part of the book for me was when each author gave a paragraph of their views on characters. For me only, an interesting connection with Sheila Kaye-Smith. My favorite composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, wrote the music to the film version of her book "Joanna Godden".
"She was far too conscientious an artist to compromise with truth, and we may be sure that the facts she ignored could be ignored, and almost certainly were ignored by the kind of people she writes about...." -Sheila Kaye-Smith
Finally, I'll have to look for the exact quote. However, one of the authors says that a heroine of 20 years in Jane Austen's time would be 7 years older in 1944. Perhaps we can add another 1 1/2 to that equation. For me, that's the best answer to utter complete NONSENSE of saying so-so is too old to play so-so!!!!! ie Emma Thompson is too old to play Elinor Dashwood. Tell me whether you liked how they played character, not that so-so was too old(I suppose it might matter if the difference is 20 yrs but surely not 5-15 yrs). There a quite a few Janeites who I highly highly respect who wave the age comment. If the actress is all wrong for part, I'm looking at you Billie Piper, that's clearly fair game.
"She was far too conscientious an artist to compromise with truth, and we may be sure that the facts she ignored could be ignored, and almost certainly were ignored by the kind of people she writes about...." -Sheila Kaye-Smith
Finally, I'll have to look for the exact quote. However, one of the authors says that a heroine of 20 years in Jane Austen's time would be 7 years older in 1944. Perhaps we can add another 1 1/2 to that equation. For me, that's the best answer to utter complete NONSENSE of saying so-so is too old to play so-so!!!!! ie Emma Thompson is too old to play Elinor Dashwood. Tell me whether you liked how they played character, not that so-so was too old(I suppose it might matter if the difference is 20 yrs but surely not 5-15 yrs). There a quite a few Janeites who I highly highly respect who wave the age comment. If the actress is all wrong for part, I'm looking at you Billie Piper, that's clearly fair game.
March 7, 2013
While I certainly disagree with the authors on some things (their analysis of the characters in Mansfield Park is what we disagree on the most), I still really enjoyed reading this book. It was light-hearted and fun for the most part, but also helped me think a bit more seriously about Austen's works. I highly recommend this book!
August 18, 2019
In fact this book is written almost entirely from selfish motives. We are not writing it mainly to delight our readers, but to delight ourselves—to give ourselves the pleasure of expressing ourselves at length on a subject which is completely absorbing to us both.
Although I can honestly say I've read all of Jane Austen's novels—more than once!—I can't pretend to have the level of familiarity with them that these authors display (I didn't know the answer to any of the trivia questions in Chapter XIII: What kind of apricot did Dr. Grant discuss with Mrs.Norris, and what was the price of it? Heavens.) Nor can I even imagine bringing the level of critical analysis to the novels that these authors do. Nevertheless, even a non-Janeite can appreciate these entertaining essays, and I did enjoy them very much. I found myself agreeing with most of their conclusions—Fanny Price and Edmund Bertram are prigs, Mr. Knightley is the best of the heroes, etc.—and even when I couldn't agree—Sense and Sensibility as the least of the novels? Never for me—I could understand the author's viewpoint. All in all, a very enjoyable deep dive into Austen's fictional world.
September 19, 2025
Loved it. It’s nice to know that 80-odd years ago Janeites had more or less the same theories and pet peeves about Austen’s novels and her characters we have now. I enjoyed the format - each chapter contains two essays on the same topic, sometimes the authors agree, sometimes they don’t. It's all in good fun. Do I agree that Fanny Price should have married Henry Crawford? Not necessarily, but it's not the first time I heard the suggestion. By the way, the test of how well you know Jane Austen’s novels was extremely hard. I enjoyed it, but to ace this one you’d need to know the novels inside and out.
I need to read at least one book by both women to see for myself what kind of authors they were.
To add to my TBR:
Sheila Kaye-Smith: Joanna Godden
G.B. Stern: The Matriarch
I need to read at least one book by both women to see for myself what kind of authors they were.
To add to my TBR:
Sheila Kaye-Smith: Joanna Godden
G.B. Stern: The Matriarch
June 21, 2019
A delightful deeply fannish conversation between two early 20th century authors about their love for all things Austen. The book ranges from longer form essays about particular aspects of Austen's novel (for instance, the romances in Mansfield Park and why these authors find them Wrong), to fanfiction to short pieces that today would be a tumblr post or even a tweet. I enjoyed it on many levels -- because I love Austen, certainly, but also the chance to get to know these two women, the opportunity to see what Austen's novels look like from an entirely different set of social assumptions which are removed both from Austen's day and my own, and just the sheer glorious fannishness of it. It is a lovely reminder that things which people see as present-day phenomena are often really just human tendencies, like two women loving an author and wanting to write and talk and think and daydream and invent new stories about her characters.
February 13, 2023
Worth reading and rereading.
June 9, 2014
I've just finished a delicious book. t's out of print, copyright 1943 but I was able to get it
thought interlibrary loan. "Talking of Jane Austen" by Shelia
Kaye-Smith and G. B. Stern. Wonderful discussions between them of
everything pertaining to Austen's books - plot, characters, quotes,
language....and more. They are true Austen devotees, and the book
greatly enhanced my Austen reading. As I said, delicious. They disagree
about various things in the books, which makes it shine as they explain
how they came to their conclusions, and even convinced each other to
change their minds. A lovely, lovely book. I'm so grateful it came to
my attention. I plan to read it again, before I have to send it back.
There's a hardcopy available at Amazon for, iirc, $34.00 -- I'm tempted...
thought interlibrary loan. "Talking of Jane Austen" by Shelia
Kaye-Smith and G. B. Stern. Wonderful discussions between them of
everything pertaining to Austen's books - plot, characters, quotes,
language....and more. They are true Austen devotees, and the book
greatly enhanced my Austen reading. As I said, delicious. They disagree
about various things in the books, which makes it shine as they explain
how they came to their conclusions, and even convinced each other to
change their minds. A lovely, lovely book. I'm so grateful it came to
my attention. I plan to read it again, before I have to send it back.
There's a hardcopy available at Amazon for, iirc, $34.00 -- I'm tempted...
April 23, 2012
One of my favorite books to go back to when I've reread Jane Austen's novels & wish there were more.
November 28, 2018
This is, on rereading, still a very charming and likable book.
May 25, 2016
A very interesting unpretentious book about 2 people sharing a passion for Jane.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews