Austen’s most well-known novel is enjoyable and morally sound, showing the dangers of allowing prejudice, arrogance, or deference to others’ opinions to blind us to the truth.
Pride and Prejudice is the only Austen novel I've read recently enough to remember it fairly well. I was planning to read Emma next. Any specific recommendations after that?
Those are the two I've re-read most recently and remember in the most detail, but I remember Sense and Sensibility had something of a reason/emotion theme going on that was interesting. If Austen's poking fun at absurdity/stupidity is your thing, she satirizes Gothic novels in a very amusing way in Northanger Abbey. Let me know what you think of Emma!
I love Jane Austen, almost literally for her character which shines through her work. As someone who does film making I find it fascinating that they keep making her stories into movies (and presumably profiting from them - otherwise I assume they would stop doing so.) when the culture and setting for her stories vanished hundreds of years ago. The latter seems especially true of our current culture which in my view turned downward beginning about the 60s. I look forward to a cultural renaissance which TOS will hopefully help bring about. In the mean time, I'll watch more Jane Austen movies. :)
It's definitely fascinating how much of an appeal she continues to have well after her time! I'm planning to attend a couple days of the Jane Austen Festival in Bath - for 10 days, fans of her works will gather to celebrate them with balls, play adaptations, dancing lessons, and more. Many sew Regency-era clothing to wear to it. Timeless stories with good moral lessons and emotional appeal, I suppose!
Pride and Prejudice is the only Austen novel I've read recently enough to remember it fairly well. I was planning to read Emma next. Any specific recommendations after that?
Those are the two I've re-read most recently and remember in the most detail, but I remember Sense and Sensibility had something of a reason/emotion theme going on that was interesting. If Austen's poking fun at absurdity/stupidity is your thing, she satirizes Gothic novels in a very amusing way in Northanger Abbey. Let me know what you think of Emma!
I do love good satire....
I love Jane Austen, almost literally for her character which shines through her work. As someone who does film making I find it fascinating that they keep making her stories into movies (and presumably profiting from them - otherwise I assume they would stop doing so.) when the culture and setting for her stories vanished hundreds of years ago. The latter seems especially true of our current culture which in my view turned downward beginning about the 60s. I look forward to a cultural renaissance which TOS will hopefully help bring about. In the mean time, I'll watch more Jane Austen movies. :)
It's definitely fascinating how much of an appeal she continues to have well after her time! I'm planning to attend a couple days of the Jane Austen Festival in Bath - for 10 days, fans of her works will gather to celebrate them with balls, play adaptations, dancing lessons, and more. Many sew Regency-era clothing to wear to it. Timeless stories with good moral lessons and emotional appeal, I suppose!