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A review by lostinfrance
Jane Austen, the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly
4.0
This book was exactly what I was hoping for--- a thorough explanation and background of what was going on when Jane Austen wrote each of her novels and the themes and ideas she was hinting at. Austen was not writing fluffy chick lit as many people seem to assume, but she was writing commentary on various events happening around her--- or in society standards. Slavery, Church of England, treatment of women, lack of heritage/money.....I was reassured that my favorite author was a radical and having her word--- when most women were not given that chance.
Reading this I feel like there was a lot I missed when I read the actual novels, so I hope to soon go back and read each novel and pull out the chapter of this book to see if I agree with Kelly's observations. The ultimate dream would be to go to Bath and Chawton, explore the coast of Lyme and read her works, but I am not part of Darcy's family, so I don't think I'll be doing that any time soon.
If you are a fan of Austen's work, I do recommend you read this (even if it can be a bit academic at times) to get a better understanding of Austen's time and her possible motivations behind different characters, their names....the vocabulary she chose.
Read if you find yourself arguing that Austen was a rule breaker. She was not one to just sit and be silent as many imagine. And her books were not just 'fluff'.
Reading this I feel like there was a lot I missed when I read the actual novels, so I hope to soon go back and read each novel and pull out the chapter of this book to see if I agree with Kelly's observations. The ultimate dream would be to go to Bath and Chawton, explore the coast of Lyme and read her works, but I am not part of Darcy's family, so I don't think I'll be doing that any time soon.
If you are a fan of Austen's work, I do recommend you read this (even if it can be a bit academic at times) to get a better understanding of Austen's time and her possible motivations behind different characters, their names....the vocabulary she chose.
Read if you find yourself arguing that Austen was a rule breaker. She was not one to just sit and be silent as many imagine. And her books were not just 'fluff'.