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A review by rlaurene
Jane Austen, the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly
2.0
As other reviewers have pointed out in varying degrees, this book is a problematic voice for Austen, from its tone, its imaginary section, and less-than-innovative ideas.
There are also flaws in the arguments - the beginning of her argument about Mansfield Park centres around the oddness that it has a location as a title, conveniently forgetting Northanger Abbey . Kelly uses the literary allusions in the novels to date their creation, then proceeds to call the references in the unfinished Sanditon outdated. Perhaps most controversially, she essentially accuses Austen's family of killing her.
Many of the arguments are weak, forgetting in many cases the flow of the plot, not backing ideas with enough textual analysis, Persuasion in particular. The Pride and Prejudice section is a nice little capsule, however, a good piece of detective work into turn-of-the-century manners.
There are also flaws in the arguments - the beginning of her argument about Mansfield Park centres around the oddness that it has a location as a title, conveniently forgetting Northanger Abbey . Kelly uses the literary allusions in the novels to date their creation, then proceeds to call the references in the unfinished Sanditon outdated. Perhaps most controversially, she essentially accuses Austen's family of killing her.
Many of the arguments are weak, forgetting in many cases the flow of the plot, not backing ideas with enough textual analysis, Persuasion in particular. The Pride and Prejudice section is a nice little capsule, however, a good piece of detective work into turn-of-the-century manners.