Jane’s Fame How Jane Austen Conquered the World
- 4 Mar 2010
- 9781847675330
- £12.99
- 368 pp
- 129×198mm
- 2 Apr 2009
- 9781847675781
- £10.39
- 384 pp
In a few words
The first book about Jane Austen to dissect the industry around her – a completely original approach to one of Britain’s most enduring popular novelists
In a few words
The first book about Jane Austen to dissect the industry around her – a completely original approach to one of Britain’s most enduring popular novelists
A deft, elegant exploration of the cult of all thing Austen . . . a happy blend of critical insight and narrative bounce, making Jane's Fame a fine addition to the current trend for analysing posthumous lives.
Harman is particularly good on how writing became the centre of [Jane's] life . . . this fascinating and sophisticated take on Jane Mania is a sparkling addition to the canon.
Christopher Hudson
Evening StandardA deft, elegant exploration of the cult of all thing Austen . . . a happy blend of critical insight and narrative bounce, making Jane's Fame a fine addition to the current trend for analysing posthumous lives.
Kathryn Hughes
GuardianHarman is particularly good on how writing became the centre of [Jane's] life . . . this fascinating and sophisticated take on Jane Mania is a sparkling addition to the canon.
Christopher Hudson
Evening StandardMore about
the book
Part biography and part cultural history, this splendid book not only tells the captivating story of Jane Austen’s life, but also her literary legacy. The slow growth of Austen’s fame, the changing status of her work, and what it has stood for in English culture is a story of personal struggle and family dynamics as well as a history of critical practices and changing public tastes.
Jane’s Fame is essential reading for anyone interested in Austen’s life, works and unshakable appeal.
More about
the book
Part biography and part cultural history, this splendid book not only tells the captivating story of Jane Austen’s life, but also her literary legacy. The slow growth of Austen’s fame, the changing status of her work, and what it has stood for in English culture is a story of personal struggle and family dynamics as well as a history of critical practices and changing public tastes.
Jane’s Fame is essential reading for anyone interested in Austen’s life, works and unshakable appeal.
An extraordinary book, crammed with scholarship and glittering with trivia . . . Harman's book offers so many delight . . . This is a fantastic compendium of absolutely everything relating to Austen, the tone calm and impartial despite severe provocation.
A wonderful book . . . A shrewd but unstuffy critic, Harman's prose rings with good sense, affection and humour, and she articulates very well indeed what's good about Austen without descending into the camp either of drooling Janeites or literary-theoretical pseudery . . . [Jane's Fame] manages to be not only scholarly, but indecently entertaining.
An exhilarating look at the rise of Divine Jane's worldwide influence. Harman charts its course with wit and style, as well as scholarly precision, making this a book that no Austen addict will want to resist.
Mark Bostridge
Literary ReviewSplendid . . . there is no doubt that Harman is the first to treat this fascinating subject in an accessible, lively manner unshackled by academic jargon. There is much to enjoy in this book . . . it's the quality of the insights and the interpretations that make this book such a good read.
Paula Byrne
Sunday TelegraphAn extraordinary book, crammed with scholarship and glittering with trivia . . . Harman's book offers so many delight . . . This is a fantastic compendium of absolutely everything relating to Austen, the tone calm and impartial despite severe provocation.
Elspeth Barker
Independent on SundayAn exhilarating look at the rise of Divine Jane's worldwide influence. Harman charts its course with wit and style, as well as scholarly precision, making this a book that no Austen addict will want to resist.
Mark Bostridge
Literary ReviewA wonderful book . . . A shrewd but unstuffy critic, Harman's prose rings with good sense, affection and humour, and she articulates very well indeed what's good about Austen without descending into the camp either of drooling Janeites or literary-theoretical pseudery . . . [Jane's Fame] manages to be not only scholarly, but indecently entertaining.
Sam Leith
Daily MailSplendid . . . there is no doubt that Harman is the first to treat this fascinating subject in an accessible, lively manner unshackled by academic jargon. There is much to enjoy in this book . . . it's the quality of the insights and the interpretations that make this book such a good read.
Paula Byrne
Sunday Telegraph
