Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good character development of heroine
I would rank this one as the number 3 Austen book I've read, below Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I like the heroine because she was well-developed. She wasn't purely weak and selfless like many heroines from this genre. The love story was kind of anti-climactic, but I still liked it because it was also not typical of this genre. The heroine wasn't only about pursuing her love. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a break from the cookie-cutter story lines and character development of contemporary fiction.

Swan Song
Austen's last is one of the famed four -- Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and this novel, the most melancholy but also perhaps most romatic of the quartet.I also highly recommend the filmPersuasion

Jane Austen's Autumnal Final Work
For those familiar with Austen's work, Persuasion will be both familiar and somewhat different.All of Austen's works are simple romances, but this one is another unique part of her writing.In most of her novels, Austen had a young heroine, who is blocked from the hero by rivals.In Persuasion, the heroine is Anne Elliot, who is 27 and cannot marry the hero, Captain Wentworth, because of a previous aborted romance.Their history blocks them, but they still manage to overcome it.

Austen again manages to create believable characters with sharp wit.However, while good, this book in my opinion isn't in the same great class as Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park or Emma.For me its partially because of its Autumnal air and its rather tiresomely familiar at times.Anne's father, Sir Walter Elliot's character is vanity from beginning to end.Why Austen chose to always have a negative father caricature is a mystery to me.The theme of the navy versus the nobility is also very prevalent.Other lesser characters, such as the Admiral and his wife, Lady Russell, William Elliot and Mrs. Smith are truly alive.So despite my misgivings, Austen sharpened her art enough for a book that makes a great read. It is a read that people will continue to experience for years to come.

A good, quick book
This was a typical Jane Austen love story and a well-written piece.I actually found it quite quick.My only gripe is that this story (compared to "Mansfield Park" or "Pride and Prejudice") is quite incomplete in descriptions about the mannerisms between some characters *at the time of their occurance* that, though explained fully in the last couple of chapters, a reader would not find them as easily recognizable as one would hope.I was slightly shocked to see the motives behind two of the characters.It was a good read but it did feel a little incomplete.

Austen's Materpiece
Austen created a literary treasure with this book. The story has all the the usual Austen charms, yet also deals with lost love, age and family pressures.Anne and Wemtworth are qonderful charecters. ... Read more

Product Description
Love and Freindship [sic] is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Jane Austen is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Jane Austen then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A delightfully, fiendishy funny Austen self parody!
I stumbled upon this little treasure after exhaustimg what I had thought were all of Miss Austen's writings. The piece offers a wonderful insight into Miss Austen's sensibilities (if I may...), her intelligence, her sense of humor and her highly commendable lack of reverance for anyone or anything.
I would term this an ESSENTIAL piece of writing to be read only after reading the well known Austen books.
On that note I am off to find her History of England which promises to be equally enertaining.

Book review for Love andFriendship [sic]
This book is a great sit down book and once your nose is in it then your nose will not want to com out. It is not to long but not to short it was a great reading and hopefully it will be the same for you:)

THE FRIENDSHIP CANT END TODAY!
you know when you lets say go to summer camp and you think your not going to make friends with new people. Well than yo get to camp and you see some nice girl sitting alone so you say hi than a whole friendship starts! my point is read this book and learn how to love your friends. FrIeNdShIp MaKeS ThE WoRlD Go RoUnD!!

A very immature work of a wonderful writer
There's a reason this did not appear during the author's lifetime.It was a juvenile piece, never intended for publication outside the family.It's typically self-conscious and very knowing. Written by a teenager, I recommend it only to die-hard Austen fans and scholars, and even we have to admit it's not great work!

A Peek Into Austen's Early Writing
Love and Freindship is a great collection of the early writings of Jane Austen. The preface to this work states they have not corrected the spelling, punctuation or odd capitalization Austen used in these pieces. I have been told the `i before e' rule was not in place during her time. I am not sure if this is true. She also spells - greif and beleif as such.

As a writer I LOVED reading the rough ramblings of Austen. She played with plot lines and character traits. So this title is not so much a full story but many snippets of ideas.

The first section of Love and Freindship is a funny, rambling tale told through letters. Imagine what a soap opera written by Austen would be like and you'll have it.
... Read more

Product Description
This is a new beautifully-designed edition of Jane Austen's best-selling classic NORTHANGER ABBEY. Large 6"x9" format, printed on high quality paper.Amazon.com Review
Though Northanger Abbey is one of Jane Austen's earliest novels, itwas not published until after her death--well after she'd established herreputation with works such as Pride andPrejudice, Emma,andSense andSensibility. Of all her novels, this one is the most explicitlyliterary in that it is primarily concerned with books and with readers. Init, Austen skewers the novelistic excesses of her day made popular in such18th-century Gothic potboilers as Ann Radcliffe's TheMysteries of Udolpho. Decrepit castles, locked rooms, mysteriouschests, cryptic notes, and tyrannical fathers all figure into NorthangerAbbey, but with a decidedly satirical twist. Consider Austen'sintroduction of her heroine: we are told on the very first page that "noone who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposedher born to be an heroine." The author goes on to explain that MissMorland's father is a clergyman with "a considerable independence, besidestwo good livings--and he was not in the least addicted to locking up hisdaughters." Furthermore, her mother does not die giving birth toher, and Catherine herself, far from engaging in "the more heroicenjoyments of infancy, nursing a dormouse, feeding a canary-bird, orwatering a rose-bush" vastly prefers playing cricket with her brothers toany girlish pastimes.

Catherine grows up to be a passably pretty girl and is invited to spend afew weeks in Bath with a family friend. While there she meets Henry Tilneyand his sister Eleanor, who invite her to visit their family estate,Northanger Abbey. Once there, Austen amuses herself and us as Catherine, agreat reader of Gothic romances, allows her imagination to run wild,finding dreadful portents in the most wonderfully prosaic events. ButAusten is after something more than mere parody; she uses her rapier wit tomock not only the essential silliness of "horrid" novels, but to expose theeven more horrid workings of polite society, for nothing Catherine imaginescould possibly rival the hypocrisy she experiences at the hands of hersupposed friends. In many respects Northanger Abbey is the mostlighthearted of Jane Austen's novels, yet at its core is a serious,unsentimental commentary on love and marriage, 19th-century British style.--Alix Wilber ... Read more

Customer Reviews (147)

Now that speaks volumes...
So I thought that Pride and Prejudice was my favorite Jane Austen book. I was incredibly mistaken after reading Northanger Abbey. The story is told by Jane Austen herself.It is as if she was in the room with you reading it out loud. It is the only one of its kind. It really was a shock to know that this book was published so long after it was written and was one of the first novels she completed.As I found, this book was hardly re drafted, not like the other stories I believe.It is the closest we could ever get to Austen herself, the first instinctive writings we could ever read.Raw and powerful. When it was first published long ago it was some years later when it was written, Austen being the clever lady that she was made the story timeless,, so to speak as timeless goes .. that a women like me in the year 2010 could find enjoyment and humor in a book published so long ago. Now that speaks volumes...

Delightful
Jane Austen's first completed novel is lighter and more humorous in tone than her subsequent work.It is however, as beautifully written as that later work - there was, as always with Austen, a lot of rewriting before publication, which in this case was posthumous - and it is in no sense an inferior effort.

All her novels have a sly, subversive wit, but Northanger Abbey is the one in which she employs her humor more or less throughout, although darker elements emerge as the story develops.

It is basically a satire on the Gothic novel, a genre still familiar to us through movies, and makes particular reference to The Mysteries of Udolpho.You don't need to have read that to appreciate the humor; you just need to have some idea of what a Gothic story is, with its gloomy castles, secret chambers and dastardly deeds.In fact, in the episodes that take place in the abbey, the author shows herself very capable of building mystery and tension.She could have written a splendid Gothic horror.

Austen's extraordinary insight into human nature is already evident here.In chapter 5 of this book - which has more author intervention than any of her others - she presents a defense or justification of the novel as a literary form, in which she says, "...the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties...are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language".That is certainly true of Austen's own novels.

The Signet Classics edition has an introduction by Margaret Drabble which is more an excuse for Drabble to express some of her own prejudices.You certainly shouldn't read it before the novel, because it contains spoilers.The Afterword by Stephanie Laurens is much better and is worth reading.There are no end notes or footnotes to explain the many references and archaisms in the novel.I suspect there are other editions with better editorial content.

[PeterReeve]

I guess you have to like the genre
I was mildly amused at first, but as the novel bogged down halfway through, I couldn't help but wonder if there was ever going to be an ending?What trivial and boring lives Austen satirized. Yes, this is satire, but it is not high satire.It's barely noticeable satire. I finally put the book aside, not even caring if the heroine ever gets the man who makes her heart thrill, or any man at all.

Loved it
I loved Northanger Abbey before I read this edition. It's a very entertaining story, with wholly delighful characters. This edition is very beautiful, and comfortable to read with gorgeous wee pictures :-)

Reading with Tequila
Northanger Abbey is a classic, but is able to be read with an ease usually associated with light, modern novels. It must be remembered that Northanger Abbey is a parody which can be more difficult that it sounds. Reading Northanger Abbey from a modern viewpoint and taking the action and dialogue seriously can quickly annoy the reader.

Catherine isn't very worldly and has learned of the world through the books she has read. When she goes on a trip with her neighbors, she meets Tilney and falls in love instantly. Much goes on in the love lives of all of the younger people in the books, but most obvious is Catherine's utter innocent and naivety. More often than not, her doe-eyed charm is grating rather than endearing.

Northanger Abbey is best when the characters discuss novels and reading. A lot of debate is put forth as to the worth of fiction and this discussion will strike a chord with most book lovers. Looking at it in a more specific light, this book delves a lot into the concept of the Gothic novel and readers may find themselves completely lost if they have no prior knowledge on the subject. The bulk of the humor stemming the parody aspect of the book is a take on this Gothic theme, so those who don't know the basics will miss this as well.

The romance in Northanger Abbey can't be taken seriously, because taken at face value the love story is unconvincing, bordering on ridiculous. While Northanger Abbey feels like a casual read, a lot has to be brought to the novel in order to fully appreciate and enjoy it. While Northanger Abbey provides decent entertainment, those looking for a good Austen novel would fair better with Emma or Pride and Prejudice. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a new beautifully-designed edition of Jane Austen's best-selling classic SENSE AND SENSIBILITY. 6"x9" large format. Printed on high quality paAmazon.com Review
Though not the first novel she wrote, Sense and Sensibility wasthe first Jane Austen published. Though she initially called itElinor and Marianne, Austen jettisoned both the title and theepistolary mode in which it was originally written, but kept theessential theme: the necessity of finding a workable middle groundbetween passion and reason. The story revolves around the Dashwoodsisters, Elinor and Marianne. Whereas the former is a sensible, rationalcreature, her younger sister is wildly romantic--a characteristic thatoffers Austen plenty of scope for both satire and compassion. Commentingon Edward Ferrars, a potential suitor for Elinor's hand, Marianne admitsthat while she "loves him tenderly," she finds him disappointing as apossible lover for her sister:

Oh! Mama, how spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to uslast night! I felt for my sister most severely. Yet she bore it with somuch composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it. I could hardly keep myseat. To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost drivenme wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadfulindifference!

Customer Reviews (198)

bratty girl
I've been a fan of Austen for 20 years and this is one of my favorites. It can appear to be a little stilted due to the time period it was written in, but the story is timeless and that's why movies keep getting made with it as a base story. I do have to admit that I think Marienne is a spoiled brat who doesn't know a good man when she sees him. Always go for substance over lipstick!

A Tale of Two Sisters
Sense & Sensibility tells the story of the Dashwood sisters: Elinor-the level headed elder sister and Marianne the impulsive, emotional sister. When the girls' father dies unexpectedly, they and their mother are obliged to move out of their house now occupied by their half brother John and his self centered wife Fanny. They are offered a cottage at Barton by a distant relative which while cozy, suits the Dashwood women well.

Elinor wonders if she saw more into the attachment she formed with Fanny's brother Edward before they departed their old home. Marianne meets the dashing Willoughby and soon falls in love with him but suffers great heartache when he abandons her unexpectedly. The Dashwood sisters spend the next three months at numerous social engagements. Elinor discovers that Edward had a courtship with another woman while Marianne finds that Willoughby was not who she thought. She is so distraught at the turn of events that she rebuffs the affections of the kind Colonel Brandon.

Growing tired of the social scene in London , Elinor and Marianne agree to leave for Cleveland , the estate of one of their acquaintances. On the way Marianne falls gravely ill. Colonel Brandon confesses his true feeling for her but it remains to be seen if the girls will find a true happy ending or not.

Jane Austen can always be relied on for a good romance story with subtle nuances. I really enjoyed the characters of Elinor and Marianne as their personalities reminded me a lot of me and my older sister. The cast of characters are what you would expect for the time period and for a Jane Austen novel-the deserving girls who fall on multiple misfortunes in their lives, the snooty society people who refuse to accept them, the silly society girls, the handsome gentleman who is secretly a rogue and the dashing gentleman (or men) who come in at the end to sweep the much loved heroines off their feet.

I find the whole courtship rituals of this time period fascinating. This book also provided a few twists to keep it interesting. Even minor misunderstandings (such as Mrs. Jennings, the older woman the girls are travelling with mistaking some good news delivered to Elinor by Colonel Brandon as a marriage proposal) are well played. I don't think this one was quite as good as Pride and Prejudice as that book and its irreplaceable Mr. Darcy will always hold a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf but I really enjoyed this one.

What a book!
"Sense and Sensibility" is a book about two girls who are looking for someone to love. I believe that this can relate to a lot of girls in today's culture. All of the girls in today's culture are always looking for love. They are always seeking for a boyfriend. This book is about two older women who are searching for the love of someone. This book can also relate to the lives of people today because it is about broken hearts and finding the right person. A lot of people today think that the first boy that they date, they are going to marry. That is not true in a lot of cases and that is a lesson that can be learned from this book.
This book is about two sisters. Marianne and Elinor are both looking for someone to marry. They are at the age when it is time for them to be married and that is what they want. In the beginning of the book, Elinor has fallen for a man named Edward Ferrars. He is a respectable gentlemen who Elinor falls on love with at first site. When Elinor and her family move away, he promises to come and see them soon. He never comes and only sends a letter. This makes Elinor very upset. While all of this is happening, Marianne meets a man. His name is John Willoughby. He is also very respectable and helps Marianne when she falls down. He carries her home because she cannot walk. This is when it happens. When John meets her family, they instantly like him. He hangs around and is then called out of town. Then, before they know it, Willoughby is called out of town.

When the two sisters go into town for a few months, they hear some devastating news. They hear that Willoughby is marrying another woman and so is Edward. This devastates both of the girls and they are in a wreck. In the end, They both ended up getting married. You will have to read the book to see how the end turns out because I don't want to give away the ending for those of you who have not read it yet.

In the end, The book was good and I would recommend it to some people. I would not recommend it to all people because as I would put it: "The book is a chick flick". I would recommend this book to people who like romance and fiction. This book I think would best fit teenage girls. This is what I feel about the book.

Kindle edition--easy (and free) to read
The Kindle edition was well-formatted with only two recurring issues:(1) every 4-5 pages or so, some sentences or phrases were repeated on separate lines near (but not perfectly next to) where they first appeared or were about to appear, but they were easy to spot and ignore; and (2) bracketed numbers appeared occasionally within the text, but it was unclear what they referred to. Content includes table of contents with chapter titles and a somewhat antiquated preface (not by Austen, of course) from the out-of-copyright text.

With respect to the content itself, Austen's story and story-telling is amusing and witty, her language is ornate and sometimes a bit tedious, and most (though not all) of the characters are sketched vividly. This was the first Austen book I've read (and the first she published), but I rather doubt it would have remained so popular without the success of her other books; I would recommend Pride and Prejudice or another of her books as a first read. Nevertheless, though I'm primarily a non-fiction reader and a reader of science fiction and adventure otherwise, I found the book to be enjoyable and very satisfying.

A great and easy read
I've read only Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen before, and I am a huge lover of that novel. As such I've been somewhat (stupidly) hesitant to read other Austen novels - for surely nothing could live up to that book!

I finally have read Sense and Sensibility and I am sorry that I did not read it earlier. I must say that S&S was a very easy and accessible book to read. The plot wasn't overly complex and it did not feel bogged down and dense like some old classic novels can. I think this would be a great book for someone who wants to read classics but who is worried or scared to.

The two main characters are easy to love and I was wondering what would happen the whole way through. Without saying anything specific, Austen kept me on my toes and I was very satisfied with the ending.

Now I'm off to read more of Austen's books! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery
Jane Austen. Her name is practically synonymous with classic, understated romance, as well as comedies of manners with a subtle, sly sense of humor.

And the Penguin Classics Deluxe edition of Austen's "The Complete Novels" brings together the full complement of Austen's finished novels, from the little-known "Lady Susan" to the classic bestseller "Pride and Prejudice" (and everything in between). This collection is flled with lovably flawed heroines, beautiful formal prose, and some rather unconventional love stories.

"Pride and Prejudice" become a problem when Elizabeth Bennett takes a dislike to the handsome, aloof Mr. Darcy -- and her prejudice against him builds after he sabotages her sister's love match, and the charming Wickham drops some shocking claims about Darcy's nastiness. But the facts are very different -- and when scandal hits the Bennett family, Darcy may be their only hope. And "Sense and Sensibility" clash when the two very different Dashwood sisters, smart Elinor and romantic Marianne, both fall in love -- one with a man she can't have, and the other with a guy who may be horribly unsuitable.

Anne Elliott has a problem with "Persuasion," since she was once engaged to the impoverished sailor Frederick Wentworth, but was persuaded to break it off. Now he's returned from war as a wealthy hero... and Anne still loves him. "Mansfield Park" is the backdrop for shy Fanny's life with her rich relatives, who usually treat her as a servant -- except for her kindly cousin, Edmund. But when the flirtatious, fashionable Crawfords arrive in the neighborhood, it unbalances the lives of everyone at Mansfield Park.

And "Northanger Abbey" is a fitting location for Austen's spoof on gothic romances, in which the hyperimaginative Catherine Moreland is taken under the wing of the Tilney family, and especially handsome Henry -- and learns a lesson about the difference between fantasy and reality. "Emma" is a frothy romantic comedy about a rich, somewhat spoiled young lady who tries to arrange the lives of people around her so that everyone is happy. The problem is, life isn't that simple -- and neither is love. And as an addition to Austen's main body of work, this edition includes the novella "Lady Susan," who is sort of the evil sociopathic twin of Emma -- a brilliant and manipulative widow who seduces, plots and schemes. Yummy stuff.

The omnibus collection displays the range and depth of Austen's writing skill beautifully; though each story is very unique they're laced together by common themes. Except for "Lady Susan," each story is a love story, tempered with some clever commentary on the society of Austen's day (example: entailment, which plays a part in several plots), and a biting, sharp-edged wit (the mockery of the toadying Mr. Collins and the obnoxious Elliott family).

And despite the formal stuffiness of the time, Austen painted her stories vividly -- there's a bit of roughness in "Lady Susan" and "Persuasion," but nothing too dramatic. Each one has powerful emotions and vivid splashes of prose ("The wind roared round the house, and the rain beat against the windows"), as well as deliciously witty dialogue ("I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine"). But she also weaves in some intensely romantic moments as well ("Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you").

Austen also had an interesting range of heroines -- quiet ones, melodramatic ones, intelligent ones, naive ones, and mildly spoiled ones who think they know best. But each one has a major character flaw that must be overcome before she can find true love and happiness And she has an equally fascinating range of love interests: the quiet shy Colonel Brandon, the sexy and clever Henry Tilney, the blunt Mr. Knightley, the generous and honest Edmund, and especially the smart, sexy Mr. Darcy (who has a flaw of his own to overcome alongside Lizzie).

Jane Austen's "Complete Novels" draws together all her finished novels, and let readers explore the mannered society and obstacle-filled love lives of her heroines.

What the kindle was meant for
I had a copy of the Complete Illustrated Novels of Jane Austen before I bought the Kindle.It was a pain to have to drag the 1200+ page book around with me.The book itself is easy to use, and it's great to have all the novels together.This was the first book I bought on the Kindle and I'm really happy with it. Thank you, Kindle, for lightening my purse considerably!

With Austen You Can't Go Wrong!
What a wonderful book to give, receive and to read and read again.One of my all time favorites.Highly recommended.

Loved the book, but one drawback for the Kindle.
I appreciated rereading Austen's work over the summer, and it was a natural choice for me to get it on my new Kindle.The pages look great and the type is adjustable.The one drawback was the size of the illustrations.Condensed onto the Kindle's screen they were difficult to appreciate.The fact that the book in e-version is so light to carry made up for this.It also made a difference in that the Kindle helped me look up the word "eclaircissement" as I was reading it.

Novels by Jane Austen ~ Kindle eBook
Complete Illustrated Novels by Jane Austen
I love Jane Austen. This is an excellent ebook to have. Kindle friendly edition from Mobilereference. THANKS! ... Read more

Product Description
This is a beautiful new edition of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". Complete and unabridged. Printed on high quality paper.Amazon.com Review
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

Next to the exhortation at the beginning of Moby-Dick,"Call me Ishmael," the first sentence of Jane Austen's Pride andPrejudice must be among the most quoted in literature. And certainlywhat Melville did for whaling Austen does for marriage--tracing theintricacies (not to mention the economics) of 19th-century British matingrituals with a sure hand and an unblinking eye.As usual, Austen trainsher sights on a country village and a few families--in this case, theBennets, the Philips, and the Lucases. Into their midst comes Mr. Bingley,a single man of good fortune, and his friend, Mr. Darcy, who is evenricher. Mrs. Bennet, who married above her station, sees their arrival asan opportunity to marry off at least one of her five daughters. Bingley iscomplaisant and easily charmed by the eldest Bennet girl, Jane; Darcy,however, is harder to please. Put off by Mrs. Bennet's vulgarity and theuntoward behavior of the three younger daughters, he is unable to see thetrue worth of the older girls, Jane and Elizabeth. His excessive prideoffends Lizzy, who is more than willing to believe the worst that other peoplehave to say of him; when George Wickham, a soldier stationed in thevillage, does indeed have a discreditable tale to tell, his words fall onfertile ground.

Having set up the central misunderstanding of the novel, Austen then bringsin her cast of fascinating secondary characters: Mr. Collins, thesycophantic clergyman who aspires to Lizzy's hand but settles for her bestfriend, Charlotte, instead; Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy'sinsufferably snobbish aunt; and the Gardiners, Jane and Elizabeth'slow-born but noble-hearted aunt and uncle. Some of Austen's best comedycomes from mixing and matching these representatives of different classesand economic strata, demonstrating the hypocrisy at the heart of so manysocial interactions. And though the novel is rife with romanticmisunderstandings, rejected proposals, disastrous elopements, and arequisite happy ending for those who deserve one, Austen never gets socarried away with the romance that she loses sight of the hard economicrealities of 19th-century matrimonial maneuvering. Good marriages forpenniless girls such as the Bennets are hard to come by, and even Lizzy,who comes to sincerely value Mr. Darcy, remarks when asked when she firstbegan to love him: "It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly knowwhen it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing hisbeautiful grounds at Pemberley." She may be joking, but there's more than alittle truth to her sentiment, as well.Jane Austen considered ElizabethBennet "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print". Readers ofPride and Prejudice would be hard-pressed to disagree. --AlixWilber ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1108)

Shallow and Pretentious
I understand that Pride and Prejudice is an honored classic.However, for me personally, I finally listened to myself and put the book away after reading about half of the story.The problem is that the characters are shallow and pretentious, and are simply not very likable or compelling. I think the novel, with all its gossipy nature, is the 1812 version of celebrity gossip television shows.

I have read most of the English classics from the 1800s, including truly great romance novels such as Wuthering Heights or Tess of the D'UrberVilles, but sadly, found Pride and Prejudice to be boring and not worth my time. Full disclosure, as a middle-aged male, I may not actually be the target audience for the book. However, it should appeal to young women about the same age as the protagonists.

Austen's masterpiece
I've been a fan of Austen for 20 years and this is one of my favorites. It can appear to be a little stilted due to the time period it was written in, but the story is timeless and that's why movies keep getting made with it as a base story. This is my all time favorite Austen story!

Beloved Classic
I never tire of this story. Give me a romance based on humility any day!

Rather than review Pride and Prejudice or Jane Austen, I would like to compliment Bethany House Publishers on the margin notes in this Insight Edition. The editors supplemented this beloved classic with notes on historical and cultural details, facts from Austen's life that parallel or illuminate the novel, modern (including films) references, tips for love, themes of faith, comments on the characters and plot, and "parts of the novel that just make us smile."

Pride and Prejudice
I read the book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. It takes place in 18th Century, Longbourn, England. The two main characters of this book are Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. In the beginning of the story they do not get along at all. I think that the antagonist of this story is Lady Catherine de Bourgh. This story is about the interaction between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. They have several encounters throughout the book and some of them weren't so friendly. Elizabeth is witty and sarcastic, while Mr. Darcy is perceived as proud and arrogant. This book is about the both of them learning to overcome their differences and falling in love somewhere in the middle.

I really like the way Jane Austen writes, it is very descriptive and you can see a clear picture in your head of exactly what she's saying. She starts out with her main character and you know exactly who they are and where they're coming from. But then you get to read and see how they change throughout the story. I think that the theme of this story is to look from other people's perspectives and not be so centered on yourself and you might be surprised what you find. When I was first assigned to read a classic I wasn't thrilled, but then as I got reading I came to find that I really loved this book and now it's probably one of my favorites.

Pride and prejustice
have read this book twice, which is unusally for me, and each time it continues to entertain me more. the relly interestingthing about Austin is the style of her writing is so thought provoking and gives a broad perspective on things that one can keep reading the same book over and over and always find some new meanings to the detail of her writing to ponder over. I know that some people are not up for the task of 19th literature, but if you can just give it your all and dig in, Austin will certainly make it worth your while if you stop and take the time to appreciate her. ... Read more

Product Description
Jane Austen is without question, one of England's most enduring and skilled novelists. With her wit, social precision, and unerring ability to create some of literature's most charismatic and believable heroines, she mesmerises her readers as much today as when her novels were first published.
Whether it is her sharp, ironic gaze at the Gothic genre invoked by the adventures of Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey; the diffident and much put-upon Fanny Price struggling to cope with her emotions in Mansfield Park; her delightfully paced comedy of manners and the machinations of the sisters Elinor and Marianne in Sense and Sensibility; the quiet strength of Anne Elliot in Persuasion succeeding in a world designed to subjugate her very existence; and Emma - 'a heroine whom no one but myself will like' teased Austen - yet another irresistible character on fire with imagination and foresight. Indeed not unlike her renowned creator.
Jane Austen is as sure-footed in her steps through society's whirlpools of convention and prosaic mores as she is in her sometimes restrained but ever precise and enduring prose. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

The Complete Jane Austen
I was very pleased with this purchase.It arrived on time and in wonderful condition!

Thick book, thin fragile pages
I love Pride and Prejudice, so I thought I'd try out Jane Austen's other novels. I started with Mansfield Park. It was very difficult to get through. I gave up halfway. I may return to it if the mood hits me.

Better to stick with Pride and Prejudice
There are not many books I finish that I regret reading but I'm sorry I read through a version of Jane Austin's complete novels. I always preferred "Pride and Prejudice" to "Emma" (although Clueless did a lot for Emma) but Austen's other heroines leave a lot to be desired and the claustrophobic atmosphere of society and poverty close in around one. I much preferred my less realistic view of her characters when I'd read "Pride" and abandoned "Emma".

The complete works of Jane Austen
Great series.If you love her movies, the stories are even better.I read most when I was younger, but was delighted to reaquaint myself.Print is small so be prepared for that.I didnt' have a problem reading it and I am 71 with glasses.Enjoy, Sandi Shields

Jane Austen novels
Composite book of the Jane Austen novels - in wonderful shape.I purchased it for a gift and was very pleased! ... Read more

Product Description
The Complete Works of Jane Austen contains all her writings in one, convenient ebook.

Major works: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion.

Minor and unfinished works: Sanditon, The Watsons, and Lady Susan.

Juvenilia: Frederic & Elfrida, Love and Freindship, Lesley Castle, The History of England, A Collection of Letters, Scraps ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Nice Kindle Version
This is a nice version for Kindle.It has a great navigable table of contents.It does not have the Watsons and a few other more obscure writings, but it does have Lady Susan which another reviewer said it did not have.It also has a few early letters.Jane Austen is a skilled observer of human nature and has a keen ear for dialogue.I love her writings for their comments on human nature and relationships, and the snappy dialogue.Happy to have her almost-complete works on my Kindle.I think it will satisfy most readers.

Jane Austin fan
Great to be able to purchase the complete works and what a bargain.Read them over and over.

Missing what it is supposed to contain
I received this book today very excited because I love Jane Austen and was very interested in reading her letters and unfinished works.

I am sad to say that this book does NOT contain the following:

Minor and unfinished works: Sanditon, The Watsons, and Lady Susan.

Juvenilia: Frederic & Elfrida, Love and Freindship, Lesley Castle, The History of England, A Collection of Letters, Scraps --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition. nfinished works.I have already read all but one of her completed works.I am sad to say it does not contain

It does state that the book contains this, in the description.Don't be fooled.

can't beat the price
You can't beat the price on this but one thing I found annoying was that you don't see the title of the book you are actually reading, because the title of this book comes up as "Complete works of jane austen....), not Emma or Pride and Prejudice. That kept throwing me off.I might have looked for another source to get each individual book for free just because of that.

Jane Austen
This is an excelent English classic literature book. There are six novels in one book. It is thick with 1098 pages, but easy to manipulate. There dosen't seem to be any typos or mispelled words.I gave it five stars, but would have given it six if I could. It was published by Magpie Books, London. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a new beautifully-designed edition of Jane Austen's best-selling classic PERSUASION. 6"x9" large format. Printed on high quality paper.Amazon.com Review
Anne Elliot, heroine of Austen's last novel, did something wecan all relate to: Long ago, she let the love of her life get away. Inthis case, she had allowed herself to be persuaded by a trusted familyfriend that the young man she loved wasn't an adequate match, socialstationwise, and that Anne could do better. The novel opens some sevenyears after Anne sent her beau packing, and she's still alone. Butthen the guy she never stopped loving comes back from the sea. Asalways, Austen's storytelling is so confident, you can't help butallow yourself to be taken on the enjoyable journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (207)

More mature characters=very satisfying story
At 27, Anne Elliot doesn't have any reason to suspect she will ever be married. Her dad, Sir Walter, another of the ineffectual fathers in the Jane Austen canon (Mr. Bennett is sharp-witted and has a certain charm, but he praises his smart kids while making fun of his dumb kids and not even attempting to help shape their characters; Mr. Dashwood isn't perceptive enough to know that his daughters will be left destitute after his death, thanks to his weak-willed eldest son; Mr. Woodhouse is a slightly dotty hypochondriac, etc.), is obsessed with his own importance and appearance, and doesn't have hopes for Anne's ever making a flattering alliance. Anne herself has only loved once, but she was persuaded to turn down Frederick Wentworth's proposal, since he was a young man in the navy and had no rank or fortune. Anne never gets over Frederick, and when he re-enters her social circle eight years later as Captain Wentworth, she has to try to quiet her feelings as he entertains other young ladies, because she knows he can't possibly retain any affection for her. In this incredibly moving final Austen novel, a worthy, mature heroine and a worthy, mature hero find love after almost a decade apart.

It's important to note that Anne's flaw isn't pride. Her problems arise not from thinking she's better than Captain Wentworth, but from thinking she's not as smart or perceptive as her friend Lady Russell, who convinced her to turn down his proposal. Lady Russell is a true friend, though, and while she inadvertently put Anne in a horrible, lonely position, her intentions were kind and she couldn't have known that quiet Anne wouldn't get any more desirable offers of marriage, or that Sir Walter would fritter away the family resources, putting Anne at an even further social disadvantage. But whatever hardships she might have endured as a young wife, Anne now believes she would have been much happier if she'd married, especially since by this point in time, Anne isn't even valued by her own family. Her father is especially caught up in his own status as a baronet, which is hilarious when you consider that "baronet" is the lowest rank in the peerage system--it actually exists in the societal no-mans-land beneath the peers of the realm and above the merchant class, and is a purchased title that only existed because King James I needed money and wealthy commoners wanted to buy a higher station in life.

If Captain Wentworth seems a bit cold in his behavior toward Anne, he has ample reasons. The woman he loved basically rejected him because he couldn't provide for her--this is not like being turned down for a coffee date, it's a wounding event. But as the two of them get reacquainted with each others' characters, it becomes apparent how complimentary their personalities are. Anne is sweet, smart, and agreeable, helps everyone, is great with kids, is an aid to the sick (and also to people like her sister Mary who are only under the impression that they're sick), while Captain Wentworth is a stronger, more dynamic person who still has a practical side. Little things like him helping her into a carriage while she's exhausted or tending to her boisterous toddler nephew when the child won't leave her alone to tend to his sick brother show Captain Wentworth's care for her. Also, the episode with the kids makes this the only Austen novel I can recall that explicitly shows the potential parenting skills of the main couple--she will be gentle enough to nurture a young family, and he will be forceful enough to discipline them, so in they'll be successful in this venture, too.

Though Anne and Captain Wentworth think they would have been much better off if they'd married when they were first in love, I tend to think of their circumstance as a literary case of felix culpa, the "fortunate fall," where misfortunes add up to make for a much happier ending than could be achieved otherwise. Anne and Fredrick will never take each other for granted, because they know what it's like to live long, joyless years alone. Their happiness is all the more triumphant because they've known sadness, which makes Persuasion all the more moving and believable as a novel.

"You perce my soul, I'm half agony, half hope"WOOOW!!
I'm slowly becoming a Jane Austen fan. My first book was Pride and Prejudice and then I decided to give 'Persuasion' a shot...and I'm glad I did!

This book tells the story of Anne Elliot. A woman of 28 who found love at 21 and lost it because she was persuaded by the family friend and her own family. But the story starts when she sees her former love eight and a half years later...it's a great journey.

Captain Wentworth's letter just made me bawl like a baby!!!

Amazing book, glad I picked it up!

Inspiring!
Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth were happily in love and ready to be married - until Anne's friend Lady Russel persuades her that Captain Wentworth, a poor man in the army, is not the man for her. Eight years later, however, society brings them together again. Anne still loves him, and she must divulge if he still loves her, a hard task considering all the lovely young women who would do anything to marry the handsome and now wealthy Captain. Persuasion is a story filled with jealousy and uncertainty, as well as passion, simple joy, and a powerful, unconditional love.


Persuasion is my third Austen novel (the first being Pride and Prejudice, then Sense and Sensibility); I loved it. It kept me up late at night - midnight and later. I finished it in four days, which is a record for me as I do not read classics very quickly.

In one word, I would say this is a simple book, in the best sense. It is written well and the way the events of the story are played out build the characters' personalities, their way of living. The story progresses in just a way that mirrors Anne's feelings for Wentworth... In the beginning, there is no word of a Captain Wentworth, and Anne's life is happy. At least, on the outside. As everything falls into place, however, Anne becomes more and more unnerved and unable to conceal her love, the love she's had all along. The tension between the Captain and Anne Elliot was substantial and realistic. I was very impressed and am every excited to read and re-read all of Austen's wonderful novels. They're sitting on my shelf...waiting!

yearningtoread on blogspot

Extremely Disappointed
I almost feel ashamed that I did not like this book, after all it is Jane Austin! I loved Pride and Predujice, I loved Emma but I found Persuasion tedious. The charaters were not interesting, the story rather disjointed and lackluster. I made myself finish it thinking perhaps it would get better, it did not.

A Wonderful Classic Novel
Ms. Austen writes a fantastic story for the most part. The gossip was a little much at times. And the stereotypical situations and feelings were accurate even if a little annoying. The story flowed fairly well. I was impressed with keeping all the different characters and traits separate. Just a lot going on and different story lines. I was impressed with how much was in the book and everything was wrapped up neatly. Some things hadn't happened yet but you knew what was going to happen.

I truly felt for Anne. She was trying to follow the influence of a friend since her mother was dead. I understand but she finally had to figure out for herself what was right and stick to it. Things seemed to go better now that she was older. Family and friends didn't fight things for her so much. Of her family members I loved her older sister Mary the best. She had her moments where she would get "sick" or get frustrated with her husband for making plans when plans were already made. But she had to learn to speak up as well. The women just kind of sat back and did nothing sometimes.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. The drama was a little bit overwhelming but I had to find out how it ended. I wanted to know if Anne and Fredrick would end up together. I could see how things would all play out or at least how I hoped it would end up. Ms. Austen is an amazing author and I cannot wait to read more of her work.
... Read more

Product Description
Jane Austen is without question, one of England's most enduring and skilled novelists. With her wit, social precision, and unerring ability to create some of literature's most charismatic and believable heroines, she mesmerises her readers as much today as when her novels were first published. Whether it is her sharp, ironic gaze at the Gothic genre invoked by the adventures of Catherine Morland in "Northanger Abbey"; the diffident and much put-upon Fanny Price struggling to cope with her emotions in "Mansfield Park"; her delightfully paced comedy of manners and the machinations of the sisters Elinor and Marianne in "Sense and Sensibility"; the quiet strength of Anne Elliot in "Persuasion" succeeding in a world designed to subjugate her very existence; and Emma - 'a heroine whom no one but myself will like' teased Austen - yet another irresistible character on fire with imagination and foresight.Indeed not unlike her renowned creator, Jane Austen is as sure-footed in her steps through society's whirlpools of convention and prosaic mores as she is in her sometimes restrained but ever precise and enduring prose. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Complete Novels of Jane Austen
I bought this for our home library. The cover is almost linen like and the pages are nice and heavy not thin paper so to speak. Beautiful book!

Do not buy from this company!!!!!!!!
It took forever to get this book.Contacting them was impossible.The book itself is as big as a dictionary but a great book.

The Complete Novels of Jane Austen
I had seen several of her books made into movies but never read her novels (what a travesty!).Although I loved the movies and BBC mini series, it was just not the same as reading the original works.I'm loving the books, but do find the bulk a little much sometimes.Not really something you take to the doctor's office to read while you're waiting (smile). I definitely love it's look and of course the content, but think I'll also order them individually for re-reading.Great price and wonderful quality.

Loved these books.
I decided that I would read all of these books that I hated in High School, now 10 years later.I have found a new appreciation for the classics.Great Books!

Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery
Jane Austen. Her name is practically synonymous with classic, understated romance, as well as comedies of manners with a subtle, sly sense of humor.

AndAusten's "The Complete Novels" brings together the full complement of Austen's finished novels, from the little-known "Lady Susan" to the classic bestseller "Pride and Prejudice" (and everything in between). This collection is flled with lovably flawed heroines, beautiful formal prose, and some rather unconventional love stories.

"Pride and Prejudice" become a problem when Elizabeth Bennett takes a dislike to the handsome, aloof Mr. Darcy -- and her prejudice against him builds after he sabotages her sister's love match, and the charming Wickham drops some shocking claims about Darcy's nastiness. But the facts are very different -- and when scandal hits the Bennett family, Darcy may be their only hope. And "Sense and Sensibility" clash when the two very different Dashwood sisters, smart Elinor and romantic Marianne, both fall in love -- one with a man she can't have, and the other with a guy who may be horribly unsuitable.

Anne Elliott has a problem with "Persuasion," since she was once engaged to the impoverished sailor Frederick Wentworth, but was persuaded to break it off. Now he's returned from war as a wealthy hero... and Anne still loves him. "Mansfield Park" is the backdrop for shy Fanny's life with her rich relatives, who usually treat her as a servant -- except for her kindly cousin, Edmund. But when the flirtatious, fashionable Crawfords arrive in the neighborhood, it unbalances the lives of everyone at Mansfield Park.

And "Northanger Abbey" is a fitting location for Austen's spoof on gothic romances, in which the hyperimaginative Catherine Moreland is taken under the wing of the Tilney family, and especially handsome Henry -- and learns a lesson about the difference between fantasy and reality. "Emma" is a frothy romantic comedy about a rich, somewhat spoiled young lady who tries to arrange the lives of people around her so that everyone is happy. The problem is, life isn't that simple -- and neither is love. And as an addition to Austen's main body of work, this edition includes the novella "Lady Susan," who is sort of the evil sociopathic twin of Emma -- a brilliant and manipulative widow who seduces, plots and schemes. Yummy stuff.

The omnibus collection displays the range and depth of Austen's writing skill beautifully; though each story is very unique they're laced together by common themes. Except for "Lady Susan," each story is a love story, tempered with some clever commentary on the society of Austen's day (example: entailment, which plays a part in several plots), and a biting, sharp-edged wit (the mockery of the toadying Mr. Collins and the obnoxious Elliott family).

And despite the formal stuffiness of the time, Austen painted her stories vividly -- there's a bit of roughness in "Lady Susan" and "Persuasion," but nothing too dramatic. Each one has powerful emotions and vivid splashes of prose ("The wind roared round the house, and the rain beat against the windows"), as well as deliciously witty dialogue ("I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine"). But she also weaves in some intensely romantic moments as well ("Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you").

Austen also had an interesting range of heroines -- quiet ones, melodramatic ones, intelligent ones, naive ones, and mildly spoiled ones who think they know best. But each one has a major character flaw that must be overcome before she can find true love and happiness And she has an equally fascinating range of love interests: the quiet shy Colonel Brandon, the sexy and clever Henry Tilney, the blunt Mr. Knightley, the generous and honest Edmund, and especially the smart, sexy Mr. Darcy (who has a flaw of his own to overcome alongside Lizzie).

Jane Austen's "Complete Novels" draws together all her major finished novels, and let readers explore the mannered society and obstacle-filled love lives of her heroines. ... Read more

Product Description
Six peoplefive women and a manmeet once a month in California's Central Valley to discuss Jane Austen's novels. They are ordinary people, neither happy nor unhappy, but each of them is wounded in different ways, they are all mixed up about their lives and relationships. Over the six months they meet, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitableunder the guiding eye of Jane Austen a couple of them even fall in love 'A thoroughly delightful comedy of contemporary manners' Entertainment Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (310)

What Good Storytelling is All About
This story revolves around the monthly meetings of six people, five women and one man, who gather to discuss Jane Austen's novels. The are: Jocelyn, their leader who is a single dog breeder; Bernadette, a loquacious sixty-seven-year-old woman who has been married several times; Purdie, a married French teacher; Sylvia who has been dumped after thirty-two years of marriage; Allegra, Sylvia's gay daughter and Grigg, the only male in the group. Together they form the "Central Valley/River City all-Jane-Austen-all-the-time book club."

As the chapters roll by, Ms. Fowler uses a different Jane Austen novel to bring one of the six members to life. We learn that Jocelyn has horrible memories of being abandoned by her parents and of abuse when she was young. She got the club together mainly to cheer up Sylvia, whose husband has just asked for a divorce. We learn that Allegra is self-centered and addicted to thrill sports and is upset because her partner has stolen her stories, submitted them and had them rejected. We see Bernadette, an elderly woman who acts a bit nutty, talking aimlessly, because she believes she over the hill. We watch Purdie as she fights to keep from falling apart. And then there is Grigg, who was unwanted by the group at first, but in the end wins the group over. He is a man who is strangely single.

The members grow and change as they face their own challenges dealing with life and death, friendship and love, subjects that made Jane Austen such a fine storyteller, subjects that make Ms. Fowler one as well. It's been a week since I've finished this novel and still I can't keep these people out of my mind. They sneak in at the oddest times. I wonder about them, they are so real and that is what good storytelling is all about.

Ho Hum.......
I'm on page 159 of The Jane Austen Book Club, and I'm not sure I'm
going to finish it.Being a book lover, having read the great
reviews on the front and back covers, and having always wanted to
be in a book club, I was eager to read this book.Granted, I'm
not a Jane Austen enthusiast per se.I did read Sense and
Sensibility, saw the movie, saw Pride and Prejudice, (alright,
alright you Austen fans don't bash me too badly...), both of
which I liked very much, and have Persuasion on my bookshelf
for a future read.Since I'm not well-acquainted with Austen,
I wouldn't presume to dissect or criticize the author's references
to her books.I expected the JA Book Club to tweak my curiousity
about Austen's books, as well as provide a good read in itself.
That wasn't the case.
I found the story to be a meandering non-story and the characters
to be self-involved and annoyingly "quirky".I've kept reading just
because the book is an easy enough quick read, not because I feel
any particular curiosity about the characters or sympathy with them.
I've given it two stars only because I've managed to read it this far.
Luckily Austen's popularity, reputation, and immortality don't depend
on this trite book for support.

Don't bother
Since I love Jane Austen books, I thought this would be similarly enjoyable.Sadly, it was not.

Movie Is Better
Let me preface this review by saying that I bought the movie first. I found the movie to be engaging, funny, charming and truly worthy of any Austen fan.

The book, however, is none of those. It is boring, a struggle to get through and had I bought the book first I would have never bought the movie.

The movie presented a balance of the characters lives versus the disussions of the novels themselves. The book is more about the characters and less about the novels.

In short, had I known, I would have never purchased the book and been content with the movie.

occasionally witty
At first this seemed like a formulaic "chick lit" book with unmemorable characters.Even though I still think the characters were not all that memorable, the book did get better as I read on.Fowler has a wit that occasionally comes out; I didn't have any huge belly laughs but every so often there was a modest, five-second laugh. ... Read more

Product Description
Jane Austen wrote her novels in the midst of a large and sociable family. Brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, friends and acquaintances were always coming and going, which offered numerous occasions for convivial eating and drinking. One of Jane’s dearest friends, Martha Lloyd, lived with the family for many years and recorded in her “Household Book” over 100 recipes enjoyed by the Austens. A selection of this family fare, now thoroughly tested and modernized for today’s cooks, is recreated here, together with some of the more sophisticated dishes which Jane and her characters would have enjoyed at balls, picnics, and supper parties. A fascinating introduction describes Jane’s own interest in food, drawing upon both the novels and her letters, and explains the social conventions of shopping, eating, and entertaining in late Georgian and Regency England. The book is illustrated throughout with delightful contemporary line drawings, prints, and watercolours.

Authentic recipes, modernized for today’s cooks, include:
• Buttered Prawns
• Wine-Roasted Gammon and Pigeon Pie
• Broil’d Eggs
• White Soup and Salmagundy
• Pyramid Creams
• Martha’s Almond Cheesecakes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Authentic, well-researched
WOW.This cookbook is so much more than a cutsie tribute to Austen and her works.The author, a culinary historian, thoroughly outlines the eating habits and customs of the day and provides recipes in the language of the era.So if you're looking for something both academic and entertaining, this is the perfect book.It's NOT just a quickly produced theme-based cookbook; it's the real deal!

Jane Austen's world: The Meals!
Any fan of Jane Austen's novels would do well to read, or at least sample, this book. Austen's work is the story of domestic life of her time, and this book provides a lot of useful information about an important context of her novels: food, meals, and dining. What is a nuncheon? How do cooks cope without refrigeration? And how, specifically, does one prepare many of the foods familiar to Austen's world? This book addresses these questions, in a well-written and well-researched style. It is physically attractive, and soundly based on contemporaneous records and recipes ('receipts') of the time, although these were recorded in ways foreign to us.

great mix of cooking and literature
I haven't tried any recipe yet, but any Jane Austen's reader will enjoy such a fun way to get into her world. It's a good reading and I hope it'll be practical too.

A great book to own
This cookbook is charming.It has useful recipes in it, along with modern-day interpretations of the recipes, and interesting stories about food.It even explains how people preserved and bought food in Jane Austen's day.That is quite interesting, I love to learn more about lifestyles in different historical eras.It's not only a cookbook, it's a history book.It's worth it, you won't be disappointed!

Nice little introduction to Jane Austen's food and culture
This is a lovely and shortish introduction to cooking and culture of eating and entertaining for the late Georgian period when Austen was alive. I loved the fact that this was about cooking and eating rather than some of the less universally approachable subjects (letters, literary criticism). Maggie Black and Deidre Le Faye have both written Jane Austen style and culture type books before so both understand the period and are able to draw on a large resource of appropriate information.

The introduction is very much about how people ate - what was available, how it got to houses, and why this was so. There is some division by class (upper class, middle class and lower class are all discussed) but also the divisions by Geography - whether coastal with access to fresh fish, or inland - how food was transported, and even in terms of access to market towns. Even 5 miles away was almost impossible for those trying to get up a dinner from 'scratch' so to speak if someone was coming around.

The introduction also talks about the types of food and dishes which were eaten, and that the whole culture of dining was completely different. Not only were meal times different, but how they dined. The explanations are simple and there is good use of quoted material throughout, the diaries and letters of the time providing a strong and occassionally humourous voice.

Where possible leFaye and Black have used diaries and 'receipts' from Austen's friends and family and point out that in the days before recipe books were published these books of receipts would be handed down from mother to daughter and one family's speciality would be renowned - they were truly heirlooms.

The last section of the book is a collection of recipes - these are taken from books of reciepts. The original receipt is usually fairly interpretative, that is the measurements are not generally noted, nor how to put them together or cook them. So there has been experimentation and the recipe is re-written with the details put in. These essentail details would have been handed down in a practical manner, but in the days before temperature gauges you would have needed to rely on simple temperature variations, quick, moderate and slow oven to dictate just when to cook it.

Most of these recipes are actually very useable for today - they don't have many potted meats, but mostly roasted meats, cakes, egg dishes and still room crafts. There are some things we dont' see these days like Syllabub - which is quite tasty

There are other books of this kind around - Margeretta Ackworth's cookbook for instance, which is interesting too - but I would recommend this is a good modern cookbook and an interesting historical look at the culture of food in this period. ... Read more

Product Description
Emma, by Jane Austen, is a comic novel about the perils of misconstrued romance. The novel was first published in December 1815. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian-Regency England; she also creates a lively 'comedy of manners' among her characters.Amazon.com Review
Of all Jane Austen's heroines, Emma Woodhouse is the most flawed, the most infuriating, and, in the end, the most endearing. Pride andPrejudice's Lizzie Bennet has more wit and sparkle; CatherineMorland in Northanger Abbey more imagination; and Sense andSensibility's Elinor Dashwood certainly more sense--but Emma islovable precisely because she is so imperfect. Austen only completed sixnovels in her lifetime, of which five feature young women whose chances formaking a good marriage depend greatly on financial issues, and whoseprospects if they fail are rather grim. Emma is the exception: "EmmaWoodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happydisposition seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; andhad lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distressor vex her." One may be tempted to wonder what Austen could possibly findto say about so fortunate a character. The answer is, quite a lot.

For Emma, raised to think well of herself, has such a high opinionof her own worth that it blinds her to the opinions of others. The storyrevolves around a comedy of errors: Emma befriends Harriet Smith, a youngwoman of unknown parentage, and attempts to remake her in her own image.Ignoring the gaping difference in their respective fortunes and stations inlife, Emma convinces herself and her friend that Harriet should look ashigh as Emma herself might for a husband--and she zeroes in on an ambitiousvicar as the perfect match. At the same time, she reads too much into aflirtation with Frank Churchill, the newly arrived son of family friends,and thoughtlessly starts a rumor about poor but beautiful JaneFairfax, the beloved niece of two genteelly impoverished elderly ladies inthe village. As Emma's fantastically misguided schemes threaten to surgeout of control, the voice of reason is provided by Mr. Knightly, theWoodhouse's longtime friend and neighbor.Though Austen herself described Emma as "a heroine whom no one but myselfwill much like," she endowed her creation with enough charm to see herthrough her most egregious behavior, and the saving grace of being able tolearn from her mistakes. By the end of the novel Harriet, Frank, and Janeare all properly accounted for, Emma is wiser (though certainly notsadder), and the reader has had the satisfaction of enjoying Jane Austen atthe height of her powers. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Customer Reviews (286)

I didn't like it.
A lot of people have said that Emma is one of their favorite books but I would have to differ. This book put me to sleep every time I picked it up.It was dull and boring, this is only my opinion. I would not let this book effect and make me not want to read Jane Austen again. Since it is only one book out of many of hers. I felt this book was for a different crowd of people. Maybe I should have waited till I was older and grasped the concept more.
Miss. Taylor Emma's good friend and governess get's married and move's out. Emma has no clue what to do with herself. Mr. Woodhouse, Emma's father, gets upset and thinks Miss. Taylor now known as Mrs. Weston is making a huge mistake of leaving the family and things will never be the same without her living at the house. Emma then meets a girl named Harriet Smith, who is not as smart as Emma but she likes how she is willing to learn and listen to what she had to say. They went on daily walks around the town. Mr. Martin a very dull farmer that Emma's brother-in-law works proposes to Harriett who has had a crush on him before Emma tried to set her up with Mr. Elton. Emma influences her to refuse the offer of marriage, so she does. This was before n and got to know each other very well.
Emma thinks she can match anyone up with love, if they gave her a chance. She herself has vowed to remain single. She tries to set Harriet, up with Mr. Elton, but Mr. Elton likes Emma instead of Harriet and wants to marry her. Emma refuses and Mr. Elton leaves and gets married to some person who nobody thinks is worthy of him. When Emma finds out Mr. Elton got married she doesn't want Harriet to find out since she is still hung up on him they found out Mr. Elton had married. Emma is very controlling when it comes to love, and this is one reason why I didn't like the book she aggravated me.
Mrs. Weston's stepson is coming she is nervous he won't like her and confides in Emma. Emma is out for a carriage ride and she gets stuck. Mr. Churchill Mr. Weston's son comes and helps her get out, he doesn't tell her who he is till after and she is amazed by how good looking he is. She is confused with hr feelings for him after that. She thinks she may be in love but she doesn't feel like she is. Mr. Churchill likes a woman named Jane who is staying with Miss. Bates, a dear friend of Emma.Emma doesn't really like Jane since she always has one over her. For example at a party that was thrown they asked Emma if she would like to play the piano, when she is done Jane is asked to play the piano and everyone loved Jane's when people only like Emma's performance.
At a picnic with Jane, Mr. Churchill, Miss. Bates, Mr. Elton, his wife, and Mr. Knightly, Emma's very good friend.Emma insults her friend, Miss. Bates. Mr. Knightly tells Emma off. Emma realizes she loves Mr. Knightly but is worried he loves Harriet. They secretly have feelings for each other but neither of them do anything. Finally they do confess there feelings and they get engaged. Harriet ends up with Mr. Martin and Mr. Churchill ends up with Jane.
Mrs. Weston becomes pregnant and Emma does not want anyone to know about her and Mr. Knightly's engagement until the baby is born. Jane and Mr. Churchill are also keeping their engagement a secret.
I couldn't really relate to this book. I would have done a lot of things different then what she did. For starters I would not have gone and meddled into every ones love life. Its their life and people need to respect that and not mess with it. I understand she thought she was helping everyone but truth be told she wasn't and it just was annoying to see how she kept going off and doing that throughout the book.

Austen's longest, and perhaps most rewarding, novel
Emma Woodhouse has it all. She's the only Austen heroine who doesn't seem to need anything. All the other heroines are either in difficult financial straits or they're going to be, but Emma is actually wealthy. She's the only lady in her home, and since her father is an aging hypochondriac, she makes all the important decisions and has a degree of power and independence. Despite her singleness, Emma has great social standing as the chief well-bred lady of her small town of Highbury, and she's admired and respected by all. On top of that, she's young, smart, and attractive. So what could this heroine possibly need that she doesn't already have? Humility and empathy. Five weddings, a half-dozen major misunderstandings, and 400 pages pass before she gains them, but Emma's ending is as happy and triumphant as the close of Pride and Prejudice.

While most Austen heroines get to travel around some, either because they've been displaced from their homes, invited on vacation, or both, Emma is firmly rooted in Highbury, influencing her neighbors and being influenced by them. Emma's flaws are insidious because no one but friend-of-the-family Mr. Knightley notices that she has them. Everyone around her thinks she's angelic, accomplished, and positively brilliant, so when she decides to find a husband for her young friend Harriet, she naturally assumes that her advice and discernment are flawless. Emma nudges Harriet into refusing one man's proposal and setting her heart on another gentleman, but nothing turns out as Emma hopes.

Most of Emma's plans and notions ultimately tie back to feeding her own ego. She may say--and may fully believe--that she wants Harriet to make a good match simply out of friendship and kindness, but if Harriet, a girl without a dowry or advanced social skills, makes an excellent match, it'll be entirely due to Emma's influence. That's why it's so fortunate that her plans don't work out--it would be bad for Emma's character if she was vindicated in playing God. But though Emma is proven wrong several times, this is a light, optimistic story, so she is never humiliated. She's embarrassed and humbled a little, but the new understanding she gains makes her a better, stronger person.

The other big schemer in the book is Frank Churchhill, whose actions aren't honorable even if his intentions are. He's not villainous, but he's careless and inflicts a good deal of pain on those who love him most by pretending to like Emma and pretending to disdain his secret fiancée, Jane Fairfax. It's bad enough that he deceives all of Highbury into thinking he wants to court Emma, but it's another matter altogether when he helps keep his and Jane's secret by insulting Jane when she's away and feeding unpleasant rumors about her. Even though concealment was vital, it seems like Frank went too far in playing his role, and he's ultimately rewarded with his aunt's fortune and Jane's love despite his poor behavior. He's a bit of a Karma Houdini, as TV Tropes would call it; he always evades the unpleasant consequences that should be coming his way.

I've heard that endings in fiction should always be unexpected, but at the same time inevitable, and Emma is a brilliant example of this convention. All the matches that come about are not the ones that Emma expects (it's not just her--Harriet and Mr. and Mrs. Weston also make wrong guesses about who will marry whom), yet at the same time, they are the only suitable and reasonable matches. Mr. Elton is only pretending to be a good-hearted man, so he marries a rich, obnoxious woman who fits better with him than sweet little Harriet would. Mr. Martin is a kind, humble farmer who will never look down on Harriet for her illegitimate parentage, so he's an excellent husband for a girl who has a gentle temperament and good looks, but not much else to recommend her. Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill seem the most mismatched of the group, but they get by since they're complimentary opposites; she has all the wisdom in the relationship and he has all the energy and zest for life. And Emma and Mr. Knightley make the ultimate perfect-yet-surprising match, mainly because they were both totally content to be single. But Emma needs someone who will call her on her occasional rudeness and pride, and Mr. Knightley is almost too self-sufficient and rigid and needs to soften a little and incorporate another person into his daily life.

Emma is longer than Austen's other books, but it's lovely from start to finish. It's a comedy of manners that ends with the heroine not just receiving, but earning, her happily ever after. It's an old favorite of mine and I hope you'll like it, too.

Excellent, but falls short of Pride and Prejudice
When Jane Austen sat down to write Emma, she had a tall order. Her previous work, Pride and Prejudice, is one of the great masterpieces in English literature. Unsurprisingly, Emma does not measure up to P&P, but is still a delightful read in its own right. The same themes that readers have come to associate with Jane Austen are all present in Emma: courtship, marriage, Victorian reserve, and, of course, social status. The biggest problem I had with Emma is that the characterization is not near as solid as in Austen's previous work. The only truly interesting character is the main protagonist, Emma, whose wit and vivacity sparkle throughout. The only fair way to read Emma is to do so without comparing it to Pride and Prejudice. Doing so, this book stands just fine upon its own merit. Just don't expect lightning to strike twice.

Great novel
Thank you for the quick shipment!The novel is in great condition and will be a nice edition to my library.

Great writing, great story
I think most people are already familiar with the story of Emma, and many are probably also familiar with the back-story, which is that Jane Austendecided to write about a character which she thought "nobody but myself will much like." I dare say there are plenty of people who indeed do not like Emma Woodhouse, but I have loved plenty of books, TV shows, and movies centered on a character I disliked (or even hated) far more than Emma, whose faults do not, at least, include witlessness, stupidity, or true ugliness of character.

Added to Emma's attractiveness as a protagonist and other well-rounded characters that we may love orhate, is Jane Austen's excellent prose and story plotting, and, most importantly, her cutting humor and social commentary. Oh wait, perhaps most important is the love story--or love stories--that touch the readers' hearts. Or at least touched mine. All of those elements are there, and so I enjoyed the book. While not my favorite book of Austen's, Emma is far from my least favorite (ahem, Mansfield Park). ... Read more

Product Description
But even if the whole world was against them, it would not matter. They were together—again. And this time they would remain together. Until death do them part and, of course, long after that.

What if Austen had believed in reincarnation and vampires? Join four bestselling romance authors as they channel the wit and wisdom of Jane Austen.

Almost Persuaded

In this Regency tale of Robert and Jane, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh brings together former lovers who have seen beyond the veil of forgetfulness to their past mistakes, and are determined to be together in this life, and forever.

Northanger Castle

Caroline's obsession with Gothic novels winds up being good training for a lifetime of destroying the undead with her newfound beau, in this Regency by Colleen Gleason.

Blood and Prejudice

Set in the business world of contemporary New York City, Liz Bennett joins Mr. Darcy in his hunt for a vampire cure in New York Times bestselling author Susan Krinard's version of the classic story.

Little to Hex Her

Present-day Washington, D.C., is full of curious creatures in Janet Mullany's story, wherein Emma is a witch with a wizard boyfriend and a paranormal dating service to run. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A delight even for someone who has never read Austen.
I've never actually read Jane Austen's work. Isn't that the most blasphemous thing to say when opening a review of Austen-inspired short stories? Sadly, it really is the truth. I'm just not a big fan of Regencies so they just keep being pushed back on that list of "I really should read this" books I have. So please forgive me for reading and reviewing Bespelling Jane Austen with such ignorance of the source material. I couldn't help it! I may not have read Emma or Persuasion but I think I've seen enough films and know enough of the basic storyline to appreciate them from afar.

What brought this book to my interest was the paranormal twist. I adore seeing classics retold and what better tales to add an element of the freakish and supernatural to? I am very pleased to report that Bespelling Jane Austen was anything but a disappointment.

Beginning the collection Mary Balogh's ALMOST PERSUADED takes Austen's Persuasion to interesting depths. As lovers are reunited through-out time only to be torn apart over and over they begin to question the very nature of love. Reincarnation, romance and brilliant writing made this one emotional and solid. I've never read Balogh's work before but if this short is any example of what she has to offer I hope she can be tempted to dabble in the paranormal palette again. 5/5 stars

In Colleen Gleason's NORTHANGER CASTLE--a spin on Northanger Abbey--both Austen lovers and fans of the Gardella Vampire series get a taste of imagination run wild. Around every corner Caroline finds a reason to believe that vampires, evil widows and monsters are out to get her and the other young women of Bath, England. Tongue-in-cheek funny and with all the guts and gusto of the series it ties in to this was my favorite of the stories offered in this collection. If you love Gleason's work it's worth buying for this one alone. 5/5 stars

BLOOD AND PREJUDICE is the story that started it all. Probably the most retold of Austen's tales, this version of Pride and Prejudice has a contemporary Lizzy and Darcy sorting out the matter of a pharmeceutical company and oh yeah, he's a vampire. I hate saying it because I know everyone loves this story in general but I hate it and this retelling didn't help change my mind. I think fans might like it but I found the paranormal element felt a bit after-the-fact for me as a paranormal junkie. 3/5 stars

Rounding out the offerings is Janet Mullany's LITTLE TO HEX HER in which a modern Emma plays match-maker to a host of magical folks. Matches are made and curses fly as our heroine and her Knightley suitor try to ward off trouble. I'm unfamiliar with Mullany's work before this but her release just a couple of weeks before this one, Jane and the Damned, has had good reviews and features Austen as a vampire herself! Looks like that should be the next stop for readers or vice versa. This story was a little take-it-or-leave it for me. It wasn't thrilling nor awful either. 3/5 stars

As a collection I recommend this anthology to any paranormal fan looking to dabble in the Austen waters a little. It's entertaining to even a novice in the world of Jane, such as myself. But I'd also recommend it for the opposite... those Janeites who might want to sample their favorites with a preternatural or contemporary twist. Better yet, if you like both paranormal romances AND Jane Austen this is a musn't miss.

**Notes: I requested and received a copy to review via netGalley.**

All Things Considered...More Blessing Than Mixed
I'm a devoted Janeite, and while I'm not a purist, I'm quite selective when it comes to Austen sequels and variants. I recognize there are (relative) classics and clunkers in the ones set in Regency times and more modern settings, but I find myself consistently preferring the updated-to-contemporary-period retellings and revisions. I suspect it is because there's less of a direct comparison to the original Austen oeuvre--and no one alive benefits from that comparison in my fond eyes and heart.

In BESPELLING JANE AUSTEN, one gets two novellas of each era...with the twist of paranormal activity enthreaded in each tale. Mary Balogh, a Regency romance writer of great repute, returns PERSUASION's Anne Elliot to her time period, but renames her Jane (!) Everett. Captain Wentworth has also been renamed (Captain Mitford). Using reincarnation as her "supernatural" device, Jane and Captain Mitford have loved but lost one another again and again in past lives, but determine not to do so this time around. Jane is "Almost Persuaded" (the name of Balogh's novella), but...

Colleen Gleason (whose Gardella series has made me a devoted fan) upgrades NORTHANGER ABBEY to NORTHANGER CASTLE. I think revisioning one of the Thorpes into a vampire is perfect casting--I just wish she had chosen a different Thorpe. But then, both are innate bloodsuckers, so it works brilliantly. I won't say what profession Thaddeus Blanchard (ne Henry Tilney) has now taken up, but he is related to Victoria Gardella. Catherine Morland is now Caroline Merrill, and while they both have a penchant for reading Gothic novels and possess wild imaginations, Caroline is braver and more observant in many ways. She deserves her mate! While there are one or two allusions to the Gardella series, you should not have any problem following this story even if you've never read any of them.

The last two novellas (the modernized ones) are written in first person, as opposed to the third person that the first two are written in. This augments and furthers the sense of freshness and modernity. BLOOD AND PREJUDICE is quite faithful to the names of the original P&P characters and on the first page, we learn that Lizzy works at Longbourn Books. How perfect is that? The author, Susan Krinard, is faithful to Austen's innate values as well--that is, if Austen had written Darcy as a vampire. I find Krinard more faithful to Austen than vampiric traditions, and that's my preference as well.

I was surprised that my favorite of these four is EMMA, updated as LITTLE TO HEX HER, by Janet Mullany. She is not as faithful to EMMA as Krinard is to P&P, even though she, too, kept the names of most characters (Miss Bates is now Missy Bates, however). This Emma Woodhouse runs a dating service in Washington, DC (again, the perfect occupation!) for the magical--Naiads, Witches, Vamps and Werewolves, for example. George Knightley works in high finance and owns the building in which Emma is living; they dated in college but Emma broke up with him shortly after they made love for the first time. Not very Austenesque. However, whilst not as true to structure, Mullany truly gets the spirit of Jane Austen yet modernizes the situation in such a way that I could appreciate it as a stand-alone, without constantly thinking about the original. And oddly, I find that works best of all for me in this particular genre.

As I thought about this review, I have discovered one other thing about my preferences: I really prefer full-length novels to novellas. You can not possibly have the wonderful character development that takes place in any of Jane Austen's novels, even NORTHANGER ABBEY, in 100 pages or less.

One last note: often, in a book with four different authors, you feel there is a weak link. I did not feel that way with BESPELLING JANE AUSTEN. Perhaps the authors managed to bewitch me, too.

four fun paranormal twists
"Almost Persuaded" by Mary Balogh.Robert Mitford and Jane Everett recognize their love now and in a past life together.

"Northanger Castle" by Colleen Gleason.Caroline Merrill loves gothic novels starring vampires; she believes that Mr. Blanchard is an Undead while he has no time for literature or love as he battles vampires.

"Blood and Prejudice" by Susan Krinard.In modern day New York City, Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy dislike each other but team up to fight vampires.

"Little to Hex Her" by Janet Mullany.In DC paranormal matchmaking witch Emma Woodhouse needs the help of the wizard Mr. Knightley.

These are four fun paranormal twists of Jane Austen classics with the best being Janet Mullany's entry.

Harriet Klausner

Truthful to the Spirit of the Originals
Bespelling Jane Austen / 978-0-37377-501-9

I've always been fond of Jane Austen, and I've enjoyed the paranormal Jane Austen novels that have been coming out of the woodwork; I felt that zombies was precisely what "Pride and Prejudice" was lacking the first time around, and I absolutely adored "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters". And while "Bespelling Jane Austen" looks at first glance to be capitalizing on all the hype, this collection of novellas is really quite solid, and I enjoyed very much the chance to read the Advance Review Copy that was sent to me from the publisher.

This collection of novellas is not, unlike "PPZ" and "SSSM", a direct port of Austen novels, with new text woven in and around the original Austen text. Instead, these shorter renditions of Austen's novels are more like modern `adaptations' of her stories, not unlike the Shakespeare adaptations that maintain the underlying themes but with new settings, characters, and dialogue. Austen "purists" will likely not enjoy these adaptations, if only because of the more modern emphasis on physical passion and sensuality, but Austen lovers who enjoy seeing her delightful themes in new situations and experiences will find much here to enjoy.

"Almost Persuaded" by Mary Balogh, takes a serious and surprisingly deep look at the theme of reincarnation, applied against Austen's backdrop of marriages impeded by social distance. Two soulmates come together in the persons of Jane Everett and Captain Robert Mitford. The captain is of relatively low station and the lady is the daughter of a proud baronet, and yet they come to know - supernaturally - that they are immortal souls who have been trying and failing over a series of lifetimes to chose their eternal love over the concerns and trivialities of mortal lives. Though each party recognizes their mutual love and the importance of their choice, it is difficult to cast aside their social training to satisfy an attraction that does not make logical sense.This first novella in the series is, in my mind, easily the best - and it was here that I realized that "Bespelling Jane Austen" is not another Austen parody like "PPZ", but rather a serious adaption of her themes. Although there is no indication that Austen believed in reincarnation, "Almost Persuaded" seems very much like a story she would write, if she had.

"Northanger Castle" byColleen Gleason, is a fun little story that stars as protagonist the character of Caroline Merrill - a young girl who has read far too many gothic novels and whose overactive imagination fancies every man she meets a letch who locks up his madwoman wife in the attic, or a deserving orphan girl with a terrible secret, or a scheming lady slowly poisoning her unsuspecting husband's tea, or - worse of all - a vampire with red eyes and long fangs. The twist, of course, is that Caro's daytime fancies are not too far off from the truth - a twist that the reader can hardly fail to see coming, but which is cute in its own right. This story does not contain the same depth and complexity as the previous one, but is a fun romp to the end, even if the end is a bit abruptly resolved.

"Blood and Prejudice" by Susan Krinard, is another "Pride and Prejudice" adaptation featuring Mr. Darcy as a vampire - not the first adaptation to do so, but if the premise lacks originality, it does at least nicely account for Darcy's self-importance and egotism in a modern setting (given that the social birth position must vanish somewhat with modern American settings). The adaptation isn't a poor one, although I confess to not being the biggest of "Pride and Prejudice" fans. The writing isn't stellar - young lady protagonists in modern settings realistically probably don't reference "Casablanca" and "The Seven Year Itch" that often, but the character in question is an antique book buff, so I'll let it go. Authorial intrusion lines, though, such as "Since this story is rated for general audiences, I won't say what I really thought of Darcy," are really inexcusable, and lines like "I sat frozen, my mouth as dry as a quote from Oscar Wilde," really do feel like the writer is trying too hard. Overall, though, the story isn't too bad - although the elements are lifted so strongly from Austen, with just a vampire theme added, that long-time fans may get a little bored at the repetition. The ending, too, somehow left a bad taste in my mouth - likely because I'm more of a "Sisters of the Moon" fan (where Elizabeth's actions would fall under the moniker of "blood whore") than a "Twilight" fan (where Elizabeth's actions line up nicely for the Team Edward fans).

"Little to Hex Her" by Janet Mullany, is an "Emma" adaptation, which I was wary of - for one, because the premise (protagonist runs a dating service in a Fantasy Kitchen Sink setting in Washington D.C.) seemed a little overly zany, and for another because I've never really like Emma or Mr. Knightley. Surprisingly enough, Mullany address the later problem head on in the foreword, and makes good on her word by giving both the characters a bit of a status upgrade to not be quite so tedious. As for the former, the zany setting is handled surprisingly well, and comes off as some of the better world-building and world-mixing techniques that I like so much in the "Sisters of the Moon" series. The plot isn't entirely without holes - I can't help but feel that Knightley could be a bit less of a jerk about Emma being potentially date raped by a vampire (short story: she agreed to the sex, but not - to her recollection - the biting) - but the overall presentation is fun and enjoyable. This novella is definitely the one with the highest sex content, however, so be aware of that going in.

Overall, I enjoyed this series, and it's nice to see a paranormal Austen adaptation that doesn't take the easy route and republish an entire Austen novel but with some random fantasy element copy-pasted in.

Note: I received a free Advance Review Copy of this book from the publishing company via NetGalley.

~ Ana Mardoll

Interesting Combination of Authors
I wasn't really sure what to expect from Bespelling Jane Austen. I don't generally go for paranormals, but I love Mary Balogh so I decided to try it out. If you enjoy paranormal romance I think you'd like this anthology more than I did, but I'd recommend it to anyone. It was an interesting read, the different styles worked well together in keeping me reading.

Mary Balogh's Almost Persuaded is more of a reincarnation tale than a paranormal. I liked it but I think she could have taken the fantasy element a little farther. 4 stars.

Susan Krinard's Blood and Prejudice was easily the best of the bunch, embracing vampires and corporate drama to retell the Bennett's & Mr. Darcy. 5 stars.

Colleen Gleason's Northanger Castle is set in a series I don't read, so I think some of it was lost on me. But I enjoyed this vampire hunter anyway. 4 stars.

Janet Mullany is usually a win for me but I couldn't get into Little To Hex Her. A paranormal dating service goes wrong. I think a paranormal reader would really like it, it's just completely not to my taste. There was nothing drawing me past the paranormal elements. 2 stars.

Bespelling Jane Austen was easy fun, just the sort of thing I like to read when I'm not sure what I'm in the mood for and I want to try something a little different. ... Read more

Product Description
The restorative power of the ocean brings Jane Austen and her beloved brother Henry, to Brighton after Henry’s wife is lost to a long illness. But the crowded, glittering resort is far from peaceful, especially when the lifeless body of a beautiful young society miss is discovered in the bedchamber of none other than George Gordon—otherwise known as Lord Byron. As a poet and a seducer of women, Byron has carved out a shocking reputation for himself—but no one would ever accuse him of being capable of murder. Now it falls to Jane to pursue this puzzling investigation and discover just how “mad, bad, and dangerous to know” Byron truly is. And she must do so without falling victim to the charming versifier’s legendary charisma, lest she, too, become a cautionary example for the ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Murder in Brighton
Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron is a multi-layered Regency mystery, and the sleuth is none other than Jane Austen. Following the death of Henry Austen's wife, Eliza, Comtesse de Feuillide, Jane and her brother make arrangements to visit the seaside town of Brighton. However, their plans for a quiet interlude fall by the wayside when a stop at a posting inn results in Jane and Henry rescuing a young lady, Catherine Twining, from a forced elopement with the scandal-ridden Lord Byron. When the girl's body is discovered a few days later, a drowning victim, who is sewn into a canvas shroud and deposited in the bed of Lord Byron, the poet becomes the prime murder suspect.

Jane, who had befriended the fifteen-year-old Twining, finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation, one that is thrown into greater confusion when Lady Caroline Lamb, the former and nearly mad lover of Lord Byron, puts in an appearance, as well as his current paramour, Lady Oxford. Jane's investigation takes her to the residence of the Prince Regent. Is the prince or one of his associates involved or did Byron murder the girl who had rejected him?

This novel is interesting on so many levels. It is a tale so rich in Regency minutiae that it is like tapping into a mother lode of information, and Stephanie Barron is very clever in weaving these facts into her story so that you are seeing the beautiful clothes of the era, tasting the food, walking the streets of Brighton, and dancing to music in grand assembly rooms. But the most interesting scenes are those in which Caroline Lamb and Lord Byron are front and center. A conversation between the grieving Byron and his inquisitor, Jane Austen, is fascinating, and scenes of Lady Caroline's growing mental instability are chilling.

If you are a fan of Regency-era novels and mysteries, then you are in for a treat because this book delivers for enthusiasts of both genres.

A mystery in a young girl's death
Suppose that Jane Austin had met Lord Byron in his firey
life? They were alive at the same time,
but their works appealed to a different audience.
Here Lord Byron kidnaps a young girl, Catherine Twining, out
of misguided love and is stopped by Jane Austin
and here brother. Elopement of young girls with
their lovers were the 19th century ruin
of them, so the crime was kept quiet until
her later murder by some unknown who seems to have sowed her up
in canvas and laid her on Lord Byron's bed.
Who hates George Gordon enough to frame him for murder?
Our romantic novel author solves this mystery with the help of one of Byron's
famous poems. Both Byron and Austin are as popular today
as they were in their lifetime, with all Austin's books appearing
in recent movies. What will be the next in this series
of well documented historical novels?
Will Jane Austin save Charles Dickens from a fate
worse than debtors prison?

Fascinating Look at Byron and Caroline Lamb
When Lord Byron and Lady Caroline Lamb are center stage, this book is riveting, especially the dialog between Austen and Lord Byron. Jane Austen and her brother, Henry, who is grieving for his wife, Eliza, get out of the way and let Byron and Lamb drive the narrative. My only quibble is that sometimes Barron's extensive knowledge of the Regency Era gets in the way of the story, but is is an occasional minor distraction.

Great Follow-up!
I have really enjoyed each and every one of the books in this Stephanie Barron series!This is no exception!This really does read like Jane Austen is speaking and how I've imagined her to be.I think you will enjoy the character interaction.

Jane Austen, Detective is back on the case and in peak form
One thinks of Jane Austen as a retiring spinster who writes secretly, prefers her privacy and enjoys quiet walks in the Hampshire countryside. Instead, she has applied her intuitive skills of astute observation and deductive reasoning to solve crime in Stephanie Barron's Austen inspired mystery series. It is an ingenious paradox that would make even Gilbert and Sullivan green with envy. The perfect pairing of the unlikely with the obvious that happens occasionally in great fiction by authors clever enough to pick up on the connection and run with it.

JANE AUSTEN AND THE MADNESS OF LORD BYRON marks Stephanie Barron's tenth novel in the best-selling JANE AUSTEN MYSTERY series. For fourteen years, and to much acclaim, she has channeled our Jane beyond her quiet family circle into sleuthing adventures with lords, ladies and murderers. Cleverly crafted, this historical detective series incorporates actual events from Jane Austen's life with historical facts from her time all woven together into mysteries that of course, only our brilliant Jane can solve.

It is the spring of 1813. Jane is home at Chawton Cottage "pondering the thorny question of Henry Crawford" in her new novel MANSFIELD PARK and glowing in the recent favorable reception of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Bad news calls her to London where her brother Henry's wife Eliza, the Comtesse de Feuillde, is gravely ill. With her passing, Jane and Henry decide to seek the solace and restorative powers of the seaside selecting Brighton, "the most breathtaking and outrageous resort of the present age" for a holiday excursion.

At a coaching Inn along the way they rescue Catherine Twining, a young society Miss found bound and gagged in the coach of George Gordon, the 6th Baron of Byron, aka Lord Byron, the notorious mad, bad and dangerous to know poet. Miffed by their thwart of her abduction, Byron regretfully surrenders his prize to Jane and Henry who return her to her father General Twining in Brighton. He is furious and quick to fault his fifteen year-old daughter. Jane and Henry are appalled at his temper and concerned for her welfare.

Settled into a suite of rooms at the luxurious Castle Inn, Jane and Henry enjoy walks on the Promenade, fine dining on lobster patties and champagne at Donaldson's and a trip to the local circulating library where Jane is curious to see how often the "Fashionables of Brighton" solicit the privilege of reading PRIDE AND PREJUDICE! Even though Jane loathes the dissipated Prince Regent, she and Henry attend a party at his opulent home the Marine Pavilion. In the crush of the soirée, Jane again rescues Miss Twining from another seducer.

Later at an Assembly dance attended by much of Brighton's bon ton, Lord Byron reappears stalked by his spurned amour, "the mad as Bedlam" Lady Caroline Lamb. Even though the room is filled with beautiful ladies he only has eyes for Miss Twining and aggressively pursues her. The next morning, Jane and Henry are shocked to learn that the lifeless body of a young lady found in Byron's bed was their naïve new friend Miss Catherine Twining! The facts against Byron are very incriminating. Curiously, the intemperate poet is nowhere to be found and all of Brighton ready to condemn him.

'Henry grasped my arm and turned me firmly back along the way we had come. "Jane," he said bracingly, "we require a revival of your formidable spirit - one I have not seen in nearly two years. You must take up the role of Divine Fury. You must penetrate this killer's motives, and expose him to the world."' page 119

And so the game is afoot and the investigation begins...

It is great to have Jane Austen, Detective back on the case and in peak form. Fans of the series will be captivated by her skill at unraveling the crime, and the unindoctrinated totally charmed. The mystery was detailed and quite intriguing, swimming in red herrings and gossipy supposition. Pairing the nefarious Lord Byron with our impertinent parson's daughter was just so delightfully "sick and wicked." Their scenes together were the most memorable and I was pleased to see our outspoken Jane give as good as she got, and then some. Readers who enjoy a good parody and want to take this couple one step further should investigate their vampire version in JANE BITES BACK.

Barron continues to prove that she is an Incomparable, the most accomplished writer in the genre today rivaling Georgette Heyer in Regency history and Austen in her own backyard. Happily readers will not have to wait another four years for the next novel in the series. Bantam is publishing JANE AND THE CANTERBURY TALE next year with a firm commitment of more to follow. Huzzah!

Laurel Ann, Austenprose ... Read more

Product Description
The Los Angeles Times bestseller that has Austen lovers hooked

After nursing a broken engagement with Jane Austen novels and Absolut, Courtney Stone wakes up to find herself not in her Los Angeles bedroom or even in her own body, but inside the bedchamber of a woman in Regency England. Who but an Austen addict like herself could concoct such a fantasy?

Not only is Courtney stuck inside another woman’s life, she is forced to pretend she actually is that woman; and despite knowing nothing about her, she manages to fool even the most astute observer. For her borrowed body knows how to speak without slaying the King’s English, dance without maiming her partner, and embroider as if possessed by actual domestic skill.

But not even Courtney’s level of Austen mania has prepared her for the chamber pots and filthy coaching inns of nineteenth-century England, let alone the realities of being a single woman who must fend off suffocating chaperones, condom-less seducers, and marriages of convenience. Enter the enigmatic Mr. Edgeworth, a suitor who may turn out not to be a familiar species of philanderer after all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (111)

Creative and Off-Beat!
An incredibly off-beat and light-hearted novel with definitely one of the more imaginative 'Jane Austen' concepts I have seen.There were parts of the story that I had wished the author extrapolated more like the depth of Courtney and Wes's relationship, as well as more witty tete-a-tetes and convos between Jane and Edgeworth as seen with Lizzy and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice to give the chemistry more spice.The novel is humorously well-written with many parallelisms and references to Jane Austen's novels. It's a surprisingly enjoyable read and I found myself unable to put the book down due to the creative writing flare and surrealism.*

Deserves credit for enjoyability
I enjoyed this book. I did read it in one sitting; it's that kind of book. But I liked it and was provided with emotional justice at the end. It kept me engaged. With a premise like the one this boook sports, what else could you expect? If you want something light and fun, check it out. Easily re-readable, so worth a buy.

fun fast pase
fun and fast paced, cant stop reading until i was done with the book or until my eyes lids got heavy. excellent and i cant wait until the next story which i already bought. <3

Waste of time and money
Flat caracters, the heroine is rude and vulgar and if she had read Jane Austin books as many times as she claims, half of her mishaps ( and half of the book) wouldn't happen.

There is no plot line, you don't know why she falls in love with the hero, just that he is hot ??? no secundary plots... nothing,and I have to skip parts because it was BORING!! I don't even know how she got published

I've Got a Confession
I don't rightly no where to start.It's hard to put into words the kind of there-ness this book had for me.Being a girl who isn't a fan of shades of great I don't like stating that I'm ambivalent about a book, but honestly, I kinda am in this case.I didn't love it, didn't hate it.Like I said, it was just kinda.....there.

The story is great in concept, though not entirely new, where a young twenty-first-century woman wakes up in nineteenth-century England.Some of what you would expect was present -- comparisons to the different worlds, freaking out about why she was there, and stuff like that.But what there wasn't a lot of was exploration of how she got there.I know that isn't the point of the story.The point was to have that fish out of water become more comfortable in her surroundings and in that way the story did what it set out to do.But I still wanted to know.

I also wanted to know more about Courtney.In fact, the most interesting chapters were those that showcased her life back in LA. I found the two(ish) chapters of her back-story far more compelling than the bulk of chapters that were set in the time of Jane.I understand that this was a conscious choice on the part of the author, mainly because Courtney's story is offered up in a second book, but without knowing that on the front end a reader could definitely walk away with this feeling of much being untold here.

Courtney as a character was alright.There was little told about her life but that's not surprising given the fact that she was living Jane's.She had wit and her internal dialogue was an interesting and entertaining way to learn more about the story.But the story itself was a bit meh.I did like that it seemed realistic, that the pitfalls of living in Regency England weren't romanticized a great deal.It was smelly, hygene was not on the forefront of people's mind, and the clothes weren't comfortable.

Despite the story being somewhat blase for me, I find myself wondering if my ambivalence towards this book is the direct result of having listened to the audio version.Would I have liked it better if I'd been able to use my imagination more through the pages?

The narrator volleyed between whiny and what sounded like breathless angst.There was no real change in tonal inflection of voice between Jane/Courtney and some other characters.This isn't a prerequisite of a narrator but I found her rendition to be tedious.As a result, I think it might have unduly influenced my overall feeling towards the book.There is a follow-up, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, which I already have.I'm going to give it a try to see if reading it on paper will make a difference in the tone of the story.

In the end, as I said I didn't love this book and I didn't hate it.I think if you are a fan of Jane Austen or of stories that revolve in some way around Regency England you'll enjoy this story.It had a unique twist to it and had some fun and funny passages. ... Read more

Product Description
When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen, she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip, and romance that Jane inhabits. At fifteen, Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship. So when Jenny falls utterly in love with Captain Thomas Williams, who better than Jane to help her win the heart of this dashing man?
 
But is that even possible? After all, Jenny’s been harboring a most desperate secret. Should it become known, it would bring scandal not only to her, but also to the wonderful Austen family. What’s a poor orphan girl to do?
 
In this delicious dance between truth and fiction, Cora Harrison has crafted Jenny’s secret diary by reading everything Jane Austen wrote as a child and an adult, and by researching biographies, critical studies, and family letters. Jenny’s diary makes the past spring vividly to life and provides insight into the entire Austen family—especially the beloved Jane. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Jane Austen as a teen
Jenny Cooper is Jane Austen's cousin who has come to live with the Austen family. When Jane get's sick at bording school, Jenny risk her life and reputation to send a letter to Mrs Austen and, by chance, meets the dashing Darcy/Captin Wentworth like Thomas Williams.
The novel is in Jenny's perspective and is an intresting look at the teen Jane. For those who have read all her novels you will find fimiliar names and characters that remind you of some from Jane's novels. There are cute pictures drawn by Jenny in her diary. The book is an easy,fun and quick read with a satisfying and Jane-like ending. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

one of Austen's better books
I've been a fan of Austen for 20 years and this is one of my favorites. It can appear to be a little stilted due to the time period it was written in, but the story is timeless and that's why movies keep getting made with it as a base story.

Interesting character study
Emma Woodhouse is priviledged.Very priviledged.She comes from the richest, most important family in her small town.Everyone looks up to her, including her indulgent governess and even more indulgent papa.The theme of her life, from the time she was small, has always been "Emma knows best". Emma takes this to heart when she takes an interest in young Harriet Smith, the beautiful, empty-headed daughter of, well, someone.The book follows Emma's misadventures as she tries to marry Harriet off to the local parson and meddles in the lives of her friends and neighbors, eventually learning that perhaps she doesn't always know best.

This is, I think, one of Jane Austen's less popular works, perhaps because there isn't a great deal of romance in it.It is, as I titled the review, more of a character study, as well as a study of society at that time.On first reading, I didn't care for the book or for Emma's self-centered goodness.After reading it again, I grew to enjoy the book as much if not more than her more popular works, like Pride and Prejudice.The wit is sharp as usual (and maybe slightly more ascerbic), and more thought seems to have been put into the secondary characters.Definitely worth a read.

Great
Wonderful! All the Austin books that I have read have been superb. She really draws you into the character's lives. The way she ties all the pieces together to end the story is interesting.

It's a classic.
The book has been around since the 1700's and is still loved.What else is there to say?

My least favorite Austen
I love P&P, S&S and Mansfield Park, but I just did not care for Emma--primarily because of the title character.I'm not going to elaborate, b/c it is a Jane Austen and worth a read if only for that alone.Please read it and others and develop your own opinions on them. ... Read more

Product Description
Now in Penguin Classics—a treasure trove of Jane Austen’s novels

Few novelists have conveyed the subtleties and nuances of their own social milieu with the wit and insight of Jane Austen. Here in one volume are her seven great novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride andPrejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Lady Susan. Through her vivacious and spirited heroines and their circle, Austen vividly portrays English middle-class life as the eighteenth century came to a close and the nineteenth century began. Each of the novels is a love story and a story about marriage—marriage for love, for financial security, for social status. But they are not romances; ironic, comic, and wise, they are masterly evocations of the society Jane Austen observed. This beautiful volume covers the literary career of one of England’s finest prose stylists of any century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Fast and excellent product
Book was sent in a timely fashion.It arrived promptly and was in great condition.

Love!
These stories are classic and great, so basicly they are classicly great! I love that they have combined them all into one large book, i thought it would intimidate me at first but you really just get sucked in to the jane austen world from the first page. And for me just reading one story at a time and then taking a break in between or reading another book really helped to keep it fresh and interesting everytime! They were so easy to read, and you just fall in love with the charecters. You will feel so compelled to read them over and over again!

Great novel set.
I never really got Jane Austen when I was young, but now find something new to reveal itself about her in all her heroines.Must read!

Lotta Jane!
I got this after seeing Jane Austen Book Club. Because of the size, I couldn't carry it too many places, but have enjoyed reading when I am in the mood for Jane! Great for my library!

A beautifully presented volume
Jane Austen is Jane Austen--no surprises here :)

What I do wish to say, is this: this is a beautifully bound and presented book.

It's a good quality paperback (nice thick cover), with beautiful rough-cut/uneven edges to the pages, and a very pretty cover, and it looks lovely on the shelf and in the hand. It opens beautifully (without the stiffness you sometimes find in very large books).

Although not overly bulky for such a large collection, it achieves this by having long pages with a lot of text. This is only my only reservation--and it's slight: if you have difficulty with very full/long pages, perhaps this edition is not for you. There is still enough space to leave it readable, but still, it's a consideration. ... Read more

Product Description
Providing detailed and absorbing accounts of Jane Austen's friendships and travels, Tomalin shatters the myth of the novelist as a sheltered and homebound spinster whose knowledge of the world was limited to the view from a Hampshire village. of illustrations.Amazon.com Review
The author of Pride andPrejudice, Persuasion, andother comedies of manners gets a biography similar in tone to her ownbooks: intelligent but not intellectual, witty without beingnasty. Claire Tomalin, author of four previous biographies ofnotable British women, treats Jane Austen (1775-1817) with the respecther genius deserves. Tomalin eschews gossip and speculation in favorof a sober account of the writer's life that nonetheless sparkles withsly humor. Perceptive analyses of each of Austen's novels, withautobiographical links suggested but never insisted upon, add to thevalue of Jane Austen: A Life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Jane Austen: A Life
I must admit that biographies can sometimes put me to sleep.(That undoubtedly says more about me than it does about any biography.)But I found this book to be highly readable--even entertaining--and thought it provided valuable background information about Jane Austen, one of my favorite authors.I'm not a scholar (obviously!), so I can't debate any of the biographer's interpretations. Those questions are left to better minds.I just know that I would recommend this bookto anyone who likes Jane Austen and wants to begin learning more about her life.

A good read
Noticing that one review was very caustic of this book, I would like to say that I thought it was very well written - especially considering that there is very little documentation to go on. I found the author's explanation of child-rearing, at that time, very interesting. I did not feel that she was trying to put it into perspective to "today's standards", as one reviewer wrote.

What was really fascinating, to me, was the difference in what her family lifestyle was like - compared to what her books portrayed. I realize books and plots are just that - but the lives and atmosphere was definitely not as "dark" as a lot of her own was. Just fascinating.

I think she would have been an interesting person to have met because I came away with the impression that she wasn't really the "private" person her brothers and other family made her out to be. Sounds like she had quite a wit - biting at that.

Anyway, thanks to the author for writing this and doing a great job with little documentation.

Definite Choice
A book with a panaroma view and lots of details about not only Jane herself, but also her direct family (sometimes even including her neighbours and her parents' cousins). Found it extremely useful in learning about Jane's experience as a woman living in the Georgian England. A page-turner indeed! Strongly recommend it!

A Dramatic Life of Jane Austen...
1997's "Jane Austen: A Life" is Claire Tomalin's highly readable, even dramatic account of the life of the popular romance novelist.Jane Austen left little for her future biographers beyond her published novels and some surviving letters and manuscripts.Tomalin addresses Jane in the context of her large and interesting family and their Hampshire friends and relatives.The result doesn't necessarily add a great deal to our limited store of knowledge about Jane Austen; it does provide some interesting insights into her context, and should bury forever any concerns about the source of Austen's acute understanding of human nature or the material for her novels.

The good news about "Jane Austen: A Life" is that Claire Tomalin is a gifted writer and her book will be a page-turner for many fans.Tomalin has done her extensive research.In addition, Tomalin is not shy about speculating when it comes to the signficant gaps in our knowledge of Austen's life.Her speculation is generally reasonable and plausible, and almost always fascinating to read.It is less clear how much of the book is reasonable inference from the limited record and how much edges toward historical fiction.

Tomalin includes her own literary criticism on Jane Austen's various works. This criticism is frankly hit or miss.Her comments on "Lady Susan" highlight its unusual leading character.Her analysis of the novel fragment "The Watson" explains why Jane Austen never finished it.However, she unfairly slights one of the main characters in "Sense and Sensibility", misreads the fate of Mr. Wickham and Lydia in "Pride and Prejudice", and perhaps misses the point of "Mansfield Park."Readers familiar with Jane Austen's novels can draw their own conclusions.

Jane Austen is as vivid as Claire Tomalin can make her in this biography, a clever, acutely observant woman who must on occasion have been a little intimidating in person.She is very much a family person, at the beck and call of brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews all her life.We come to appreciation for how difficult Austen's life was after her father died.Her failure to marry lfet her, her spinster sister Cassandra, and her widowed mother in genteel poverty, dependent on support from her brothers and with few choices about where and how they would live.Unfortunately, Jane's writing did not begin to produce real income before her early death in 1817.

"Jane Austen: A Life" is highly recommended as an interesting, even dramatic biography.The book includes an excellent selection of portraits of Jane Austen's family members.It is perhaps ironic that the one verified portrait of Jane Austen in life was said by her family to be inadequate, just as the person behind the novels continues to be elusive to biographers and fans alike.

Not a Boring Bio
Claire Tomalin in Jane Austen: A Life really delivers a wonderful story, not just a boring listing of events from the author's life. I've used this book for research before, and finally decided to buy it for my own collection and read it just for fun. I recommend this to anyone that has been curious about the author's life or any serious Janite. ... Read more