Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderful little accompaniment to Jane's novels.
This is a wonderful addition to the Jane Austen enthusiest's library. It explains the etiquette and lifestyle of the time, using scriptures from the novels themselves as examples. At the time I bought this, I had only just seen the Pride & Prejudice movie. I had yet to read the novel. I found myself wondering why Elizabeth Bennet was so upset by her sister's elopement. This small companion does such a good job of explaining this and much more. Now I can pick up on many more things in the movie that I missed before that give it more meaning- All the little manners and behaviors that have been forgotten over the years are concisely laid out here, in this tiny book.

Helping to explain some of the more obscure aspects of Jane Austen's works, with elegance and art
Being a fan of nearly everything Jane Austen, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that I would buy this book. The Regency period of English history -- from about 1790 to 1820 -- has always interested me, and has been a lucrative trade for modern romance writers, but I was curious about something. How was the Regency period actually? And to solve that question, writer Josephine Ross goes right to the source: none other than the most famous author of the Regency period, Jane Austen, who wrote six novels, and a wide selection of letters, to find out what were the correct manners of the time.

The Regency period was a time when to know how to behave was important. Having the knowledge of when to speak, how to speak, dress, and even introduce yourself could make or break your social success. With a gentle tongue-in-cheek humor, Josephine Ross takes examples from Austen's heroes and heroines to show the right way to behave, in a series of chapters that run the gamut from conversation to marriage and children.

Beginning with an Introduction about the Authoress, Jane Austen herself, the reader is guided into the world of polite society, starting with Manners, Introductions, Conversation, Dining and Dancing, Dress and Taste, Matrimony, Family and finally, Servants. For each aspect, Ross draws on the observations made in the books and letters, and more importantly, shows why a blunder -- or save -- was made.

What I really liked about the book is that it suddenly opened up some of the more obtuse passages in the books that didn't make much sense to me when I had first read them. Of course, Jane Austen already knew that her audience were very familiar with the background that she was working with, and so naturally, didn't bother to explain anything. But for the modern reader, with our quick world of the internet, flashy clothing, and a rather casual attitude towards relationships, some of the behavior seems downright strange. Why would plain white clothing make a woman fashionable above all else; why would a gentlewoman never, but never, visit a man alone, and how being able to make an introduction could prove to be invaluable later?

And yes, many of these same ideas apply in our own world. Some might find them to be terribly old fashioned, but some basics still matter -- especially when a person finds themselves in a scenario where good manners do count, such as say, in a business setting or when meeting potential in-laws, and both skill and tact are called for.

Along with the humor and various aha! moments, the other pleasure of this book were the delicate watercolours painted by Henrietta Webb that illustrated the book throughout. They caught the mood perfectly, and with just a dash of irony as well.

For collectors and fans of Jane Austen's novels, and anyone who needs a good laugh or quiet chuckle, this slim volume -- it's under 150 pages in length -- would make a delightful little present. The layout and design is lovely, and easy on the eyes, presented in a small, hardback format. Josephine Ross has also written a more scholarly work on Jane Austen, which goes into more detail about life in the Regency period.

Happily recommended.

Jane Austen impressed me!
This is a graceful book. If you want be a elegant person, you must read this gorgeous book. I Love Jane Austen's stlye, life, everything. ... Read more

Book Description
Mansfield Park encompasses not only Jane Austen’s great comedic gifts and her genius as a historian of the human animal, but her personal credo as well—her faith in a social order that combats chaos through civil grace, decency, and wit.

At the novel’s center is Fanny Price, the classic “poor cousin,” brought as a child to Mansfield Park by the rich Sir Thomas Bertram and his wife as an act of charity. Over time, Fanny comes to demonstrate forcibly those virtues Austen most admired: modesty, firm principles, and a loving heart. As Fanny watches her cousins Maria and Julia cast aside their scruples in dangerous flirtations (and worse), and as she herself resolutely resists the advantages of marriage to the fascinating but morally unsteady Henry Crawford, her seeming austerity grows in appeal and makes clear to us why she was Austen’s own favorite among her heroines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I love books
I love the time period in which Jane Austin writes-these books are very good and also very captivating ... Read more

Book Description
This illuminating, entertaining, up-to-date companion is theonly general guide to Jane Austen, her work, and her world. Josephine Rossexplores the literary scene during the time Austen's works first appeared:the books considered classics then, the "horrid novels" and romances, andthe grasping publishers. She looks at the architecture and decor ofAusten's era that made up "the profusion and elegance of modern taste":Regency houses for instance, Chippendale furniture, "picturesque scenery."On the smaller scale she answers questions that may baffle modern readersof Austen's work. What, for example, was "hartshorn"? How did Lizzy Bennet"let down" her gown to hide her muddy petticoat? Ross shows us thefashions, and the subtle ways Jane Austen used clothes to expresscharacter. Courtship, marriage, adultery, class and "rank," mundane tasksof ordinary life, all appear, as does the wider political and militaryworld--especially the navy, in which her brothers served.

This book will add depth to all readers' enjoyment of Jane Austen, whetherconfirmed addicts or newcomers wanting to know what all the fuss is about. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Helpful "life-and-times" of Jane Austen
This review was originally written for the hardcover edition, but on the assumption that this is fairly similar, I'll repeat it here.

This book is a Companion in the sense that it attempts to give the reader context for reading Austen's work, not in the sense of a reference work listing all her characters, etc. It is perfect for anyone beginning to read Austen's works, especially if they have little knowledge of the era. It would also be helpful as a basic guide to the late Georgian period, which is the setting of so many historical and romance novels.

Ross starts off with a brief (44 page) biography, followed by 8 chapters on the era: "The Common Daily Routine", "Of Lovers and Husbands", "Politics and Public Events", etc. In each, Ross discusses the era in general terms, and also relates the topic to Austen's life and writings. I read the book straight through, but it appears that each chapter could stand on its own: information is sometimes repeated if it relates to more than one topic. Lydia Bennett's finding ornaments in a book store is mentioned in both "The Present Fashions" and "The Subject of Books."

There are numerous plates of well-chosen pictures relating to both Jane Austen's personal life and the era in general.

There are no notes, but there is a helpful, but admittedly not exhaustive bibliography and an unusually detailed index. This index isn't perfect, it only lists one of the references to Lydia mentioned above, but it is much more thorough and in depth than most indexes, and helpfully has little notes after some of the entries that may be enough in themselves to refresh the reader's memory. ... Read more

Book Description
Of all Jane Austen’s great and delightful novels, Persuasion is widely regarded as the most moving. It is the story of a second chance.

Anne Elliot, daughter of the snobbish Sir Walter Elliot, iswoman of quiet charm and deep feelings. When she was nineteen she fell in love with—and was engaged to—a naval officer, the fearless and headstrong Captain Wentworth. But the young man had no fortune, and Anne allowed herself to be persuaded to give him up. Now, eight years later, Wentworth has returned to the neighborhood, a rich man and still unwed. Anne’s never-diminished love is muffled by her pride, and he seems cold and unforgiving. What happens as the two are thrown together in the social world of Bath—and as an eager new suitor appears for Anne—is touchingly and wittily told in a masterpiece that is also one of the most entrancing novels in the English language. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I love Books
I love the time period in which Jane Austin writes-these books are very good and also very captivating. ... Read more

Book Description
How well do you reallyknow your favourite author?Ace literary detective turned quizmaster John Sutherlandand Austen buff Deirdre Le Faye challenge the reader to find out. Starting with easy, factual questions that test how well you remember a novel and its characters, the quiz progresses to a level of greater difficulty, demanding close reading and interpretative deduction.What really motivates the characters, and what is going on beneath the surface of the story? Designed to amuse and divert, the questions and answers take the reader on an imaginative journey into the world of Jane Austen, where hypothesis and speculation produce fascinating and unexpected insights.Whether you are an expert or enthusiast, So You Think You Know Jane Austen?guarantees you will know her much better after reading it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Test your knowledge of Jane Austen books
Defininately for any Jane Austen buff. This quizbook is broken down into 4 levels ascending difficult questions per each of Jane Austen's 6 books. The first level, "Brass Tacks", contains purely fact based questions.

For example in Sense and Sensibility, 'what are Willoughby's last words to Elinor?'

The second level, "Factual but Tricky", contains slightly harder fact based questions.

Such as in Emma, 'why does Harriet hate Italian singing?'

The book says that the third level, "Very Tricky--and Occasionally Deductive," 'approaches mastermind difficulty in terms of factual reference and involvees some interpretative deduction as well.'

For example, in Pride and Prejudice, 'why does Elizabeth take such a tender interest in Jane's marriage affairs, and so little in those of her younger sisters?'

Last but not least, the fourth level questions, "The Interpretative Zone", are mostly deduction and spectulation.

One of these questions in the Persuasion section is 'We learn, in the last pages, that William Elliot has been playing a very cunning double game. What is that game, and why is he playing it?'

Then the answers to these questions are in the back of the book.

Intellectual Fun
If you love Jane Austen's work as much as I do, then this is a nice way to spend your time testing your perception of her novels and even seeing things you may not have noticed before. I do not recommend it to those students who like to read notes instead of the actual work, they'll surely end up just memorizing facts and not really getting to know the work. ... Read more

Book 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 (5)

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.

Fun and Entertaining!!
If you call yourself a Janeite then you must have this book! It is a great recipe book from the period with many that can be easily reproduced in your own kitchen! (How better to experience the times than to try to recreate a touch of it?) The commentary is interesting and useful and each author, I find, sheds some light on the life and times of Jane in a way that no one else has quite managed, and Ms. Black is no exception. I am just beginning my culinary jaunts using recipes from this book, and I have already highlighted a great deal of "Must tries".If you like cooking, experimenting in your kitchen, vintage recipes, or JA herself, you will truly appreciate this book!
Linore Rose Burkard
Author, Before the Season Ends
(A Regency Romance)

A must for Jane Austen fans!
While this cookbook may not be exactly suited to the demands of every day dinner making, it does serve as a great lesson in early 19th century custom and way of life.The recipes it contains are fun as well as elegant, andmany of them are taken right from the pages of EMMA, PRIDE AND PREJUDICEand the rest of the Austen classics.Most of the ingredients are simpleand relatively easy to find, and you'll find that making Mrs. Norris'Strawberry Creme Pudding is worth every effort.So, put on some Madrigalmusic, don a linen frock and your best English country accent and fall intothe real world of Austen-- as only food can create it! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (10)

Everything you ever wanted to know about tea!
This is a good history on tea.It explains lots of things I never knew before.I questioned the validity of a couple of stories in here, but that doesn't mean they're not true...just hard to imagine.It's small enough that it won't get tedious, but long enough that you actually learn some things.

Splendid!
This is - and there is no doubting this - the vag-iest book I've ever seen.

Short and punchy book for tea drinkers and Janeites
This is a lovely short little book which will not only teach you how to make a good cup of tea but at the same time takes a lovely cultural walk through the historical significance of tea both in society and literature.

The Georgian era really saw the rise in tea as a social institution, which is of course the time of Austen. Kim Wilson manages to extract references to tea in novels and letters using them as examples of its importance at the time, and its use as a literary device.

this has a series of lovely recipes in it which are true to Austen's time, well as true as they can be. Ingredients and measurements not withstanding. But how wonderful to do tea just as Austen did.

This book is highly specialised around Tea and really Austen and perhaps the Jane Austen in the title was supposed to draw in more readers on the Jane Austen bandwagon. However I do think it has merit. Firstly it tended to stick with things of Austen's time and I felt it gave a fairly good discussion of what her life would have been.

It really suffered from lack of illustration, not only throughout the book, but also for the cooking items at the end. I recommend reading this with another illustrated book of Austen's life if you want to see more of the places and things mentioned in here. There is one excellent book I have read recently called Regency Design which (while not on Jane Austen) will illustrate so much of what they used, ate from, drank from and lived in. It is fully illustrated, I think the author is Morley - anyway - a book like that is an excellent accompaniment to lovely short books such as this.

Highly recommended
Before sitting down with this book, turn to the very last chapter, which explains how to make the perfect cup of tea -- and prepare a whole pot for yourself. Because once you begin reading Kim Wilson's engaging discussion, you'll want nothing so much as a good cup of tea (except, perhaps, a rout cake or Bath bun to go with it) but will not want to put the book down long enough to boil water. "Tea with Jane Austen" is like the best blends of the beverage, its individual components smoothly combining to create a delightful experience richer than the sum of its parts. Primarily a social history of tea in Georgian England, the book also explains how Austen and other authors use tea as a literary device, and includes period recipes with modern conversions. Though extensively researched, this is not dry history -- Wilson's warm, conversational style and gentle humor make the book as entertaining as it is informative. Indeed, the reader feels as if Wilson is our hostess rather than a lecturer as she educates us by turns on tea itself (how it was transported, sold, and prepared) and the social contexts in which it was enjoyed. She also enhances our appreciation for Austen's writings by revealing subtle cues Austen incorporates into tea-drinking scenes that likely escape most modern readers -- but that her contemporaries would have recognized as character-defining elements. Among the many fascinating insights Wilson offers, we learn why the Austens, hardly well-to-do, bought their tea only from one of London's most reputable merchants, that naval officers often brought along their own tea so as to improve conditions aboard ship by indulging in a small comfort of home, and the real reason Mr. Darcy drinks a cup of coffee rather than tea toward the end of "Pride and Prejudice." By the end of the book, you'll be trying to decide which of the intriguing recipes to attempt first, and which Jane Austen novel to read or reread whilst sipping tea (with sugar, but no cream) from a Wedgwood cup.

I'm ready to sit down and have a cup of tea!
Fun and interesting, loaded with anecdotes and quotes from family and contemporaries, Tea With Jane Austen is truly a valuable asset to anyone's Jane collection! Jane herself made the tea for her family, so you cannot ignore this addition to the her "lore" and still be a true Janeite! Need I say more?
Linore Rose Burkard
Author, Before the Season Ends,
An "Austenesque" Regency Romance
[...] ... Read more

Book Description
Leading scholars present a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to Jane Austen's works in the contexts of her contemporary world, and of present-day critical discourse. Besides discussions of Austen's novels and letters, there are essays on religion, politics, class consciousness, publishing practices, domestic economy, style in the novels and the significance of her juvenile works. A chronology provides biographical information, and assessments of the history of Austen criticism highlight the most interesting recent studies in a vast field of critical diversity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Absolutely necessary for anyone researching Austen scholastically
I used this book when I was writing a thesis on Austen. The chapters are each broken into themes (Money, Class, etc.) for easy reference, and there is an extensive index. The book can be uneven because each chapter is written by a different author. Still, the authors represented are among the most prominent Austen authorities in the world.

Useful - but within reason
I have to admit from the outset here, that I am a confirmed Janeite, I have an Austen discussion list, and I have read Austen's novels over and over again. So that may well colour what you feel about this review.

This book probably has a limited readership. Austen is still a popular author today - the string of recent movie adaptations and their wild popularity has proven that. It helps too that Austen's books can still be read these days and enjoyed without any help - after all language-wise there isn't slang and metre that puts people offShakespeare - and her themes of love and marriage are pertinent to any age.

Yet a companion like this is really useful for there were still little in-jokes which Austen uses - her contemporary readers would have understood these without further explanation, but for us we can do with a bit more background to the times she was living in. The most useful chapters for this are 7, 8 and 9 which deal with class, money and Religion and Politics. You don't need to read to understand, but if you want to enjoy Austen's irony in greater depth they make very useful reading.

This is a neat little book if you are not sure if you want to read more on Austen either in Critical literature or biographically. It has 12 chapters in all which offer subjects ranging from the chronology of her life and work, to a good essay on her letters and style. I didn't much enjoy the chapter on Style but I was put off by the graphs in that one (don't ask!). You will pleased to know that this doesn't lack for academic credentials, but it isn't too forcefully academic. I don't think you would enjoy this book at all if you haven't read all of Austen's works, and some idea of their various characters.

So, if you are looking for a handy little volume and a quick read on Austen, her life and times then this is very worthwhile indeed. Other books on Austen that might you enjoy are Claire Tomalin's biography 'Jane Austen - a life' which is excellent. Amanda Vickery's book "The Gentleman's Daughters" is a beautifully researched and written piece on woman's lives in Austen's time and of Austen's class (even using some of her letters). ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

witty, enjoyable read
I can never decide whether Pride and Prejudice or Emma is my favourite book by Jane Austen. Emma has all the Jane Austen hallmarks - wit, exuberance, and laugh out loud moments, coupled with realistic, well drawn characters and a real feeling of being in the Regency (which is hardly surprising, as that's when the book was written).
Emma is a spoiled young woman who has everything she can possibly want in life: a doting father who lets her do as she pleases, friends, family and a beautiful home. She is understandably please with herself, and this leads to complications as she tries to sort out everyone else's life. She's meddling and interfering, and yet so well meaning she comes across as a likeable character rather than as a busybody.
She takes up Harriet, a young woman of doubtful birth, and encourages her to set her sights on Mr Elton, the local vicar, as a future husband. Poor Harriet is completely bowled over by Emma, and is persuaded to like Mr Elton over the farmer's son she is really in love with. Emma is oblivious to the fact that Harriet and Mr Elton are completely unsuited, and that Harriet and her farmer are made for each other.
Through a variety of hilarious scenes, Emma comes to realize she doesn't know as much as she thought, and learns that it's better to let other people manage their own lives.
The minor characters are wonderful: Mrs Elton with her barouche landau (anyone who's read the book will know what I mean), sweet Miss Bates, and dreadful Mr Elton, who has designs on Emma.
Eventually, Emma learns how to understand her own feelings, and leaves everyone else free to listen to theirs, which leads to a satisfying ending all round.
Hugely enjoyable. ... Read more

Book Description
Revive the lost art of letter-writing with a few well-worded sentiments by Jane Austen. Her refreshing take on love, life, and friendship is matched with period illustration on these beautifully designed cards.

16 cards, 4 designs, with 17 envelopes, 4 3/8 x 5 7/8 inches ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Nice!
I just got these and they are very cute, there are 4 different ones and they each have a saying on the front. The envelops are very pretty and the box they come in is nice. If your a big Jane fan, its a neat little set to have. ... Read more

Book Description
Aspiring writers will find encouragement in the free-thinking attitude ofJane Austen. Her refreshing outlook abounds in a journal peppered with humorous pairings of illustrations and quotes from her novels.

160 pages (blank, lined), 5x7 in., elastic closure ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Jane Austen books/ Barnes and Noble Classics
I found the paper quality to be quite good. Someone else said they thought it to be cheap quality but it isn't at all. Its just as good as other hardcover books I bought published by other companies.

Excellent!
Emma Woodhouse is an atypical heroine for a Jane Austen novel. Usually, we see disadvantaged girls struggle to find happiness through marriage. In Emma's case, we see a girl who has everything in the world she could want. She is rich, pretty, and happy. She has no desire to be married, as it would interfere with the simple life she enjoys with her father and she knows it would break his heart to be parted from her. The story follows Emma's life beginning at 21 as she tries to help a young girl named Harriet Smith marry above her station. Emma also engages in a flirtation with a young man and generally makes a bit of a mess of things whenever she gets involved.

I have read that Jane Austen felt that Emma was a character only her creator could like. I would have to disagree with that. Emma is certainly flawed, but her heart is almost always in the right place. Pride has blinded her to her own limitations but she is also one who does not shrink from the responsibility of her mistakes and tries very hard to learn from them. I found this admirable and grew to like her more and more as the book progressed.

Aside from Emma, the rest of the cast was also very well written. Her father is a complete hypochondriac and often engages in behavior that would typically be considered highly rude. Yet, he is motivated so completely by a desire to be kind to others that his misguided application of that desire only endears him to the reader. Mr. Knightley, the no-nonsense friend of the family is admittedly not the most complex character in the world, but he is a very good one and his solidity is a great counterbalance to Emma's wishful thinking.

In summary, Emma is a nice change of pace from Jane Austen's other novels. It starts off well and grows more engaging as it continues. The characters are interesting and Emma herself grows considerably during the course of the novel.

Didn't like the paper quality and presentation
I bought them (all the Barnes & Noble Classics) to complete my Jane Austen's collection, and honestly, didn't like the paper quality, it seems like they didn't even care for the presentation of them; it didn't look elegant, cheap to be more specific. ... Read more

Book Description
Evocative music from the classic feature films "Pride and Prejudice," "Sense and Sensibility," "Emma" and "Persuasion" arranged by Richard Harris for piano solo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Song Collection for Jane Austen Fans
I was very pleased with this collection of songs. The songs range from easy to more complicated ("My Father's Favorite" is a beginner piece, whereas the "Theme from Pride and Prejudice" is for a more advanced pianist). All are arranged beautifully. I purchased the book specifically for "My Father's Favorite", and it is a beautiful piece, which impresses all who hear it played. This collection DOES indeed include a version of "Weep You No More Sad Fountains", but under the title "All the Better for Her". I have both this book of music and the Patrick Doyle version of The Dreame and Weep you No More Sad Fountains (2 piece collection) and found that the Jane Austen's World versions were somewhat simplified. I appreciated both versions.

The bottom line is....if you are a fan of this genre of films, you will not be disappointed with this collection of songs. I am so grateful to have it in my piano bench (though it doesn't stay there long). While they may not challenge the most experienced pianists, sitting at the piano to play these arrangements will take you back to your favorite Jane Austen films. The arrangements capture the spirit of the songs and the movies. This is absolutely a must-have for lovers of Jane Austen films.

Beautiful Songs from Austen's Films
The songs in the book are from Emma (Mirmax), Sense and Sensiblity (1995), Pride and Prejudice (1995), and Persuasion (1995). Songs are for all level of players. It also includes the 'Italian Aria' theme from Persuasion sung by the Italian singer and 'My father's favorite' from Sense and Sensibility.

Great music, but wish I'd been more informed
After purchasing this I was checking the different tunes to the music clips from the soundtracks.I purchased it thinking they were songs from the more popular Jane Austen movies, but that isn't entirely true.

The Emma songs (Frank Churchill Arrives and End Titles) are from the 1996 Miramax motion picture with Gwyneth Paltrow.

The Sense and Sensibility songs (My Father's Favourite, Devonshire, All the Better for Her, Excellent Notion, and The Dreame) are from the 1995 movie with Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, and Kate Winslet.Too bad it doesn't include I Weep You No More Sad Fountains.

The Pride and Prejudice songs (Theme, Cannon Collins, The Gardiners, Summary) are from the 1996 A&E Special Presentation with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.Still popular to many Jane Austen fans, but not from the 2005 movie with Keira Knightley.

I couldn't track down where the Persuasion songs (Theme, Tristesse, and Italian Aria) were from.

The music is beautiful, I just wish I could have been a bit more informed about the music before buying it.The book doesn't say anything about where the music came from.

Excellent Music!
This music was a bit easier than I had expected, but was still very well put together. The music from Emma sounds almost the same as from the movie, and the other songs are very similar. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who would like to quickly learn and play beautiful music from Jane Austen's movies!

Calling all Jane Austen Piano Playing Fans!
If you are a Jane Austen fan and play the piano, even if only a very little, you will enjoy learning this set of songs. I was just given this book from a dear friend (who also adores Austen's literary works as well as plays the piano) and could not wait to begin playing these familiar songs today, taking me back to the piano after too many years' absence! `Tis truly a perfect gift!
Kerri Bennett Williamson, Author
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Transcends Time
This is an EXCELLENT collection of Jane Austen's novels.Yes, when buying it, my brother and I chuckled over the irony of "The Complete Novels... Volume I," but neither of us was silly enough to think we were immune from having to also purchase Volume II in order to have the Complete Novels.If you are looking for quality at a reasonable price, this is the collection to buy.These books are exceptionally well made, and the type and paper quality are well above average.

Volume I Review:

I originally read Volume I years ago after having first seen the television and movie adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.I recently decided to re-read this volume and was even more enraptured with it than I was during the first read.The plight of the Dashwood sisters and the malleability of their step-brother by his cold wife in Sense and Sensibility is made so vivid by Jane Austen's flawless writing.What girl or woman reading Pride and Prejudice doesn't imagine she is Elizabeth Bennet, with both her beauty and intelligence, inadvertantly making Mr. Darcy fall in love with her?My heart positively ached for Fanny Price in Mansfield Park, and I wondered how she could put up with the neglect of her rich, fancy relatives and the tyranny of her Aunt Norris and maintain such a pure heart.I am awed by the timelessness and reality of these novels.In my mind, it simply does not get any better than Jane Austen.

Volume II Review:

I also recently finished re-reading Volume II. Jane Austen's novels certainly do transcend time. Whenever I read them I am struck by some new truth applicable either to my life or life today in general. What was true about human nature approximately 200 years ago remains true today, which makes relating to and understanding Jane Austen so easy as well as gratifying.

Like the heroine in Emma, who hasn't known a spoiled brat whose natural vanity is the result of being blessed in everything? Emma's superior attitude is a bit galling at times, and I positively cringed at some of her blunders, but Emma has a good heart. She makes mistakes, like we all do, but eventually she begins to understand her errors through the help of her good friend Mr. Knightly. Thank goodness for friends who love us in spite of our imperfections!

In Northanger Abbey, I am tickled to death not only by Catherine's naivete but also by Jane Austen herself. The first half of this novel is filled with the most hilarious observations which seem to come directly from Austen, and the second half is filled with the overactive imagination of Catherine Morland, who has read perhaps too many novels. In this parody of Gothic fiction, Austen pokes fun at both herself and her audience. It is truly a delight.

When I first read Jane Austen in my mid-twenties, Persuasion was my favorite novel. It gave me hope. I felt so strongly for Anne Elliot, who at nineteen was convinced by her family to reject the man she loved because of his lack of rank and fortune. Seven years later, after he has acheived his fortune, she is thrown into this same man's company. She must watch, agonizingly, while he courts two other young ladies. Anne's courage and fortitude are inspiring.

Strong Edition
This hardback is a solid binding on good quality paper. It easily stands up to the many re-readings Austen's novels deserve.

Jane Austen anti-Modern Library consipiracy??
There are two similar in tone if not identical reviews on amazon.com and amazon.ca warning people away from this edition because it's not "complete".

Clearly, they didn't read the title past "Complete Novels" to the "Volume I" part which specified pretty precisely which of the six complete novels were part of this volume.

I'm mystified. Surely anyone who's willing and eager (let alone able) to read Austen could understand it would take two volumes to publish the complete works? Come on, they average 300 pages apiece!

So I think the two correspondents are agents of Penguin or Oxford World's Classics or somebody who has an interest in turning people away from the Modern Library editions.

Oh yeah, a review: the Modern Library editions are excellent. They're complete (so you have to buy TWO books!), they're affordable, and they're durable.

Caveat Emptor - DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM BEFORE READING THIS
This review is not for the novels of Jane Austen, rather for the item offered here on amazon.com

Much to my surprise, after I ordered "TheComplete Novels of Jane Austen (Modern Library Series)" ISBN0679600264, only one book arrived.As pictured above, Vol I containsS&S, P&P, and MP.

The other three novels must be in Vol II, yousurmise?Wrong!THAT IS ALL YOU GET !

Apparently,"complete" is a relative term, meaning "half of".Atbest, this listing shows ignorance.At worst, this listing is fraud.

Jane's prose is perfect

Jane Austen is still where she belongs, between book covers. We know the stories are good, but what isn't immediately obvious is the many recent adaptations is what an impeccable writer of English prose she is - no posturing word-dropper, no purveyer of hoary terminology, but a fine, simple, straightforward narrator.

She is briefbut telling, using tilt and tone to make us smile. She doesn't bore with tedious flashbacks or podding descriptions of a new character's background. And she tells us what we wanted to know, just when we want to know it. As I am wondering what became of Mr. Bingley, he turns up; as I am trying to remember what the party is doing in Bath, it becomes clear. She's always ahead, dropping just the right number of crumbs.

Jane's world moved slowly, andreading her takes time. Her cncerns are universal - how to fill the hours of the day, the pairing of single young men and women, the effects of money, household matters. Her ethical domain is dominated by consideration - of others' feelings, needs, requirements. The occasional rebellious spirit is not admired, concepts such as fulfillment and freedom never enter her head. As for "needs" beyond basic physical ones - an idea that would have astonished her - she would have substituted "obligations."

But there is something about all this that keeps us going back, and back and back. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Persuaded It's a Great Read
Persusion is the story of Anne Elliot, a girl trapped in a classic example of listening to bad advice.Anne falls for the charming Captain Wentworth, and after many sunny days spent toghether, the couple decides to marry.When Anne tells this to her dear and only friend, Lady Russell, she is informed that he is too poor and far below her status as a daughter of a baronet. After succumbing to Lady Russell's persuasion, a broken-hearted Anne ends the engagement. The miserable pair then goes their separate ways.Eight years later, the Elliots are struggling for money and decide to lease their house and move to Bath,leaving Anne with her sister Mary. Who should be their new tenant, but Cpt. Wentworth's brother. Anne and Wenworth are soon thrown together again. This begins a journey of reconciliation, leaving the reader with the constant question,"Will they forgive their past and rekindle their love?"
I thought this was an excellent literary classic that truly captures the point and makes a great romance without being sappy or the characters being shallow. I would recommend this book for middle school on up, and primarily for girls. I can't picture many males sitting still for this one. The characters are perfectly molded, and some, like Sir Walter are humorous and very entertaining.I would give Persusion 5 stars and 2 thumbs for an excellent novel! ... Read more

Book Description
Advice delivered with sense and sensibility just in time for the major motion picture Becoming Jane

Women have looked to Jane Austen’s heroines as models of appropriate behavior for nearly two centuries. Who better to understand the heart of a heroine than Austen? In this delightful epistolary “what if,” Austen serves as a “Dear Abby” of sorts, using examples from her novels and her life to counsel modern-day heroines in trouble, she also shares with readers a compelling drama playing out in her own drawing room. Witty and wise—and perfectly capturing the tone of the author of Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice—Dear Jane Austen is as satisfying as sitting down to tea with the novelist herself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

I was utterly charmed.
It is very obvious that Patrice Hannon has taught English literature, and in particular Jane Austen, because of the idea and execution ofthis book.I found myself utterly charmed by her Jane Austen "voice".

At first, I was a little hesitant about how I would bridge the time-span gap for Jane Austen giving advice on life and love to twenty-first century heroines.Hannon herself advises readers (in the Author's Notes) to not "dip in" and read sections out of order but to proceed in an orderly fashion so that the framework of the book can be revealed in a very particular way.I had a dilemma.Should I follow my inclinations and read Chapter Five, A Heroine Knows a Hero When She Sees One--Or Does She? first, as I wanted to?Or should I follow the advice of the person who actually put this book together from concept to print?Luckily for me, I decided to follow her advice and I read it all the way through for my first, but surely not my last, "dip".It is sound advice.A reader needs to understand who's who and what is happening to and around "Jane" in order to keep from being confused.

Jane Austen is still living in the early 1800's.The letters are all from would-like-to-be heroines who are living in the twenty-first century.How was this possible?I still can't answer that question.The final page and a half of the book may be an explanation.But then, maybe not.Two friends could have some really good conversation over that.I'm looking forward to it!

Austen gets letters from modern young women asking her very specific questions of how she or her heroines would have dealt with problems they are encountering now.All the answers come from Austen's real life experiences or from her writings and the experiences of her characters in all her books.Once I caught on to the technique used, it was absolutely fascinating for me to read the question and then try to figure out which examples could be used to supply the answer.I wasn't always right but it was fun to try.Ms Hannon has a vast knowlege of the Austen books.She uses passages from those books along with "Jane's" expanding on the subject to give advice to would-be heroines.I don't think she ever used the same example twice.It was phenomenal.The writing is in the style of Jane Austen and rings wonderfully true.If this author had not been able to "sound" like Jane Austen, this would have been a painful book to read.Because she was "being" Jane, I learned historically accurate facts concerning her life.It was as if I was reading a biography only lighter, friendlier, smoother.

There are chapters on character, family, friends, being in the world, knowing a hero when you meet him, s_x, marriage, beauty tips, money and happy endings.The questions asked in the correspondence are very, very real and current for today's woman.The answers are all taken from people and situations which existed almost 200 years ago and yet they are woven together in such a way that the 200 year old answers still can and do apply to now, to today.I hope lots and lots of young women (and even men can benefit from this advice) will read this advice and take it to heart.Obviously Ms Hannon has seen these problems played out before her in modern settings.She just used a rather original way to give out good, sound advice.

Highly, highly recommended.Even if you don't think you need the advice, read it for the total immersion in the life and thoughts and characters of Jane Austen.Two things which I came away with that surprised me very much, I need to go back and re-read Northanger Abbey.And maybe I need to give Fanny Price another chance too!

A wonderful experience for the true Jane Austen fan
DEAR JANE AUSTEN: A Heroine's Guide to Life and Love by Patrice Hannon
October 3, 2007

Rating:4 Stars

Here's a must-have for Jane Austen fans and fans of good literature everywhere.DEAR JANE AUSTEN is a collection of fictional letters written by Jane Austen to women of the 21st century who write to her for advice on love and other related topics.Patrice Hannon, an expert on all things Jane Austen, has done an excellent job in creating these letters in the same voice and writing style that one has come to recognize.Topics addressed by Miss Austen including tips on extra-marital sex, finances, etiquette, family matters, and how to recognize the special man that may become ones future husband.

DEAR JANE AUSTEN is a very short book, approximately 150 pages in length, but I didn't find it a fast read.This does not read like a contemporary book but as if it were written in the 1800's.But don't let this stop you. For the true Jane Austen fan, this is a definite must-read.Run to your nearest bookstore or order it online.You will not regret it, as it was a very enjoyable experience.

Wish I read this in highschool!
This is not a book to rush through! It takes time to savor each line. Patrice Hannon presents the great insight and realistic imagination of Jane Austen in a brilliant style, making me want to go back and read all of her novels. Ms. Hannon's enchanting vocabulary and heart warming wit were a treat! Sound advice for women of all time.

charming witty and fun
Just like the Austen novels themselves, Dear Jane Austen is full of wit, charm, and erudition. Hannon's ability to capture Austen's tone is uncanny. A must-read for any Austen fan. Should be recommended reading on every Victorian lit. / British novel course syllabus. Currently featured on the new-in-paperback tables and also in special Austen-related book displays at two very large bookstore chains.

Dear Abby for the Greg Behrendt set!
Forget about "He's Not That Into You", Patrice Hannon tells it like it is for all us gals.
No do not move in together. If he wanted to marry you he wouldn't just co-sign the lease.
A quick end of summer read. Many excellent lessons. Loved it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Juliet Stevenson brings Jane Austen's words to life
Jane Austen's words come to life like notes on a page played by a musician.That most capable "musician" is Juliet Stevenson, well-known movie and stage actress with the acting chops of the Royal Shakespeare Company behind her.Her training and experience on the stage really shows as she creates individual and convincing voices for each of the characters and highlights the biting and keen observations of the narrator.I had read the book before listening to this audiorecording, and I was amazed at how much I missed.She really brings out the nuances of each character, fully exploiting every detail of each character (Anne's father's vanity, Elizabeth's self-absorption, Anne's self-consciousness and tiny glimpses of her emerging hope) and triumphs with the climactic passage toward the end where she brings Captain Wentworth's letter to life.You can hear the passion and fear in her voice as if it were Captain Wentworth himself.Treat yourself to a Jane Austen reading that brings the text to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pretty yet bland
This planner was smaller than I thought it would be and plainer than I thought it would be. I thought there would be a quote on every page with pictures.There are a few quotes but no pictures.The planner is made of good quality paper that has been decorated with swirly floral patterns.I gave it as a gift to my sister and she liked it.It was acceptable but I just wish it was amazing. ... Read more