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The Real Jane Austen

A Life in Small Things
By Paula Byrne
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,582 ratings, 434 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Real Jane Austen by Paula Byrne delves into the life of Jane Austen through various objects that played significant roles in her existence. The biography aims to shed light on unknown facets of Austen's life, drawing connections between her personal experiences and her literary works. It's an engaging exploration that humanises the beloved author beyond her celebrated novels.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're interested in a fresh perspective on one of the most celebrated English novelists. It delves into the life of Jane Austen, offering insights into her personality, experiences, and the society that shaped her iconic works. If you love discovering the vibrant world behind beloved literary classics, this biography offers a compelling and detailed narrative.

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The Real Jane Austen

Who was the real Jane Austen? Overturning the traditional portrait of the author as conventional and genteel, bestseller Paula Byrne's landmark biography reveals the real woman behind the books.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘It is good to meet the real Jane Austen at last’ Independent on Sunday

'Brilliantly illuminating … by focusing, chapter by chapter, on one thread or another of Austen’s experience, Byrne allows us to grasp the richness of her inner life’ Guardian

Who was the real Jane Austen? A retiring spinster content with quiet village life? Or a strong-minded woman who chose to remain unmarried and to fashion herself as a professional writer?

Bestselling biographer Paula Byrne uses objects that conjure up a key moment in Austen’s life and work – a vellum notebook, a topaz cross, a writing box and a bathing machine – to reveal the true self of this most beloved author.

'Sparklingly multi-faceted, catching the light in intriguing ways … Byrne’s Jane is far less likely to go for a quiet walk in the garden than she is to be whisked into town in search of a velvet cushion' Mail on Sunday

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Real Jane Austen by Paula Byrne is praised for offering a fresh, engaging exploration of Jane Austen's life through a unique approach that weaves in contemporary objects connected to her. Reviewers highlight Byrne's ability to illuminate Austen's inner life and environment, creating a vivid and lively portrait that captivates readers. The biography's structure, focusing on different aspects of Austen's experience, provides depth and richness, making it both accessible and enriching for Austen enthusiasts.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780007358342

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 January 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: William Collins

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 380g

Pages: 400

Collections

Biography & Memoir Musicians, Movie Stars & Creative Biographies Non-Fiction Paula Byrne

About the Author

Paula Byrne was born in Birkenhead and has a PhD from the University of Liverpool, where she is a Research Fellow in English Literature. Her first book, Jane Austen and the Theatre, was shortlisted for the Theatre Book Prize. Her second book, Perdita: The Life of Mary Robinson , the tale of the scandalous star of the 18th-century stage, literature and high-society, was a Richard and Judy bookclub pick. Her most recent book is Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead. The story of Evelyn Waugh's friendship with the extraordinary aristocratic family who inspired Brideshead Revisited, it was a Sunday Times top ten bestseller. A regular contributor to the 'Times Literary Supplement', she lives in Warwickshire with her two young children and her husband, the critic and biographer Jonathan Bate.

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