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The Darcy Myth
Jane Austen, Literary Heartthrobs, and the Monsters They Taught Us to Love
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Check link for latest rating. ( 809 ratings, 244 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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?
What if we've been reading Jane Austen and romantic classics all wrong? A funny, brainy, eye-opening take on how our contemporary love stories are actually pretty terrifying.
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
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Description
What if we've been reading Jane Austen and romantic classics all wrong? A literary scholar offers a funny, brainy, eye-opening take on how our contemporary love stories are actually terrifying.
"A wildly entertaining read." - The Washington Post
Covering cultural touchstones ranging from Normal People to Taylor Swift and from Lord Byron to The Bachelor, The Darcy Myth is a book for anyone who loves thinking deeply about literature and culture.
You already know Mr. Darcy—at least you think you do! The brooding, rude, standoffish romantic hero of Pride and Prejudice, Darcy initially insults and ignores the witty heroine, but eventually succumbs to her charms. It's a classic enemies-to-lovers plot, and one that has profoundly influenced our cultural ideas about courtship. But what if this classic isn't just a grand romance, but a horror novel about how scary love and marriage can be for women?
In The Darcy Myth, literature scholar Rachel Feder unpacks Austen's Gothic influences and how they've led us to a romantic ideal that's halfway to being a monster story. Why is our culture so obsessed with cruel, indifferent romantic heroes (and sometimes heroines)? How much of that is Darcy's fault? And, now that we know, what do we do about it?
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?
Rachel Feder's The Darcy Myth is praised for its entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of how romantic fiction has shaped cultural perceptions of romance, particularly through characters like Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice. Highlighted by sources like The Washington Post and CNN, the book examines the influence of these "bad boy" archetypes. The New Republic finds it entertaining and provocative, while Library Journal sees it as a fresh, accessible analysis suitable for both new readers and discussion groups. Maya Rodale from XO Romance calls it an intriguing interpretation of the cultural impact of Darcy.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781683693574
Publisher: Quirk Books
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 November 2023
Country: United States
Imprint: Quirk Books
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 203.0mm
Height: 135.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 240
Collections
About the Author
Rachel Feder holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Michigan and is an associate professor of English and literary arts at the University of Denver. She is the author of Taylor Swift by the Book- The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets; The Darcy Myth- Jane Austen, Literary Heartthrobs, and the Monsters They Taught Us to Love; Harvester of Hearts- Motherhood Under the Sign of Frankenstein; and Birth Chart, a poetry collection. With McCormick Templeman, she is the coauthor of AstroLit- A Bibliophile's Guide to the Stars. Rachel also edited the Norton Library's edition of Dracula.
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