Jane Austen’s World, by Maggie Lane | Book Spotlight

Book Spotlight: Jane Austen’s World
The Children’s Book Review

Jane Austen’s World

Written by Maggie Lane

Ages: 14 + | 144 Pages

Publisher: Adams Media | ISBN-13: 978-1558507487

What to Expect: Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s World gives readers a detailed look into the life and times of the beloved author, including her family, love life, musical talents, style of dress, and more! Fans of Austen will love Lane’s five-part volume as it takes them from Austen’s daily life to her seemingly immortal influence over literature, television, and film. Also included are examples of Jane’s “visual world:” popular art, interior design, fashion, and even fads such as spas and seaside retreats. The final chapter details the history behind all six of Austen’s published novels as well as their modern movie adaptations. Additionally, Lane discusses the attempted completions and sequels to Austen’s work after her death. Beautiful color photographs help readers envision everything from Jane’s physical appearance, of which we know little, to her childhood home, which has since been demolished. Jane’s intimate relationship with her sister Cassandra leaves the only known evidence of her appearance: an unfinished sketch. Lane delves into the mystery of Austen’s looks through the many professional recreations of Cassandra’s amateur work. Descriptions of Austen’s beloved childhood home are drawn from letters and diaries, in which Austen describes the space as a comfortable and familiar retreat where she loved to write. As 2013 becomes cluttered with the Austen theme, Lane’s book is sure to stand out as a window to not only the author’s career, but also the world in which she lived and wrote.

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