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A review by sshabein
The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things by Paula Byrne
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I didn't really know much of anything about Jane Austen before reading this, but since I listened to all those audio adaptations of her novels this year, I thought this would be a good way to cap it all off. And it was!
I admit that I've had an ARC of this book sitting around for 4 different places I've lived now, in the almost 10 years since this was published (oops), but it's for the best that I came to it with a better familiarity with all of Austen's work rather than the bits and pieces I knew back then (mainly, P&P and some of the movie/miniseries adaptations).
Given that the Austens had family money from opium and "West Indian" plantations, I don't know that Byrne is as analytical as she could be when it comes to the disconnect between that income and Jane's written distaste for slavery. The money takes a bit of a circuitous route to the family through their relations, but given the analysis present on other subjects, we could spend a few more words on that disconnect. Women surviving with what was made available to them, the faraway origins of what is essentially blood money and how the English could turn a blind eye, Jane's love for fashion — any of those topics were a way into deeper discussion that would still fit within the premise of the book. Also, there are a couple of other ways Byrne phrased her descriptions of racial relations in the Regency era that made me say "Hmm, dunno if that's how I'd put that," but having not seen the finished copy, I do not know what later changes were made.
Otherwise, this was an interesting look at Jane Austen centered around important objects from her life, giving us a larger picture of her personality, family, and career. I learned a lot, and it was fun to see what real life places and things influenced her work.
I admit that I've had an ARC of this book sitting around for 4 different places I've lived now, in the almost 10 years since this was published (oops), but it's for the best that I came to it with a better familiarity with all of Austen's work rather than the bits and pieces I knew back then (mainly, P&P and some of the movie/miniseries adaptations).
Given that the Austens had family money from opium and "West Indian" plantations, I don't know that Byrne is as analytical as she could be when it comes to the disconnect between that income and Jane's written distaste for slavery. The money takes a bit of a circuitous route to the family through their relations, but given the analysis present on other subjects, we could spend a few more words on that disconnect. Women surviving with what was made available to them, the faraway origins of what is essentially blood money and how the English could turn a blind eye, Jane's love for fashion — any of those topics were a way into deeper discussion that would still fit within the premise of the book. Also, there are a couple of other ways Byrne phrased her descriptions of racial relations in the Regency era that made me say "Hmm, dunno if that's how I'd put that," but having not seen the finished copy, I do not know what later changes were made.
Otherwise, this was an interesting look at Jane Austen centered around important objects from her life, giving us a larger picture of her personality, family, and career. I learned a lot, and it was fun to see what real life places and things influenced her work.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism