Jane Austen: A Very Short Introduction

Jane Austen is a renowned English novelist who wrote six of the most beloved novels in the language. She pioneered new techniques for representing voices, minds, and hearts in narrative prose and was a penetrating satirist of social tensions and trends during the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and socio-economic disruptions. Despite her struggles to break into print, Austen's literary career was constrained by reading tastes and book-trade expectations. This Very Short Introduction explores the major themes of Austen criticism through close analysis of her major and minor works, with particular emphasis on the literary, social, and political backgrounds from which the novels emerge and with which they engage.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 27 January 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Jane Austen, a renowned English novelist, left an indelible mark on the literary world with her six celebrated novels and a collection of unpublished works. Among these, she crafted three volumes of witty and non-realist juvenilia, as well as an innovative and unfinished novel titled Sanditon. Austen's literary prowess was evident in her pioneering techniques for representing the voices, minds, and hearts of her characters in narrative prose. She was also a skilled satirist, adept at capturing the social tensions and trends prevailing during a time marked by the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the socio-economic disruptions they entailed.

Despite her remarkable talent, Austen faced significant challenges in her quest to break into print. The literary landscape of her era was dominated by the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars further shaped the literary tastes and expectations of the time. These factors, combined with the constraints of the book-trade, hindered Austen's literary career. However, in the latter years of her relatively short life, she achieved publishing success, allowing her literary voice to reach a wider audience.

This Very Short Introduction delves into the major themes of Austen criticism by closely examining her major and minor works. It explores the literary, social, and political backgrounds from which the novels emerged, and the ways in which they engage with these contexts. Thomas Keymer, the author of this introduction, provides critical introductions to each of Austen's six major novels, accompanied by an exploration of the key themes that permeate her works. These themes range from national identity to narrative technique, and they shed light on the writer's profound influence on the literary world.

Through her writing, Austen emerged as a writer shaped by the literary experiments and socio-political debates of the revolutionary decade. While she held a fundamentally conservative vision of social harmony, her prose was characterized by disruptive ironies and satirical energies that complicated this vision. Austen's novels, with their nuanced characters, witty dialogue, and insightful observations of human nature, continue to captivate readers worldwide, making her a timeless and influential figure in the annals of literature.

The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press is a testament to the enduring legacy of Jane Austen. This series offers concise and accessible introductions to a wide range of subjects, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of complex ideas in a concise and engaging format. By exploring the major themes of Austen criticism through close analysis of her major and minor works, this introduction offers a valuable entry point for those seeking to delve deeper into the world of this remarkable novelist.

Weight: 134g
Dimension: 112 x 175 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198725954