Jane Austen and Critical Theory

Jane Austen and Critical Theory is a collection of essays that challenges the lack of critical theory in Austen studies and explores new ways of understanding her work. It emphasizes the importance of Austen for addressing central humanities concerns such as individual identity, social oppression, and the need for a more just future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Jane Austen and Critical Theory is a groundbreaking collection of essays that delves into the glaring absence of critical theory in Austen studies, thereby restricting the scope and depth of Austen criticism. This anthology brings together a diverse group of innovative scholars who pose thought-provoking and challenging questions about the effectiveness and impact of Austen's work. The volume confronts prevalent misconceptions about Austen, such as her portrayal as a dear aunt or the early twentieth-century legacy of her as a cultural balm. It also challenges the tendency to read her works for advice or instruction.

The authors employ a range of methodologies to encourage readers to forge new and innovative connections with Austen and her writings. They demonstrate how these relationships can generate fresh ideas and possibilities, expanding the ways in which Austen can be deployed and interpreted. The book serves as a poignant reminder of Austen's immense significance and the profound insights her fiction offers into central concerns of the humanities. These include the individual's place within civil society, the potential for new identities and communities, the urgent need to address racial and sexual oppression, and the imperative to envision more just futures.

Chapter 4 of this book is made freely accessible as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com. It is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license, allowing for widespread dissemination and reuse.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032019918