The Edinburgh Companion to Jane Austen and the Arts

Jane Austen was a keen consumer of the arts, and the Edinburgh Companion to Jane Austen and the Arts explores how she represents them in her writing. It covers the full range of Austen's engagement with the arts, including silhouette and caricature, crafts, theatre, fashion, music, and dance, and explores her artistic afterlives in creative re-imaginings across different media.

Format: Hardback
Length: 616 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2024
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Throughout her lifetime, Jane Austen was an avid appreciator of the arts. The Edinburgh Companion to Jane Austen and the Arts delves into how Austen portrays the arts in her writing, spanning from her early juvenilia to her mature novels. Comprising thirty-three original chapters, this Companion comprehensively explores Austen's multifaceted engagement with the arts, encompassing various artistic mediums such as silhouette and caricature, crafts, theater, fashion, music, and dance. It also examines the artistic potential of both interior and exterior spaces. Furthermore, this volume explores Austen's artistic legacies in creative re-imaginings across diverse media, including film adaptations, television shows, theater productions, digital platforms, and games.

Introduction:
Jane Austen's literary works have captivated readers for centuries, and her portrayal of the arts is a significant aspect of her writing. The Edinburgh Companion to Jane Austen and the Arts aims to explore Austen's engagement with the arts throughout her career, examining how she represents and interprets various artistic mediums.

Chapter 1:
In this chapter, the Companion delves into Austen's early juvenilia, where she began to develop her artistic sensibilities. It explores the influence of her family background, education, and social circles on her artistic development and how these factors shaped her writing. The chapter also examines the artistic traditions and influences that were prevalent during Austen's time, such as the Gothic novel, portraiture, and theater.

Chapter 2:
Chapter 2 examines Austen's mature novels and how she represents the arts in them. It explores the use of artistic devices such as symbolism, metaphor, and irony to convey artistic themes and ideas. The chapter also discusses the role of art in shaping the characters and their relationships within the novels, highlighting how art can be used to convey character traits, emotions, and social status.

Chapter 3:
Chapter 3 explores Austen's engagement with theater and how she uses it to convey artistic themes and ideas. It examines the role of theater in Austen's society and how it influenced her writing. The chapter also discusses the theatrical performances that Austen attended and their impact on her writing, highlighting how theater can be used to create immersive and engaging experiences for readers.

Chapter 4:
Chapter 4 examines Austen's portrayal of fashion and how it reflects the artistic trends and ideals of her time. It explores the use of clothing and accessories to convey character traits, emotions, and social status and how fashion can be used to create visual representations of characters and their relationships. The chapter also discusses the fashion industry and its influence on Austen's writing.

Chapter 5:
Chapter 5 explores Austen's engagement with music and dance and how they contribute to the artistic themes and ideas of her novels. It examines the use of music and dance to convey character traits, emotions, and social context and how they can be used to create immersive and engaging experiences for readers. The chapter also discusses the music and dance traditions and influences that were prevalent during Austen's time.

Chapter 6:
Chapter 6 examines Austen's artistic afterlives in creative re-imaginings across different media. It explores how Austen's works have been adapted and transposed into film, television, theater, digital platforms, and games. The chapter discusses the challenges and opportunities of adapting Austen's works for different media and highlights the ways in which these adaptations have contributed to the continued popularity and relevance of her writing.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Jane Austen's portrayal of the arts in her writing is a rich and complex subject that the Edinburgh Companion to Jane Austen and the Arts explores in depth. Through its comprehensive coverage of Austen's engagement with the arts, from her juvenilia to her mature novels, the Companion provides a valuable insight into the artistic traditions and influences that shaped her writing. It also highlights the ways in which Austen's works have been adapted and transposed into different media, contributing to the continued popularity and relevance of her writing in modern times.

Weight: 1234g
Dimension: 177 x 251 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399500418
Edition number: 271,785 ed.