The Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Jane Austen

Description

Whether you've read Jane Austen once or read her yearly, or if you simply yearn to be Elizabeth or Mr. Darcy, this new Bedside companion will be a perfect match. Janeite and newcomer alike will revel in the entertaining capsules of each of Austen's beloved novels, along with information on such important subjects as white soup, carriages, what happened at the ha-ha, and, of course, all those characters we love to hate. In the spirit of Austen, maps, puzzles and quizzes are provided-including the one and only Jane Austen aptitude Test. The reader is taken on location to Steventon, Jane Austen's childhood home, to Bath, the city she was happy to leave, and elsewhere. Also included is an interview with Karen J. Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club. An Austentatious work, indeed!

Carol J. Adams is an activist and author of The Pornography of Meat, Living Among Meat Eaters, and many other books challenging a sexist, meat-eating world. She is a sought-after speaker throughout North America and Europe, and has been invited to more than 100 campuses to show "The Sexual Politics of Meat Slide Show," which is always being updated to include contemporary cultural representations. Douglas Buchanan, whose interest is in artistic boundary-crossing, studies composition at the Peabody Conservatory with renowned American composer Michael Hersch; he is a recent honors graduate of the College of Wooster. Kelly Gesch, who has completed graduate work in 19th-century women's literature and feminist theory, is an avid vocalist with interests in German and Russian art song. Kelly is also an honors graduate of the College of Wooster.

Mention -Book News, November 2008 Could you pass a Jane Austen aptitude test or complete an Austen-themed crossword puzzle in ink? Whether you are capable of these tasks or aspire to be, you'll appreciate this latest edition in the popular series featuring studies of well-loved authors or their classic works (e.g., Charles Dickens, Frankenstein). With seriousness and good humor, Adams (The Sexual Politics of Meat), Douglas Buchanan, and Kelly Gesch have compiled commentaries on minute details in Austen's works. Readers will learn the importance of a good carriage, discover the ingredients in white soup and other foods consumed in Emma and Mansfield Park, and unearth the "myth-interpreting" themes of the books. The merchandizing of Austen is included, with a chapter on the best gifts for Austen fans. Novel summaries, character studies, time lines, and movie reviews are also included. Illustrations of Austen and her characters and photographs of manors and churches are just a few of the details that add to this excellent resource for book discussion groups, literature collections, and Janeites. * Library Journal * The claim of this Jane Austen Companion is that it offers something for everyone. There are interesting chapters on film and television versions of the novels and a crossword and an aptitude test are included for those who wish to test their familiarity with the texts. Altogther, it is an amusing and thought-provoking collection. This book offers good coverage on many aspects of the novels, and opens up different avenues for further exploration. The relaxed style of writing will particularly appeal to younger readers, and the wide coverage will satisfy anyone interested in the novels. * Transnational Literature, May 2009 * Author Carol J. Adams wrote a "5 Myths About Jane Austen" column for the Washington Post * http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-jane-austen/2011/07/08/gIQAZALCEI_story.html *