"Is not general incivility the very essence of love?"

The residents of the village of Chawton are no strangers to misery, the Second World War brought much of it to their quiet world. Sometimes, to cope with such grief and heartbreak, one needs to escape; "And that's exactly what Austen gives us. A world so a part of our own, yet so separate, that entering it is like some kind of tonic" (117).

The Power of Austen

Natalie Jenner took a whole new look at Austen in her book, The Jane Austen Society, something that is difficult to do, as Jane Austen's works have been made into films, plays and reinterpreted in many ways. At the heart of most interpretations is love, and how Austen helps us learn to love, but Jenner's approach has an unexpected take.

Through the stories of "a farmer, a young war widow, the village doctor, an employee of Sotheby's, a Hollywood star, a local solicitor, the anticipated heiress to the estate and a precocious house-girl," Jenner shows us how the works of Jane Austen connect people on various levels. The novels, as well as these friendships that form while they try to preserve the memory of a famous author in her final resting place, help the villagers cope with the grief and heartbreak in their lives.

Not only was this story a new lens to understand how Jane Austen affects her readers, but it was also wonderfully written. The tone was that of Austen, but set in the 1940s, and it was absolutely beautiful and cathartic to read.

I recommend this book to all Austen fans, as well as those who have never read her, as it might peak your interest in one of the most famous authors of all time. I don't know if this book will help you escape heartache as it did for me, but it may help you through something else. It is a 4/5 star read!

Now, I have a bit of housekeeping business. I am returning to University next week, and I anticipate my blog becoming quite unpredictable. To my faithful readers, I apologize. I would still love to see your recommendations or review requests either in a comment below, in an email (theopinionatedbookworm@gmail.com) or on Instagram (@theopinionatedbookworm1) and I will try my best to keep up!

Comments

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