Understanding Austen

Miranda Seymour has an excellent article in the New York Times today which discusses the importance and approachability of Jane Austen’s work.  The article is a book review on the surface; Seymour gives her impressions of two recent releases by Austen scholars, A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz, and Why Jane Austen? by Rachel M. Brownstein.  However, by discussing the distinct viewpoints on Austen that Deresiewicz and Brownstein put forth in their books, Seymour teases out similarities between the two and the distinct challenges facing those who are first approaching Austen’s writing.  

“The truth is that young readers don’t easily attach themselves to Austen,” Seymour says.  A Jane Austen Education starts with Deresiewicz revealing his initial distaste for Austen and her contemporaries.  Unable to see Austen’s craft or the importance of the her characters’ behavior, Deresiewicz saw only, “nothing more than a lot of chitchat among a bunch of commonplace characters in a country village.”  In Why Jane Austen? Brownstein takes and even more skeptical stance, saying, “Students are best introduced to Austen’s novels by being informed, for example, that the title ‘Mr. Knightley of Donwell Abbey’ conceals the code words ‘knightly’ and ‘donewell.’ ”

Neither author can be said to have understated the value of Austen’s work.  Both authors maintain that the works are crucial reading.  The challenge for new readers seems to be easing into the books with enough explanation to get a good sense of what the story means, without getting so much explanation as to feel patronized.  It seems a good primer on Jane Austen is needed.  Look for Jane Austen For Beginners in 2012.