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Reviews
The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She is a Hit in Hollywood by Paula Byrne
lost_hitsu's review against another edition
3.0
This is academic research on quite a niche subject - the influence of theatre on Jane Austen's work - repackaged for unknown reasons as a book of universal insight into her genius. I would have loved this as a little study in its own right, perhaps just a short paper focusing solely on Mansfield Park and its references to plays that would have been familiar to its original audience, but it's padded out with both unnecessary details on regency theatre and especially with a pointless overview of the author's favourite adaptations.
msfehrwight's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best Austen analysis I've read. Interesting angle and lots of new information, but analysis could dig deeper. Lots of repetition, style a little too loose for my taste. However, not the worst read. I particularly enjoy the chapter on Lovers' Vows, as it explains the play in some detail – I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, so a brief explanation of it was interesting.
silverfush's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointed by this book as I had hoped it would be more intresting.
A good insight into Jane's life is given, in regards to her love of the theatre, but I found myself too oftern putting off picking this book up to continue with it.
A good insight into Jane's life is given, in regards to her love of the theatre, but I found myself too oftern putting off picking this book up to continue with it.
ros_scallydandler's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.75
Interesting but not sparkling.
mes91's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
This is not quite what I expected.
I imagined it would be a study of how Austen has been used in theatre and film. This was covered but only in the very last chapter.
The majority seemed to be about how plays and theatre had influenced Austen and I wasn't quite looking for that so did not find it quite as enjoyable as expected.
I imagined it would be a study of how Austen has been used in theatre and film. This was covered but only in the very last chapter.
The majority seemed to be about how plays and theatre had influenced Austen and I wasn't quite looking for that so did not find it quite as enjoyable as expected.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
The first two-thirds of Byrne's new edition are excellent overviews of the theatre and playwriting during Austen's lifetime and her opinion of playgoing as reflected in her letters (tl;dr: she liked the theatre and had decided opinions on actors). Byrne starts to fall off in examining the influence of theatre on the novels - two chapters examine Mansfield Park, one each for Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma, and none for Persuasion or Northanger Abbey. There is a nice chapter about Austen adaptations on the big screen (and small) but there isn't a good conclusion to the book.