
Beginning with Austen herself, Romney reviews just why Austen has become revered. I was amazed to learn that by the late 18th Century, many novels were written by women as well as the negative light that many novels were placed in, despite selling quite well. Austen also outright praised other female authors in her books, the phrase 'pride and prejudice' being taken from another author of her time. In reading through Austen's chapter, I am reminded that her characters and the situations they are in are still relatable today and that Austen poured much of herself into her work.
Frances Burney is an author I've never heard of, but I now must read. I was intrigued by Burney's start as an author; writing in secret since novels were considered negative at the time. When she did find the courage to publish, it was anonymously and without her father's knowledge. Reading about Burney's character's, it is no surprise how she captured the attention of her audience with complicated heroines, fully composed interior worlds and incorporating her own experiences into her characters to explore power from a woman's perspective.
Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho is another automatic add for my to read list. I was surprised to learn of a female gothic author, though I shouldn't have been. Radcliffe's stories built up horror in creative landscapes and seem beautifully constructed. I was happy to learn that Radcliffe also proved that women could ask to be paid for what they are worth.
Charlotte Lennox, best known for her second novel, The Female Quixote, used her wit to create daring, intelligent, heroines that pushed boundaries. I loved reading about the author's insights into re-reads as well as the parallels of why Lennox fell out of favor with the reading habits of today.
Hannah More was an interesting addition to the mix, an author that Austen said she would read eventually and might like after she has read. More's characters were the opposite of what Austen wrote of, more concerned with morals, religion, and conduct. More still proved an important author of the time, championing the rights of others and finding financial stability; although firmly believing that one should not rise above their station.
Charlotte Smith was a determined author who wrote for survival, a career author who wrote to feed and house her children after a disastrous marriage. Austen mentions the sweetness of Mrs. Smith's novels in Catharine, or the Bower. I was amazed by Smith's drive to survive in a world that seemed set against her and how it influenced her novels, especially Emmeline.
Elizabeth Inchbald was one of the more exciting authors, running away from home to become an actress as a teenager. Her time in the theatre led her to become a playwright and author who Austen's characters recreate in Mansfield Park. I was enchanted by the author's description of Inchblad's humor as well as her being "an expert at these efficient annihilations" Inchbald seems like someone I would like to be friends with.
Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi is another bold author of her time, often charting her own course and going against what was expected of a lady at the time. Seemingly always pregnant, she found time to write of her experiences, run a brewery and keep up her social circle. In her second marriage, now Mrs. Piozzi, wrote of her journey and was read by the Austens and Burney, Piozzi was noted for being entertaining and clever, known for mixing styles of personal writing with biography, travel and history.
Maria Edgeworth is known as one of Jane Austen's favorite authors. As Austen was working on getting her books published, Edgeworth was succeeding. Edgeworth was creating female characters that didn't follow all of the rules of society, interesting female characters who had adventures but may not have been the heroine of the novel. Knowing that Edgworth and Austen read each other's novels creates a framework of support for these female novelists of the time.
As a lover of reading, I enjoyed learning of all of these women who made a name for themselves and challenged the norm. I enjoyed seeing how Austen interacted or was influenced by the other authors and how they helped her to form her own style and craft. I truly had fun reading Jane Austen's Bookshelf and I think the author would enjoy all of the notes and tabs that I left in her book.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.