What Matters in Jane Austen
Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved
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Narrated by:
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Paul Collins
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By:
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John Mullan
About this listen
Which important Austen characters never speak? Is there any sex in Austen? What do the characters call one another, and why? What are the right and wrong ways to propose marriage? In What Matters in Jane Austen?, John Mullan shows that we can best appreciate Austen's brilliance by looking at the intriguing quirks and intricacies of her fiction. Asking and answering some very specific questions about what goes on in her novels, he reveals the inner workings of their greatness.
In 20 short chapters, each of which explores a question prompted by Austen’s novels, Mullan illuminates the themes that matter most in her beloved fiction. Listeners will discover when Austen's characters had their meals and what shops they went to; how vicars got good livings; and how wealth was inherited. What Matters in Jane Austen? illuminates the rituals and conventions of her fictional world in order to reveal her technical virtuosity and daring as a novelist. It uses telling passages from Austen's letters and details from her own life to explain episodes in her novels: listeners will find out, for example, what novels she read, how much money she had to live on, and what she saw at the theater.
Written with flair and based on a lifetime's study, What Matters in Jane Austen? will allow listeners to appreciate Jane Austen's work in greater depth than ever before.
©2012 John Mullan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem.
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One word - Awesome!
- By Katelyn on 05-22-09
By: Seth Grahame-Smith, and others
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3 Classic Novels
- Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park
- By: Jane Austen
- Narrated by: Geoffrey Giuliano, The Spire
- Length: 36 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Welcome to the world of Jane Austen, one of the most beloved authors in the English language. Austen's works are known for their wit, social commentary, and romantic storylines that have captivated readers for generations.
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Classic Novels are the best.
- By Maureen Hart on 09-07-23
By: Jane Austen
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Swann's Way
- By: Marcel Proust
- Narrated by: Neville Jason
- Length: 21 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Swann’s Way is the first of seven volumes in Remembrance of Things Past. It sets the scene with the narrator’s memories being famously provoked by the taste of that little cake, the madeleine, accompanied by a cup of lime-flowered tea. It is an unmatched portrait of fin-de-siècle France.
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Not a book one reads but inhabits & floats through
- By Darwin8u on 02-24-13
By: Marcel Proust
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On the Irrawaddy, A Story of the First Burmese War
- Svenska Ljud Classica
- By: G. A. Henty
- Narrated by: Mike Harris
- Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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With the exception of the terrible retreat from Afghanistan, none of England's many little wars have been so fatal in proportion to the number of those engaged as our first expedition to Burma. The Burman policy of carrying off every boat on the river, laying waste the whole country, and driving away the inhabitants and the herds, maintained our army as prisoners in Rangoon through the first wet season; and caused the loss of half the white officers and men first sent there.
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Great story! Great reading. Editor - not so much
- By David on 11-03-17
By: G. A. Henty
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Wives and Daughters
- By: Elizabeth Gaskell
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 25 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Set in English society before the 1832 Reform Bill, Wives and Daughters centers on the story of youthful Molly Gibson, brought up from childhood by her father. When he remarries, a new stepsister enters Molly's quiet life, the loveable, but worldly and troubling, Cynthia. The narrative traces the development of the two girls into womanhood within the gossiping and watchful society of Hollingford.
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It's not about the ending!
- By Sandra on 07-25-05
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Lady Windermere's Fan
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: Samuel West, Michael Sheen, Derek Waring, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Oscar Wilde's first play confronts the hypocrisy of public "morality" compared with genuine, private kindness. The reasons for its continued popularity are not difficult to identify: the play's witty dialogue contains many of Wilde's most quoted aphorisms, its stylish setting provides opportunities for elegant presentation, and its cast of memorable characters play out a story which is genuinely moving. This new audio production brings together a full cast worthy of Wilde's creative genius.
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An exciting night at the
- By Karen on 11-28-04
By: Oscar Wilde
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The Warden
- By: Anthony Trollope
- Narrated by: Nigel Hawthorne
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Set in the world of the Victorian professional and landed classes, the story centres on Mr Harding, a clergyman of great personal integrity who is nevertheless in possession of an income from a charity far in excess of the sum devoted to it.
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a delight
- By Janet on 12-22-08
By: Anthony Trollope
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Can You Forgive Her?
- By: Anthony Trollope
- Narrated by: Timothy West
- Length: 28 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Can You Forgive Her? is the first of the six in the Palliser series. Trollope inextricably binds together the issues of parliamentary election and marriage, of politics and privacy. The values and aspirations of the governing stratum of Victorian society are ruthlessly examined, and none remains unscathed. But above all Trollope focuses on the predicament of women. 'What should a woman do with her life?' asks Alice Vavasor of herself, and this theme is echoed by every other woman in the audiobook.
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Superb performance and sound
- By David on 05-21-10
By: Anthony Trollope
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The Club
- Johnson, Boswell, and the Friends Who Shaped an Age
- By: Leo Damrosch
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 15 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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In 1763, the painter Joshua Reynolds proposed to his friend Samuel Johnson that they invite a few friends to join them every Friday at the Turk's Head Tavern in London to dine, drink, and talk until midnight. Eventually, the group came to include among its members Edmund Burke, Adam Smith, Edward Gibbon, and James Boswell. It was known simply as "the Club". In this captivating audiobook, Leo Damrosch brings alive a brilliant, competitive, and eccentric cast of characters.
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Wonderful survey
- By Tad Davis on 05-10-19
By: Leo Damrosch
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Romantic Outlaws
- The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley
- By: Charlotte Gordon
- Narrated by: Susan Lyons
- Length: 22 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Charlotte Gordon's new work is a fresh look at the lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley, who together comprise one of the most illustrious and inspiring mother-daughter pairs in history.
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Tons of info, poor format choice.
- By Gotta Tellya on 02-06-17
By: Charlotte Gordon
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The Queen Mother
- The Untold Story of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, Who Became Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
- By: Lady Colin Campbell
- Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon
- Length: 25 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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For the first time, Lady Colin Campbell reveals the fascinating and moving life of The Queen Mother. With unparalleled sources, including members of the Royal Family, aristocrats, and friends and relatives of Elizabeth herself, this mesmerizing account takes us inside the real and sometimes astonishing world of the royal family.
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A Real Person
- By The Barbster on 01-05-19
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- By: Rory Muir
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- Length: 16 hrs and 47 mins
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What happened when Jane Austen’s heroines and heroes were finally wed? Marriage is at the center of Jane Austen’s novels. The pursuit of husbands and wives, advantageous matches, and, of course, love itself, motivate her characters and continue to fascinate people today. But what were love and marriage like in reality for ladies and gentlemen in Regency England? Rory Muir uncovers the excitements and disappointments of courtship and the pains and pleasures of marriage, drawing on fascinating first-hand accounts as well as novels of the period.
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From Pickwick to Scrooge, Copperfield to Twist, how did Dickens find the perfect names for his characters? What was Dickens' favourite way of killing his characters? When is a Dickens character most likely to see a ghost? Why is Dickens’ trickery only fully realised when his novels are read aloud? In 13 entertaining and wonderfully insightful essays, John Mullan explores the literary machinations of Dickens’ eccentric genius, from his delight in clichés to his rendering of smells and his outrageous use of coincidences.
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Take a trip back to Jane Austen's world and the many places she lived as historian Lucy Worsley visits Austen's childhood home, her schools, her holiday accommodations, the houses - both grand and small - of the relations upon whom she was dependent, and the home she shared with her mother and sister towards the end of her life.
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As a Devoted Janeite - I loved this book!
- By Dorothy on 07-17-17
By: Lucy Worsley
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The Regency Years
- During Which Jane Austen Writes, Napoleon Fights, Byron Makes Love, and Britain Becomes Modern
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The Victorians are often credited with ushering in our current era, yet the seeds of change were planted in the years before. The Regency (1811-1820) began when the profligate Prince of Wales - the future King George IV - replaced his insane father, George III, as Britain's ruler. Around the regent surged a society steeped in contrasts: evangelicalism and hedonism, elegance and brutality, exuberance and despair. The arts flourished at this time with a showcase of extraordinary writers and painters such as Jane Austen, Lord Byron, the Shelleys, John Constable, and J. M. W. Turner.
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What a time!
- By BK on 06-18-19
By: Robert Morrison
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The Letters of Jane Austen
- By: Jane Austen
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
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“I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.” Jane Austen at her witty, observant, intelligent, and sympathetic best, in this collection of her letters written to family and friends. Compiled by her niece Fanny Knight’s son Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugessen (the first Baron Brabourne), and edited by Sarah Chauncey Woolsey, this collection includes a preface written by the editor and notes from Lord Brabourne. It was originally published in 1892.
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To be in the life of this wonderful writer
- By Yvette Jackson on 02-21-24
By: Jane Austen
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The Jane Austen Handbook
- Proper Life Skills from Regency England
- By: Margaret C. Sullivan
- Narrated by: Corrie James
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Every young lady dreams of a life spent exchanging witty asides with a dashing Mr. Darcy, but how should you let him know your intentions? Seek counsel from this charming guide to Jane Austen's world. Its step-by-step instructions reveal the practicalities of life in Regency England. The Jane Austen Handbook is the perfect companion for fans of her novels and their film adaptations, complete with detailed information on love among the social classes, currency, dress, and nuances of graceful living.
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Needs work
- By jayme frey figueroa on 10-29-23
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Love and Marriage in the Age of Jane Austen
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- Narrated by: Sarah Coomes
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What happened when Jane Austen’s heroines and heroes were finally wed? Marriage is at the center of Jane Austen’s novels. The pursuit of husbands and wives, advantageous matches, and, of course, love itself, motivate her characters and continue to fascinate people today. But what were love and marriage like in reality for ladies and gentlemen in Regency England? Rory Muir uncovers the excitements and disappointments of courtship and the pains and pleasures of marriage, drawing on fascinating first-hand accounts as well as novels of the period.
By: Rory Muir
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The Artful Dickens
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- By: John Mullan
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- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
From Pickwick to Scrooge, Copperfield to Twist, how did Dickens find the perfect names for his characters? What was Dickens' favourite way of killing his characters? When is a Dickens character most likely to see a ghost? Why is Dickens’ trickery only fully realised when his novels are read aloud? In 13 entertaining and wonderfully insightful essays, John Mullan explores the literary machinations of Dickens’ eccentric genius, from his delight in clichés to his rendering of smells and his outrageous use of coincidences.
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Take a trip back to Jane Austen's world and the many places she lived as historian Lucy Worsley visits Austen's childhood home, her schools, her holiday accommodations, the houses - both grand and small - of the relations upon whom she was dependent, and the home she shared with her mother and sister towards the end of her life.
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As a Devoted Janeite - I loved this book!
- By Dorothy on 07-17-17
By: Lucy Worsley
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The Regency Years
- During Which Jane Austen Writes, Napoleon Fights, Byron Makes Love, and Britain Becomes Modern
- By: Robert Morrison
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
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Overall
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Performance
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The Victorians are often credited with ushering in our current era, yet the seeds of change were planted in the years before. The Regency (1811-1820) began when the profligate Prince of Wales - the future King George IV - replaced his insane father, George III, as Britain's ruler. Around the regent surged a society steeped in contrasts: evangelicalism and hedonism, elegance and brutality, exuberance and despair. The arts flourished at this time with a showcase of extraordinary writers and painters such as Jane Austen, Lord Byron, the Shelleys, John Constable, and J. M. W. Turner.
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What a time!
- By BK on 06-18-19
By: Robert Morrison
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The Letters of Jane Austen
- By: Jane Austen
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
“I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.” Jane Austen at her witty, observant, intelligent, and sympathetic best, in this collection of her letters written to family and friends. Compiled by her niece Fanny Knight’s son Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugessen (the first Baron Brabourne), and edited by Sarah Chauncey Woolsey, this collection includes a preface written by the editor and notes from Lord Brabourne. It was originally published in 1892.
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-
To be in the life of this wonderful writer
- By Yvette Jackson on 02-21-24
By: Jane Austen
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The Jane Austen Handbook
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- By: Margaret C. Sullivan
- Narrated by: Corrie James
- Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins
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Every young lady dreams of a life spent exchanging witty asides with a dashing Mr. Darcy, but how should you let him know your intentions? Seek counsel from this charming guide to Jane Austen's world. Its step-by-step instructions reveal the practicalities of life in Regency England. The Jane Austen Handbook is the perfect companion for fans of her novels and their film adaptations, complete with detailed information on love among the social classes, currency, dress, and nuances of graceful living.
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Needs work
- By jayme frey figueroa on 10-29-23
What listeners say about What Matters in Jane Austen
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Lorena L.
- 03-27-15
Great for Austen Fans
This was really fun. I learned a lot about the time period and the secondary characters.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Barbara JA
- 11-12-13
Intriguing details and background
This delightful book begins with curiosity, applies facts and literary insights, and solves mysteries through logical literary analysis and historical background. A fascinating read for anyone who enjoys Austen's six classic novels. As if they needed it, Austen readers will discover a thousand reasons to read each novel all over again.
John Mullan writes with humor, and a conversational, rather than purely academic, style. After listening to it in audio, I bought the book so I can read sections again.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Spike12
- 01-25-20
Wonderful Study!
This is a collection of funny & perceptive essays on different aspects of Austen’s writing. Essential for the Austen fan, I also recommend it highly for anyone seeking a key to understanding & appreciating Austen’s novels.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Fio Zacha
- 04-15-23
Interesting book let down by the narration
The content of this book is interesting, and it dissects various elements of Jane Austen’s world and work in a novel way and with frequent reference to the novels. For me however, the book was badly let down by poor narration: almost no inflexion, no changes in tone or manner or even a breath between reading the text of the book and quoting the novels: I only realised when it had gone into a quote because I know the novels so well, there were almost no slight pauses between sections: it was almost like listening to a computer. All the little elements of human speech that make audiobooks so wonderful to listen to were basically entirely lacking, and perhaps poor editing is also to blame. I will read the book now myself, but I won’t be listening to the audiobook a second time, I barely made it all the way through the first time, as I found it so unpleasant as a listening experience.
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- MKH
- 10-27-23
Enhances the enjoyment of rereading Austen’s works!
Calls attention to subtleties in Jane Austen’s writings that I had never noticed and appreciated before!
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- Sophiebennett
- 03-04-15
What matters is a helpful and very fun book
I bought this book both printed and audible. So interesting, engaging and very educational. Would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Jane Austen.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Robyn
- 12-11-17
Interesting, but not for everyone
I really enjoy observations by others when it comes to interpretations of Jane Austen's writings. This book raises some interesting topics for consideration, but I think some of it presents observations as fact rather than interpretations. Also, some of the "puzzles solved" are a real stretch and debatable on many levels. For a good well-versed in Jane Austen's writings, wt would be great to discuss this author's ideas and observations..
The narration is not appropriate and does not enhance the book. The reader sounds too much like he's reading the news. It makes the content comes across as flat and I think it impacts the overall impression of this audiobook.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Sherri Murphy-Jacobs
- 12-12-14
For Austen Lovers Who Want To Know More
This book is an excellent glimpse into some of the "between the lines" aspect of Austen's novels. While the narration is a bit dry (to be expected in a non-fiction book, I suppose), it is still easy to listen to it and the information is enjoyable.
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4 people found this helpful
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- SandieRS
- 04-15-13
Just okay
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
The subject matter was interesting but the narrator sounded as if he was reading it aloud for the first time during most of the narration, and although I love dear Jane, by the end of it I was trying to just not fall asleep. Only ardent Janeites will be able to get through this one.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Nicole MQ Johnson
- 04-24-16
Robot narration
What did you love best about What Matters in Jane Austen?
Great close reading
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
N/A
Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Collins’s performances?
Nope.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No--better to get it in dribs and drabs.
Any additional comments?
Interesting topic; such a struggle to listen to due to the narrator
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5 people found this helpful