I love Jane Austen's books. I loved her novels long before her novels became synonmous with Colin Firth glaring fiercely in tight breeches as he jumped into the river. As a Regency fanatic, I love the way she evokes the mores of her society, the spirited heroines, the gorgeous heroes, the social commentary and the wonderful humour which never fails to make me chuckle.
I'm just as aware that her novels are not everyone's cup of tea. Some find her insipid, others find her too shallow and superificial and others just don't like her. And that's fine. I'm a firm believer in different strokes for different folks and as I said before, it'd be a pretty dull world if we all liked the same things.
To not like someone's book is fair enough, but to blame her for the fact that women writers aren't being taken seriously as Celia Brayfield claimed in last Monday's Times, is just ludicrious. The fact that Jane Austen was writing was considered to be 'unladylike' and one can only imagine what her relations would have said if she wrote about politics and wars. Jane Austen could only write what she knew and I think that she did quite a good job, actually.
I can't help wondering whether this was a cynical marketing ploy on Ms. Brayfield's part to generate publicity for her own novels. You can say what you like about Jane Austen's writing, but it's hardly her fault that she became an industry. It's not her fault if her books are so well-loved and so universally adored that TV execs keep commisioning mini-series based on her books.
Perhaps, the most worrying part of that article is a comment a reader left where she said that she wishes Hollywood would leave Austen's books well alone as they're unhealthy for our daughters. Well, what Jane Austen taught me as a young girl was to be strong, intelligent and resourceful and to never just settle, but to always seek to marry your true love - that's a pretty good philosophy, don't you think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Welcome to blogland, Julie. I agree wholeheartedly with your remarks on Austen. She wasn't Woolestonecraft, was she? She didn't intend to be and wasn't brought up like that.
Keep going, and hello to Kate W!
Sound common sense as usual, Julie. Happy St Patrick's Day - and very many thanks again for your lovely review of my book!
Love,
Mags
Post a Comment