In ‘Mansfield Park’, Fanny Price tells her persistent suitor, ‘we have all a better guide in ourselves (…) than any other person can be’. But there are times when we seek external guidance, and Jane Austen’s nuanced novels offer just that.
One of the world’s most influential feminist literary historians, Janet Todd has spent more than 50 years interacting with Austen’s letters, manuscripts and published novels, being inspired and challenged in equal measure. In a new book, written to mark Austen’s 250th birthday, she reveals what living with Jane Austen has meant to her and what it might mean to others.
Celebrating the enduring power and relevance of Austen’s work, Janet shows how it helps us understand the world, our minds and bodies, and teaches us about patience, humour, beauty and the essence of home.