The bedside, bathtub & armchair companion to Jane Austen

Could you pass a Jane Austen aptitude test or complete an Austen-themed crossword puzzle in ink? Whether you are capable of these tasks or aspire to be, you'll appreciate this latest edition in the popular series featuring studies of well-loved authors or their classic works (e.g., Charles Dickens, Frankenstein). With seriousness and good humor, Adams (The Sexual Politics of Meat), Douglas Buchanan, and Kelly Gesch have compiled commentaries on minute details in Austen's works. Readers will learn the importance of a good carriage, discover the ingredients in white soup and other foods consumed in Emma and Mansfield Park, and unearth the "myth-interpreting" themes of the books. The merchandizing of Austen is included, with a chapter on the best gifts for Austen fans. Novel summaries, character studies, time lines, and movie reviews are also included. Illustrations of Austen and her characters and photographs of manors and churches are just a few of the details that add to this excellent resource for book discussion groups, literature collections, and Janeites.-Joyce Sparrow, Juvenile Welfare Board Children's Svcs. Council, Pinellas Park, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.