Review by Booklist Review
Smith, a descendant of Jane Austen, mines her revered ancestor's novels to reveal their brilliance and show other writers how they can learn from Austen's example. Smith starts with how to plan your novel by sharing advice taken from one of Austen's letters about what not to do, including having heroes and heroines who are beyond reproach, villains who are simply evil through and through, and an aimless and meandering plot. In her letters to young hopefuls, Austen also cautions against overwriting and encourages the use of humor. Next, Smith explores Austen's multifaceted characters: how she describes them, how they are tested through adversity, and even how their clothes reflect their inner conflicts. Smith goes on to explore Austen's use of place, her sharply witty dialogue, and her deft, careful plotting. Throughout the book, Smith offers exercises for writers to help jump-start their own creativity. Chock-full of passages from Austen's novels, this is a great guide not just for aspiring writers, but also for all Austen lovers who want to delve deeper into her layered novels.--Huntley, Kristine Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Who better to provide good writing advice than Jane Austen herself? Smith (Jane Austen's Guide to Modern Life Dilemmas), Austen's great-great-great-great-grandniece, deploys the master author's novels, letters, juvenilia, and even a late poem as lessons in the creative process. Various sections focus on point of view, irony, characterization, central images, dialogue, travel, building suspense, "the writer as sadist" (to her characters), and more. Smith quotes extensively from Austen to illustrate her points. For Austen lovers, the book will be a treat, a chance to luxuriate in some of her best prose. Moreover, the chosen passages aptly support Smith's points about writing, which she supplements with a solid set of exercises. Smith understands Austen as both a stylist and satirist, and she appreciates the challenges she faced as a "lady" writer, not dissimilar to modern authors who often have to shoehorn their creative work into distracted lives. If there's a quibble, it's that Smith uses very long passages from Austen at the expense of shorter but equally cogent snippets. All in all, however, this easy-to-follow book offers sensible advice and is a fine writer's guide. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Using excerpts from Jane Austen's letters and enduringly popular novels along with advice from her own creative writing classes, Smith (creative writing, Univ. of Southampton; Jane Austen's Guide to Modern Dilemmas) guides readers on the study and practice of Austen-inspired techniques of plotting a novel, developing characters, and formulating dialog. Those familiar with Austen's fiction will find Smith's ample examples by other authors all the more pleasurable. Modern works are occasionally mentioned (usually only by title) to demonstrate further specific literary methods. About half of the book comprises passages from Austen's works, while the other half supplies explanation, commentary, and exercises from Smith. The suggestions are solid and thoughtful, though probably not news to most serious writers: build a believable world (whether in Devonshire or on Mars), allow readers to discover the characters, dialog should ring true, a healthy dose of wit never hurts. Above all, the author advises to edit, edit, edit. VERDICT This guide steers away from lists of how-tos, filling a niche for readers and writers who are as interested in experiencing the journey to better writing as arriving at the destination.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
