Camp Austen My life as an accidental Jane Austen superfan

A treat for any Jane Austen fan, this book is ostensibly Scheinman's account of his role in the development of the Jane Austen Summer Camp, a four-day festival held at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013 that intentionally fuzzed the lines between academia and fandom. In actuality, this is about his relationship with his mother, a noted Austen scholar and his gateway to Janeism. Scheinman details the events of the summer camp, where attendees dressed as characters, acted out plays based on Austen's early work, attended academic talks, and generally reveled in the joy of being surrounded by other devoted Janeites. While Scheinman is clearly an astute reader of Austen he includes numerous analyses of Austen's life and work that are insightful and often quite funny this is also a fascinating window into a man's experience in a largely female realm. Scheinman is a wonderful guide to the world of Austen, and this honest and thoughtful discussion of the role Austen's works have played in his family will delight any Janeite.--Moran, Alexander Copyright 2018 Booklist

In this lively debut, Scheinman expertly captures the most memorable moments from the year and a half that he spent "in the world of Jane Austen fandom." The son of an Austen scholar, Scheinman "half willingly and half accidentally" found work at a four-day conference called Jane Austen Summer Camp, where he learned the rules of a worldwide "secret society" of Jane Austen fans-known simply as Janeites-whose enthusiasm for novels such Pride and Prejudice is "passionate to the point of obsession." He describes meetings of the Jane Austen Society of North America, where "hundreds of superfans congregate to dispute interpretations, share recipes... and argue with the finest scholars in the world." Constantly taking notes "like an embedded reporter," Scheinman observed the "thrilling and disarming" fellowship shared by scholars and laypeople and realized that Austen is "the rare sort of author who makes possible this unaccustomed exchange between academics and civilians." This is a loving and often humorous tribute to the Janeites of the world. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

A light and frothy tour of Austenworld and its Janeites."I didn't last in Austenworld," writes Pacific Standard senior editor Scheinman, "but for a time it was ludicrous, intoxicating, and sometimes heartbreaking." If his mother hadn't been a noted Austen scholar, he "might never have found [his] way in." When young, he started with Austen's juvenile notebooks, Austen's own "record of fandom," filled with "perverse celebrations of her literary enthusiasms." In his witty, sly, and often humorous first book, Scheinman discusses his time as a graduate student when one of his graduate professors decided to hold the first-ever Jane Austen Summer Camp. "American enthusiasm for Austen is (as I would soon learn) passionate to the point of obsession," he writes. At first, it "sounded dreamlike, a little unreal." He notes that in the late 19th century, scholar and critic George Saintsbury coined the term "Janeite" for those devoted to her work, and the great novelist E.M. Forster was "one of the more conspicuous Janeites of his age." To Scheinman, the gathering reminded him of a "religious diaspora, a far-flung church, whose functionaries convene in heterodox worship." Let the tour begin. First, the costumes: "Dressing as Mr. Darcy at an Austen symposium is like playing Mickey Mouse at Disney World." Then the panels, where "representatives of the academy" would mingle with "their civilian counterparts." Followed by a little table talk at meal times: "they offer the most gossipy and delicious interactions." Next, the theatricals, plays about Austen and her characters written and performed (in costume) by participants as well as screenings of films about Austen's books. Last but not least, there's the Ball. After all, Henry, Austen's favorite brother, wrote that Jane "enjoyed dancing, and excelled at it." Scheinman picks and pokes a little here and there, but he admits it's "some of the best and cleanest fun available to an academic."A pleasing divertissement for Austen fans everywhere. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.