Title: The Making of Jane Austen
Author: Devoney Looser
Publication date: June 21, 2017
Less a biography, The Making of Jane Austen centers on not just what influenced Austen in her life but also how Austen’s work influenced others long after her death. According to Publisher’s Weekly, in an interview with Looser, “Austen had been invoked for political causes as early as 1908, when her name was emblazoned on banners held by suffragettes marching through the streets of London.”
While the book is being published by John Hopkins University Press, a regular publisher of academia titles, this quote, by Deborah Yaffe, of the title should change those who may normally shy away from such titles: “This highly entertaining book makes clear that contemporary Janeites – with their cosplay, their clashing interpretations of much-loved novels, their wet-shirt Darcy, and their fiercely possessive relationship to their favorite author – are heirs to a tradition of Austen-love that stretches back to the early 19th century. Devoney Looser’s brilliant detective work introduces us to a cast of creative, courageous and eccentric women and men who helped keep Austen’s work alive and vital into our own time.”
Title: Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen: A KinderGuides Illustrated Learning Guide
Author: Melissa Medina, Fredrik Colting, Lett Yice
Publication date: April 1, 2017
I could not find much information about this book, even the quote by Publisher’s Weekly, is odd since I cannot find the review. It seems KinderGuides are classic literature books made simple for kids, such as this title is a children’s picture book and is only 45 pages long but despite its short length, the illustration is gorgeous.
Title: A Girl Walks Into a Book: What the Brontës Taught Me about Life, Love, and Women’s Work
Author: Miranda Pennington
Publication date: May 16, 2017
Finally! A Brontë book!
An “off-beat memoir,” Pennington uses the Brontës as the backdrop of her life: ” She began to delve into the work and lives of the Brontës, finding the sisters were at times her lifeline, her sounding board, even her closest friends.” This subject matter is so up my alley, I just contacted the publisher to see if I can get an advanced reader’s copy.
Title: Cocktails with Jane
Author: Alison Maloney
Publication date: April 1, 2017
Also more my speed! Cocktails with Jane is a book of gin recipes with an Austen twist. “The cocktails, of course, all have Jane Austen associations in their names and in their character. The Darcy has great taste and an aloof charm. The Lizzy B is sparkling and zestful. The Pemberley is elegant and refined.” It’s a shame this is coming out in August as the warm summer months are perfect for drinking gin. Who am I kidding? The U.K. never gets warm summer months.
Title: The Jane Austen Treasury
Author: Janet Todd
Publication date: May 2, 2017
This seems doesn’t see to be terribly original content – it’s basically a collection of witticisms, facts, and other miscellany about Austen. With that said, it might be a good book to have on hand when you’re doing Jane Austen trivia night. (I know some of you are probably doing this already, so don’t even try and deny it.)
Title: The Secret History of Jane Eyre
Author: John Pfordresher
Publication date: June 27, 2017
This title pulls back the novel’s exterior and looks at its influences and influencers, Charlotte’s mindset, and the hows and whys of the books’ birth.
According to the publisher’s website, the main question pushing this book forward is, “Why did Charlotte Brontë go to such great lengths, on the publication of her acclaimed, best-selling novel, Jane Eyre, to conceal her authorship from the press, the London literary establishment, and even her closest friends?”
Not much else is known about this title, but the cover alone looks intriguing enough but just like The Making of Jane Austen, The Secret History of Jane Eyre is published by an academic publisher.
Title: The Spirituality of Jane Austen
Author: Paula Hollingsworth
Publication date: April 1, 2017
In this title, Hollingsworth puts forth the idea Jane was a fierce, yet gentle, religious person. I’m not sure I’m following that train of thought – in my memory — which can be faulty — Jane’s books included religion in part of her skewering. Going to church always seems like an afterthought and any character in her books marrying a man of the cloth did so because it was the thing to do not necessarily for belief purposes. I’ve added this title to my Austen Amazon list, but it’ll probably be farther down the list to read.
Title:
The Brontësaurus: An A-Z of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë (and Branwell)
Author: John Sutherland, John Crace
Publication date: November 14, 2017
Okay, I love this idea. I have rarely found books about siblings to encompass all of those siblings. Sutherland and Crace give us the Brontës in digested forms. With Crace at the helm, you know it’s going to be good. Crace, some of you may know, does the Digested Reads column and podcast over at The Guardian. Crace is to the point, funny, and provides a bit of snark into his pieces. This book is sure to be a delight.
Title: At Home with Jane Austen
Author: Lucy Worsley
Publication date: July 11, 2017
I am so excited about this book, I gave the book its own post!
From the post, “Holy cat’s pyjamas! One of my favourite historians is releasing a book on Jane this summer to coincide with the 200th anniversary of her death. (Pour one out for Jane’s death, amen.)
“From the publisher, ‘On the eve of the two hundredth anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, take a trip back to her world and the many places she lived as historian Lucy Worsley visits Austen’s childhood home, her schools, her holiday accommodations, the houses – both grand and small – of the relations upon whom she was dependent, and the home she shared with her mother and sister towards the end of her life.
[…]
‘Worsley examines the rooms, spaces and possessions which mattered to her, and the varying ways in which homes are used in her novels as both places of pleasure and as prisons. She shows readers a passionate Jane Austen who fought for her freedom, a woman who had at least five marriage prospects, but – in the end – a woman who refused to settle for anything less than Mr. Darcy.'”
Title: Take Courage: Anne Brontë and the Art of Life
Author: Samantha Ellis
Publication date: February 28, 2017
This title, like Jane Austen: Secret Radical, has been making the reviewing rounds. I’d say about 20% of the news articles coming my way about Austen/Brontës are about this title. I think much of why that is is because it’s about Anne Brontë, the often forgotten sister. I wrote a post about Anne last month (in conjunction with the docudrama about the Brontë siblings , “To Walk Invisible.). I am excited for this title as I’m always a big fan of the underdog.
Amazon’s page for the book says the book is to be internationally released on February 28th, but there isn’t an option to pre-order.
Title: Jane Austen, Secret Radical
Author: Helena Kelly
Publication date: May 2, 2017
I wrote last week about the furor and decisiveness over this book but for me it piqued my interest so much so I contacted the publisher to get an advanced reader’s copy which arrived a few days later. I have stumbled across a few other reviews, one pretty indepth alleging Kelly was “inspired” by their work heavily and it’s evident throughout the book. I’ve stepped away from any publications with reviews for this title to form my own opinions. I hope to have an honest review up within the month.
Title: The Genius of Jane Austen
Author: Paula Byrne
Publication date: June 27, 2017
I KNEW this title seemed familiar! This is an updated version of Bryne’s book, first published in 2003, published by Bloosmbury Press, a small academic-y publishing house. I’m hoping with the updated content, I can assume will match the recent surge of movies since 2003, AND a contemporary publisher (Harper Collins) that will make the work more reader friendly and widely available, this title will rock socks.
Title: The Jane Austen Project
Author: Kathleen A. Flynn
Publication date: May 2, 2017
Super, super stoked about this book. The premise of two time travellers who arrive in Jane Austen’s time to meet, befriend, and steal from her. Plus I love the cover. So imagine to my great delight when the author contacted me directly and asked me if I wanted an ARC? Hells to the yes! The book arrived yesterday and I’ve bumped it to the top of my reading queue. Expect a review soon that will be honest and as thorough as possible. (Thanks again, Kathleen! I’m super looking forward to reading this!)
Title: On the Sofa with Jane Austen
Author: Maggie Lane
Publication date: May 1, 2017
Containing essays from Regency World, they “celebrate the quirkiest corners and cleverest contrivances of Jane Austen’s art.” Topics covered from “gossip to grandmothers.” It’s noted in the author biography Lane is a celebrated lecturer on the world wide JASNA circuit so expect a lot of in depth pieces on the minutiae of Austen’s life and works.