A Fine Brush on Ivory: An Appreciation of Jane Austen
Given that there are so many Janeites, this book is that rare case of a critical study that might be taken up as eagerly by knowledgeable general readers as by students. Oxford professor Jenkyns examines Austen's novels, particularlyPride and Prejudice,Mansfield Park, andemma, elucidating how each demonstrates the challenges she set for herself. Because of what seems on the surface to be a fairly narrow range (in her own words, "the little bit [two Inches wide] of Ivory on which I work with so fine a brush"), Austen is sometimes taken by modern readers to be an unadventurous writer, but Jenkyns makes a convincing case that she was a true creative genius who was always experimenting. Frequent references to recent film and television adaptations add an extra fillip to his discussions. Not all readers will agree with Jenkyns' bias toward particular books, but his lucid and lively study makes even dreary Fanny Price ofMansfield Parkseem worth another reading.Mary Ellen QuinnCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.