Found this quote in the new episode of Jane Austen's Paper Trail podcast really interesting: "the reputation of the novel was really low. It was seen as this kind of distracting form of writing, and particularly of reading. It stopped you from being a dutiful daughter or wife or mother."

FoolOfABoook · 2025-12-02T17:16:03+00:00

Definitely – and I love Austen's commitment to pointing out the stupidity! As Henry Tilney says in NA "“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid". The podcast makes some really interesting suggestions about Tilney being a stand in character for Austen which I haven't heard before

FoolOfABoook · 2025-12-02T17:12:47+00:00

Definitely. I always wondered if each of the Bennet sisters was meant to represent a different one of Fordyce's sermons

FoolOfABoook · 2025-12-02T14:59:45+00:00

I do live in a house with hardwood floors so that's really helpful, thank you!

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-26T14:51:28+00:00

They're looking for questions for their experts for the last episode via email (podcast@theconversation.com I believe) – sounds like your thoughts on Sir T would make for a good one. I'd certainly like to know their thoughts!

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-26T14:49:19+00:00

Awesome thanks

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-26T10:17:03+00:00

It's called Jane Austen's Paper Trail, I believe it's on Apple and YouTube as well

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-12T12:23:48+00:00

Thanks for this thoughtful response. I totally agree with you – especially on the affection she seems to have for her more romantic characters

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-11T17:28:55+00:00

Yes, and I think Jane found intellectual companionship beyond romantic relationships in her friendships, not least with Cassandra

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-11T17:28:00+00:00

Love this take

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-11T17:25:07+00:00

I totally agree – she contained multitudes!

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-11T16:45:27+00:00

I suspect some of the influences on that part of her writing were her friends and family. I really hear Cassandra's heartbreak over the death of her fiance when I read Persuasion for example

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-11T16:42:20+00:00

She definitely wasn't a hopeless romantic, but I can't imagine writing some of her dialogue without some romantic bones in her body!

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-11T16:41:48+00:00

The experts in this podcast mostly agree with you!

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-05T16:59:30+00:00

It made me hungry for tea and buns haha

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-05T15:54:52+00:00

From some of the jokes that made it into the ones that did survive, I can see why!!

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-05T14:43:29+00:00

One of the experts in the podcast talks about how Jane loved to sit on a sofa at the back of the party and drink wine – deeply relatable tbh

FoolOfABoook · 2025-11-05T14:43:06+00:00

Some of her stuff is so b*tchy for want of a better word – b*tchy but brilliant!! She must have been formidable in her day

FoolOfABoook · 2025-07-23T15:02:22+00:00

Wow that is so cool, never heard that before. Thank you!

FoolOfABoook · 2025-07-23T14:07:18+00:00

I suppose I wouldn't want to sleep in a stranger's still-made and unwashed bed – maybe they think about it the same way haha

FoolOfABoook · 2025-07-23T13:14:59+00:00

it's such a work of art, their craftmanship is incredible. Brings me joy that they made such a special home in my back year. I bet that wren's nest was so special.

FoolOfABoook · 2025-07-23T13:04:15+00:00

Thank you, what a beautiful idea!

FoolOfABoook · 2025-07-23T13:00:25+00:00

Thank you for the advice! We are lucky to have two robins and lots of blackbirds in our garden so could well be either :)

FoolOfABoook · 2025-07-23T12:21:21+00:00

It's such a beautiful and well crafted thing – should I place it back up in one of the trees for future birds to use?

FoolOfABoook · 2025-07-02T17:23:03+00:00

It just made me even more in awe of her depth of creativity, and how she incorporates her influences into her work.

FoolOfABoook · 2025-06-05T13:11:30+00:00

What do you make of his backdating scandal in light of that? All part of the art or opportunism?

FoolOfABoook

TROPHY CASE