What Matters in Jane Austen

By: John Mullan

Narrated by: Paul Collins

Publisher's summary

Which important Austen characters never speak? Is there any sex in Austen? What do the characters call one another, and why? What are the right and wrong ways to propose marriage? In What Matters in Jane Austen?, John Mullan shows that we can best appreciate Austen's brilliance by looking at the intriguing quirks and intricacies of her fiction. Asking and answering some very specific questions about what goes on in her novels, he reveals the inner workings of their greatness.

In 20 short chapters, each of which explores a question prompted by Austen’s novels, Mullan illuminates the themes that matter most in her beloved fiction. Listeners will discover when Austen's characters had their meals and what shops they went to; how vicars got good livings; and how wealth was inherited. What Matters in Jane Austen? illuminates the rituals and conventions of her fictional world in order to reveal her technical virtuosity and daring as a novelist. It uses telling passages from Austen's letters and details from her own life to explain episodes in her novels: listeners will find out, for example, what novels she read, how much money she had to live on, and what she saw at the theater.

Written with flair and based on a lifetime's study, What Matters in Jane Austen? will allow listeners to appreciate Jane Austen's work in greater depth than ever before.

©2012 John Mullan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Lorena L. on 03-27-15

Great for Austen Fans

This was really fun. I learned a lot about the time period and the secondary characters.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Barbara JA on 11-12-13

Intriguing details and background

This delightful book begins with curiosity, applies facts and literary insights, and solves mysteries through logical literary analysis and historical background. A fascinating read for anyone who enjoys Austen's six classic novels. As if they needed it, Austen readers will discover a thousand reasons to read each novel all over again.

John Mullan writes with humor, and a conversational, rather than purely academic, style. After listening to it in audio, I bought the book so I can read sections again.

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3 out of 5 stars

By Sherri Murphy-Jacobs on 12-12-14

For Austen Lovers Who Want To Know More

This book is an excellent glimpse into some of the "between the lines" aspect of Austen's novels. While the narration is a bit dry (to be expected in a non-fiction book, I suppose), it is still easy to listen to it and the information is enjoyable.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Sophiebennett on 03-04-15

What matters is a helpful and very fun book

I bought this book both printed and audible. So interesting, engaging and very educational. Would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Jane Austen.

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3 out of 5 stars

By Robyn on 12-11-17

Interesting, but not for everyone

I really enjoy observations by others when it comes to interpretations of Jane Austen's writings. This book raises some interesting topics for consideration, but I think some of it presents observations as fact rather than interpretations. Also, some of the "puzzles solved" are a real stretch and debatable on many levels. For a good well-versed in Jane Austen's writings, wt would be great to discuss this author's ideas and observations..

The narration is not appropriate and does not enhance the book. The reader sounds too much like he's reading the news. It makes the content comes across as flat and I think it impacts the overall impression of this audiobook.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Spike12 on 01-25-20

Wonderful Study!

This is a collection of funny & perceptive essays on different aspects of Austen’s writing. Essential for the Austen fan, I also recommend it highly for anyone seeking a key to understanding & appreciating Austen’s novels.

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3 out of 5 stars

By Fio Zacha on 04-15-23

Interesting book let down by the narration

The content of this book is interesting, and it dissects various elements of Jane Austen’s world and work in a novel way and with frequent reference to the novels. For me however, the book was badly let down by poor narration: almost no inflexion, no changes in tone or manner or even a breath between reading the text of the book and quoting the novels: I only realised when it had gone into a quote because I know the novels so well, there were almost no slight pauses between sections: it was almost like listening to a computer. All the little elements of human speech that make audiobooks so wonderful to listen to were basically entirely lacking, and perhaps poor editing is also to blame. I will read the book now myself, but I won’t be listening to the audiobook a second time, I barely made it all the way through the first time, as I found it so unpleasant as a listening experience.

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5 out of 5 stars

By MKH on 10-27-23

Enhances the enjoyment of rereading Austen’s works!

Calls attention to subtleties in Jane Austen’s writings that I had never noticed and appreciated before!

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3 out of 5 stars

By SandieRS on 04-15-13

Just okay

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The subject matter was interesting but the narrator sounded as if he was reading it aloud for the first time during most of the narration, and although I love dear Jane, by the end of it I was trying to just not fall asleep. Only ardent Janeites will be able to get through this one.

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4 out of 5 stars

By Nicole MQ Johnson on 04-24-16

Robot narration

What did you love best about What Matters in Jane Austen?

Great close reading

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

N/A

Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Collins’s performances?

Nope.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No--better to get it in dribs and drabs.

Any additional comments?

Interesting topic; such a struggle to listen to due to the narrator

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