A Jane Austen Education

How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter

By: William Deresiewicz

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

An eloquent memoir of a young man's life transformed by literature.

In A Jane Austen Education, Austen scholar William Deresiewicz turns to the author's novels to reveal the remarkable life lessons hidden within. With humor and candor, Deresiewicz employs his own experiences to demonstrate the enduring power of Austen's teachings. Progressing from his days as an immature student to a happily married man, Deresiewicz's A Jane Austen Education is the story of one man's discovery of the world outside himself.

A self-styled intellectual rebel dedicated to writers such as James Joyce and Joseph Conrad, Deresiewicz never thought Austen's novels would have anything to offer him. But when he was assigned to read Emma as a graduate student at Columbia, something extraordinary happened. Austen's devotion to the everyday, and her belief in the value of ordinary lives, ignited something in Deresiewicz. He began viewing the world through Austen's eyes and treating those around him as generously as Austen treated her characters. Along the way, Deresiewicz was amazed to discover that the people in his life developed the depth and richness of literary characters-that his own life had suddenly acquired all the fascination of a novel. His real education had finally begun.

Weaving his own story - and Austen's - around the ones her novels tell, Deresiewicz shows how her books are both about education and themselves an education. Her heroines learn about friendship and feeling, staying young and being good, and, of course, love. As they grow up, they learn lessons that are imparted to Austen's reader, who learns and grows by their sides.

A Jane Austen Education is a testament to the transformative power of literature, a celebration of Austen's mastery, and a joy to listen. Whether for a newcomer to Austen or a lifelong devotee, Deresiewicz brings fresh insights to the novelist and her beloved works. Ultimately, Austen's world becomes indelibly entwined with our own, showing the relevance of her message and the triumph of her vision.

©2011 William Deresiewicz (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Part Memoir, part literary analysis

Although I enjoyed this book, it was a light entertainment that was neither as satisfying as a real memoir nor as intellectually stimulating as literary analysis. The narration was okay, maybe even better than that, but there was something about the tone of the text that kept making me considering just dropping it without finishing.

I love Jane Austen, sometimes I would rather read Jane Austen's novels for the tenth time than start a new book that will surely disappoint, but in the end it was only my passion for anything Jane Austen that got me through this book. I can't help but find something condescending about the author's attitude....it's just something from which I couldn't escape and which robbed the book of much of its potential pleasure. I think I might have enjoyed a similar type of book by a different author.

A Little Dull

Would you try another book from William Deresiewicz and/or Sean Pratt?

The narrator was fine, the book was a bit on the dull side, it definitely went through all the Austin classics, but the story of the narrator just did not interest me.

An Excellent Austen Education

Where does A Jane Austen Education rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks at the top.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the way the author wove his story together with Austen's stories.

What does Sean Pratt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved his voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many moments, too numerous to list. As a teacher, I was moved every time he wrote about the importance of the details of our lives, the importance of each life, and the importance of each story. It affirmation to my teaching, as well my life as a wife and mother, made me glow.

Any additional comments?

I didn't like how he ended the book. I understand the allusion to Austen's writing

Austen fans should listen.

This audiobook was quite intriguing. If you love Jane Austen's work, this is such a wonderful book to listen to. I don't think I'll read Austen the same way again. it's full of insight and different ways of thinking about the characters and life in Austen's time.

Sean has such a calm and compassionate narration. I highly recommend.

A Jane Austen Education

A Jane Austen Education . I learned so much from this book, so fun to hear Jane Austen' s books from the perspective of a guy. I loved the conclusion !

Beautiful

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me go out and buy new copies of all the Jane Austen novels I sold back years ago...

Any additional comments?

I loved it.

Such a comfort

For all the Jane Austen fans out there, this audiobook feels like home. Time will move quickly and it will end with you wanting more. For those that aren’t fans yet, this will persuade you.

A real joy!

This book was like taking a collage class later in life and rereading the books you loved (or not) with the advantage of wanting to take the class. We are brought along the life of the author told with an Austen like storyline. The stroll though the books (with no spoilers) and the insights into reall life applications are so concrete and pithy as to make me wish I had thought of "that". Historical detail into Austen's life is perfectly woven though the story as well. Oh, if only Jane Austen had written more books, this book could have been longer. The reader was great.

What books can teach us

One of the people I follow recommended this book so I decided to give it a try. William Deresiewicz tells of his time as a graduate student his writing his doctoral thesis on Jane Austin. He explains what he learned from her six novels for example the importance of friendship, of knowing one;s true self, of community and love--falling in love vs grow into it. He shows us the passages from Austin's books and tells of how this played out in his life. This is a funny and at times moving book about the power of literature to influence our world view and our daily life. Sean Pratt did a good job narrating the book.

I loved this book!

I love Jane Austen and read her in the '70s when I was a struggling actress. So it was great to hear this book from the perspective of a once-snarky New York bigoted male, who came to love her too! I would recommend this to anyone. You'll love the Jane Austen ending!