A review of “Jane Austen in 41 Objects” in 100 words by Catherine Stover
Jane Austen, born 250 years ago, was the first to write novels based on the everyday objects, language, routines, and concerns of women. Her books are realistic, observant, witty, and avant-garde. I have a feeling that she would have loved this biography. It doesn’t try to “explain” her life; rather, it offers “shifting entry points” into her life. Her stuff ignites my curiosity in a way that traditional historical information does not. I think it supports the point that the poet William Carlos Williams made when he said, “No ideas but in things.” This quirky collection of objects has enchanted me.
Work cited:
Sutherland, Kathryn. Jane Austen in 41 Objects. Bodleian Library Publishing, 2025, p. 78.