This week I’d like to introduce you to a new book by Helena Kelly called The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Novels. This book caught my eye, initially, because of its beautiful cover – yes, I admit it! I do judge a book (first) by its cover. But more than that, I was intrigued by the idea that Jane Austen’s novels reveal deeper influences that we might not realize without careful digging.
Austen lived through many historically significant moments, and though Austen doesn’t discuss war or politics or social issues in detail in her novles, Kelly asserts that Austen’s “sharp, observant fiction reveals just how engaged she was with the issues of her time.”
Kelly’s chapter titles include: “The Rectory,” “The Revolution,” “Army and Navy,” “Give a Girl an Education,” “City,” “Countryside,” “Seaside,” and “Empire and Slavery.” Three additional chapters are titled “Legacies,” “Austenmania,” and “Present Day.” Kelly explores the various facets of each topic in detail, providing key examples from Austen’s novels to show the way each influence plays a part in her writing, which is always my favorite part.
About the Book
The Worlds of Jane Austen invites readers to see one of Britain’s most beloved authors in a completely new light. Far from the quiet world of country houses and tea parties, Austen lived through revolution, war and major social change, and her sharp, observant fiction reveals just how engaged she was with the issues of her time.
This lively and accessible guide explores the people, politics and places that shaped Austen’s life and work. It features expert insight from bestselling author Helena Kelly alongside over 150 photographs, artworks and illustrations that bring her world vividly to life.
Whether you are discovering Austen for the first time or returning to her novels with fresh eyes, The Worlds of Jane Austen is the perfect companion for curious readers, literature lovers and admirers of classic storytelling.
About the Author
Helena Kelly holds a doctorate in English Literature from Oxford, where she has also taught from time to time and where she is about to return for a visiting scholarship at the Oxford Centre for Life Writing at Wolfson College.
She is the author of The Life and Lies of Charles Dickens (November 2023), already praised by Kirkus Reviews as ‘a literary bio that deftly untangles truth from untruth’, and of Jane Austen, the Secret Radical (2016), hailed as ‘a sublime piece of literary detective work’ (The Observer) and ‘an interpretive coup that is dazzling and dizzying’ (The New Yorker).
Additional Influences
I enjoyed this book tremendously and learned a great deal. I was familiar with some of it, but there were many new areas of information for me to delve into. I do have a few additional area of inspiration and influence I would be curious to investigate further as well.
In Kelly’s words, “Book could teach you almost anything.” I would have appreciated an additional chapter or section devoted to the books Austen read in the chapter about education for women and Austen’s personal education. After all, we are what we read. Our opinions and convictions are a compilation of our influences, and many of those ideas for Austen came through extensive reading. Austen read widely and deeply, even memorizing great portions of text, secular and religious alike, and her reading interests surely influenced her writing and the ideology behind her novels.
In a similar vein, I would have also enjoyed learning about the influence of religion on her writing. Austen had a brilliant mind and read Fordyce’s Sermons, The Book of Common Prayer, William Cowper, and other religious writers and materials during her lifetime. She was not silent about the role of the clergy in her novels, nor was she ignorant of the issues facing the Church of England during her lifetime. As a clergyman’s daughter, her daily life was intertwined with the Church, and it would be fascinating to read more scholarly information about that particular influence in her life.
However, exploring Austen’s influences could become a lifelong project, so I applaud Kelly’s careful research on the topics she chose and her excellent focus on the texts of Austen’s novels. Seeing the “proof” on the page is always the best part! Seeing Austen’s influences play out on the pages of her novels was splendid. Austen tells us so much, even when she’s not telling us much.
New Releases for Austen’s 250th
This is yet another incredible book in the great line up of books releasing this year for the 250th celebration of Austen’s life and legacy. The bounty of books knows no bounds this year! If you’d like to read a comprehensive live of new releases for this year, I invite you to visit this wonderful blog resource that I recently found in my searches: Regency Explorer: “Jane Austen 250 – a list of new books scheduled for 2025” by Anna M. Thane.
If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself overjoyed and overwhelmed by the vast list of books Thane put together. It must have taken an immense amount of time and dedication. I plan to reference it as I continue to explore the many new Austen books that have released this year (and some that are coming next year).
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