Who was the real Jane Austen? Overturning the traditional portrait of the author as conventional and genteel, bestseller Paula Byrne's landmark biography reveals the real woman behind the books.
In this paperback of the landmark biography, bestselling biographer Paula Byrne uses objects that conjure up a key moment in Austen's life and work - a silhouette, a vellum notebook, a topaz cross, a writing box, a royalty cheque, a bathing machine, and many more - to unlock the biography of this most beloved author. The woman who emerges is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear aunt Jane' allows. Byrne's lively book explores the many forces that shaped Austen's life, her long struggle to become a published author, and brings Miss Austen dazzlingly into the twenty-first century.
The Real Jane Austen : A Life in Small Things
Description
Author Description
Paula Byrne was born in Birkenhead. Her first book, 'Jane Austen and the Theatre', was shortlisted for the Theatre Book Prize. Her second book, 'Perdita', was a Richard and Judy book-club pick and a best-seller. Her third, 'Mad World:Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead' is 'the fascinating story of a great house and a great family.' It was published to rave reviews in 2009 and was another best-seller. She is married to Jonathan Bate and lives in Oxford.