I do think there is mention of slavery in Jane Austen. I'm almost certain it is a topic in Mansfield park. Great review. I also really love Lady Susan. I've only read it for the first time recently and I almost immediately reread it. It is so funny.
Oh I will have to go back to Mansfield Park, I dont remember it. But it makes sense, because Fanny's uncle is traveling to Antigua halfway through the book...
Super review. I really liked Lady Susan also, as it was like a breath of fresh air, and seemed surprisingly mature. I'd never heard of 'Our Nig', so I'm definitely going to read it too! I just finished 'The Bandit Queens', so I can now squeeze in your July pick. By the way, I just loved Bandit Queens, and couldn't put it down!
I had a hard time with Lady Susan the first time I read it. The adaptation "Love & Friendship" (with Kate Beckinsale) helped me a lot to figure out the characters.
This was a great video. I loved your discussion of the absence of slavery in the imaginative landscape of most novels - and your “sandwiching” sounds fortuitous indeed. Sometime ago, another BookTuber posted about _Northanger Abbey_ and I thought, “If ever I read Austen again it will be that.” Then somebody else told be how awful it was. You’ve given me reason to change that, and more than that, I’ll try to get to it sooner rather than later. It sounds wonderful, and the epistolary nature just makes for an added attraction. Can’t wait to hear about the next “classic” too.
I’m currently rereading Northanger Abbey and have just finished Mansfield Park. Both have been my least favourite of Austen’s novels. Reassessing both! Have to love Lady Susan with her bad reputation! I will reread soon. 😊 Persuasion remains my favourite and find something new every reread. Just love it.
Oh, yes Persuasion! It's my favorite, too. 🥰 I have a soft spot for Fanny Price, even though Mansfield Park is not one of my favorites. Enjoy your reread of Lady Susan!
A light breeze is a good phrase to use about Lady Susan. And joy too. Interestingly Austen does mention the slave trade in passing in both Mansfield Park and Emma. And she appears to be working on a Black woman character in Sanditon. Her personal views are not clear in these references. We do know she read abolitionists.
Oh, thank you for the two references, I will have to look that up, I can't remember it at all. (Say more about me than about Jane Austen, I guess...) It would be interesting to know her personal view on slavery! X
Do you think perhaps it was a commercial decision on Jane Austen's part to prioritise more moral heroines? Her female contemporaries were typically writing about angelic young women. Her Lady Susan-style manipulators are there in almost every book, but they are relegated to back-up characters.
OOOoouuuh I have read this! Shes a real piece of work that woman (Susan I mean)!
Absolutely!
Thank you for this video! This is the only Jane Austen I have not read, but now I will 😊
That is great, so happy to hear that! 🥰
How much fun to see you so happy about this book. I’m an Austen fan but never tread this one, but I will! Thanks for the review!
Happy to hear that! Enjoy!
I LOVED Lady Susan!!! What a great character! ❤ I have Our Nig and will definitely read along with you! 😊
Why am I not surprised that you love Lady Susan as well? 😆
I like Lady Susan too!
Yay for Lady Susan!
I read Lady Susan in June, I am as enthusiastic as you are about it.
That is wonderful! 🥰
I do think there is mention of slavery in Jane Austen. I'm almost certain it is a topic in Mansfield park.
Great review. I also really love Lady Susan. I've only read it for the first time recently and I almost immediately reread it. It is so funny.
Oh I will have to go back to Mansfield Park, I dont remember it. But
it makes sense, because Fanny's uncle is traveling to Antigua halfway through the book...
Super review. I really liked Lady Susan also, as it was like a breath of fresh air, and seemed surprisingly mature. I'd never heard of 'Our Nig', so I'm definitely going to read it too! I just finished 'The Bandit Queens', so I can now squeeze in your July pick. By the way, I just loved Bandit Queens, and couldn't put it down!
Oh, wonderful that you will join in with Our Nig. And so happy you loved Bandit Queen! 🥰
I had a hard time with Lady Susan the first time I read it. The adaptation "Love & Friendship" (with Kate Beckinsale) helped me a lot to figure out the characters.
Oh, I have to watch that adaptation!
I tend to like epistolary novels (not all) so I may try Lady Susan. I will be reading Northanger Abbey and it will be a first time read for me.
Ah, let me know how you get on with Northanger Abbey, it's a weird one... And Lady Susan is defiinitely worth a try, yesss!
This was a great video. I loved your discussion of the absence of slavery in the imaginative landscape of most novels - and your “sandwiching” sounds fortuitous indeed.
Sometime ago, another BookTuber posted about _Northanger Abbey_ and I thought, “If ever I read Austen again it will be that.” Then somebody else told be how awful it was. You’ve given me reason to change that, and more than that, I’ll try to get to it sooner rather than later. It sounds wonderful, and the epistolary nature just makes for an added attraction.
Can’t wait to hear about the next “classic” too.
That is really great to hear, David! I hope you will enjoy Lady Susan as much as I did.
I’m currently rereading Northanger Abbey and have just finished Mansfield Park. Both have been my least favourite of Austen’s novels. Reassessing both! Have to love Lady Susan with her bad reputation! I will reread soon. 😊 Persuasion remains my favourite and find something new every reread. Just love it.
Oh, yes Persuasion! It's my favorite, too. 🥰 I have a soft spot for Fanny Price, even though Mansfield Park is not one of my favorites. Enjoy your reread of Lady Susan!
I had planned to read Lady Susan, but epistolary style doesn't work well for me.
Ah, pity about the epistolary. Lady Susan is such a fascinating character.
A light breeze is a good phrase to use about Lady Susan. And joy too. Interestingly Austen does mention the slave trade in passing in both Mansfield Park and Emma. And she appears to be working on a Black woman character in Sanditon. Her personal views are not clear in these references. We do know she read abolitionists.
Oh, thank you for the two references, I will have to look that up, I can't remember it at all. (Say more about me than about Jane Austen, I guess...) It would be interesting to know her personal view on slavery! X
Do you think perhaps it was a commercial decision on Jane Austen's part to prioritise more moral heroines? Her female contemporaries were typically writing about angelic young women. Her Lady Susan-style manipulators are there in almost every book, but they are relegated to back-up characters.
That is an interesting thought, it might very well be.
But is she Undine bad? Dear old Undie.
Maybe not quite. LoL.