What does Jane Austen mean when she writes approvingly of a
character's 'gentility' and ‘delicacy’, or critically of another's 'indolence'
and 'impertinence’? What are her characters doing when they take the measure
of a person's 'air' and 'address'? These questions and more are answered in this
Janeite treasure trove, which examines the distinctive language woven through
Austen’s signature stories.
Much of the language used in Austen's time has either fallen out of common use
or changed valence in significant and surprising ways. Maria Frawley takes 50
of those words - words that are integral to the fabric of Austen’s fiction -
and explores them in short, accessible and lively entries.
With juicy morsels for lifelong Austen lovers as well as new students of the
great writer, Frawley offers new perspectives on Austen's world, giving readers
the tools to better understand her novels individually and as a whole.
By:
Maria Frawley (George Washington University USA.)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781350528215
ISBN 10: 1350528218
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 13 November 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
ELT Advanced
,
Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Acknowledgements Introduction Address (and Air) Agreeable, agreeableness Amiable, amiability Approbation Character Civility Claim Complaisance Condescension Consequence Constancy Countenance Delicacy Disposition Ease Elegance Enthusiasm Esteem Exertion Fancy Felicity Folly Gentility Gratitude Honour Impertinence Improvement Indifference Indolence Interest Intimacy Liberality Liveliness Manner Natural Obstinate Persuasion Propriety Prudence Recommendation Reproach Reserve Sense Sensibility Society Solicitude Spirit Understanding Vanity (and Pride) Worth Works Cited Index
Maria Frawley is a Professor of English at the George Washington University, USA.
Reviews for Jane Austen in 50 Words
This beautifully, authoritatively and accessibly written book is indispensable reading for all Austen fans, students and teachers. Whether you are reading her novels for the first or fiftieth time, Frawley’s book will teach you something new about the ethical and social world of Austen’s novels. * Professor Jennie Batchelor, University of York, UK *
