Jane Austen: A French Appreciation

First published in 1924, this unique title provides an extremely valuable early Twentieth Century perspective on Jane Austen, offering analysis from both sides of the channel. The book includes both a translated study of Jane Austen by French academic Leonie Villard, and a study by influential biographer and critic, R. Brimley Johnson.

Johnson’s study, made with particular reference to the unpublished epistolary novel, Love and Friendship, seeks to redress the balance of contemporary criticism of Austen, challenging the established links between Austen and Nineteenth Century realism, and suggesting instead that her work owes a great deal to the conventions of romance. He also demonstrates how her art transformed from the parody of Nothanger Abbey to the portraiture of the later novels.

Leonie Villard’s ambitious work analyses a variety of topics relating to Austen’s work, including women and marriage, psychology, satire, the gentry and the lasting value and scope of the novels. All in all, a very engaging, informative and insightful reissue.