Jane Austen For Dummies

November 1, 2006
Ray (English, Univ. of Colorado at Colorado Springs) adds to the Dummies series with this witty and informative guide to all that is Jane Austen. The author presents Austen's biographical details and creates a historical context for her works. A great deal of information is given in brief, creating a broad-stroke view of Austen's world that will be accessible to a wide-ranging audience, from nonreaders to curious Janeites. Ray, the third-term president of the Jane Austen Society of North America, uses a casual, almost conversational writing style (as do many titles in the series) in her admirable attempt to entertain while informing. The work is organized into five parts (e.g., "Living Life in Jane's World"), but they don't have to be read in sequence. Ray wants readers to move easily through the book and find information as they need it, which for the most part they can do. The only criticism is that basic information is repeated a bit in the later chapters. The text is rounded out by an Austen chronology and several indexes (general, character, and quotation). Bottom Line Perhaps not an essential purchase for every collection but a pleasure to read nonetheless, this light and engaging book makes one look forward to reading Austen again. Recommended for public libraries.Paolina Taglienti, Las Vegas

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.