A deliciously original study of the cheap editions of Pride and Prejudice and other novels – ignored by literary scholars – casts new light on her readershipJane Austen aficionados think that they know the story of their favourite author’s posthumous dis-appearance and then re-emergence. For half a century after she died in 1817, her books were little known or read. A few discriminating admirers such as George Henry Lewes and Lord Macaulay kept the flame of her reputation burning, but most novelists and novel readers were oblivious to her. Then, in 1869, her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh published a memoir about her and the public got interested. Her novels started being republished and widely read. She has never looked back.Janine Barchas’s The Lost Books of Jane Austen puts us right. Her book about books is a beautifully illustrated exploration, indeed compendium, of the popular editions of Austen’s novels that have appeared over the last two centuries. This includes those decades when Austen was supposedly lost from sight. The first chapter is a “vignette” on a copy of Sense and Sensibility, published in 1851 for George Routledge’s Railway Library (books suitable for reading on the train). It cost one shilling and was bought for the 13-year-old Gertrude Wallace, the youngest daughter of a Plymouth naval officer. It is the first of many examples of cheap and popular editions of Austen’s work that kept it alive for ordinary readers and that literary scholars have... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2019-12-11 07:30:31 UTC ]
“I read them the way that people surf the internet today, maybe,” says the Wilco frontman, whose new memoir is “World Within a Song.” “So I know everything.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-11-02 09:00:33 UTC ]
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In its first week on sale in the U.S., the pop star's debut memoir sold a total of 1.1 million copies across pre-orders, sales of print books, e-books, and audiobooks formats, according to publisher Gallery Books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Snippets of Michelle Williams’s narration of Britney Spears’s new memoir have proved explosively popular online. But what goes into selecting a celebrity reader for an audiobook? Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-11-01 22:47:54 UTC ]
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Stephanie Land's second memoir, 'Class,' a sequel to her blockbuster debut, 'Maid,' follows her journey to get an education — and holds readers at a distance. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-31 10:00:21 UTC ]
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The 90s were a decade of carefree optimism and comically low stakes. Matthew Perry’s death brings us crashing back into the now In 2004, the author Damian Barr published Get It Together: Surviving Your Quartlerlife Crisis. Barr would go on to write poignant and beautiful books (including the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-10-30 18:37:24 UTC ]
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In “The Woman in Me,” the pop star mines her extraordinary story for generic lessons. But the details speak for themselves. Continue reading at New Yorker
[ New Yorker | 2023-10-29 19:33:11 UTC ]
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The celebrity memoir is booming. But while such books have become part of entertainers' brand management, the focus on salacious details poses risks. Continue reading at CBC
[ CBC | 2023-10-28 08:00:00 UTC ]
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Britney Spears’ memoir illustrates once again the potential lifelong damage that can be caused by being a child star. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2023-10-27 11:37:38 UTC ]
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A crop of new nonfiction books, all out this coming week, explore the lives and legacies of trailblazing women around the world, from artists and activists to novelists and scientists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
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“I know my limitations, but I would still invite William Shakespeare,” says the actor, whose new memoir is “Being Henry: The Fonz … and Beyond.” “I would also invite Daniel Silva and definitely Larry David!” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-10-26 12:16:08 UTC ]
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In Myriam Gurba’s latest essay collection Creep, the Mexican American author interrogates both those who deceive, exploit, and oppress others as well as the culture that enables them. “People who hurt other people can be charming,” Gurba notes in the title essay. “It works in their favor.” In... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2023-10-26 11:00:00 UTC ]
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“Welcome to the ‘Bad Ass Women Memoir Club,’” Pinkett Smith wrote in a cheeky note to the fellow first-time author. Continue reading at HuffPost
[ HuffPost | 2023-10-25 17:27:27 UTC ]
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Best of Young British Novelists 2023 ‘Certainly this kind of thing just happened sometimes – it was a glitch, an unfortunate error, and could happen to anyone.’ – Rostrum The post Eley Williams appeared first on Granta. Continue reading at Granta
[ Granta | 2023-10-25 16:21:36 UTC ]
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Best of Young British Novelists 2023 ‘It dawned on her, the fact sliding ice-cold into her body; now that she had crossed the border into her forties, Alma herself was no longer eligible for the scheme.’ – The Termite Queen The post Olivia Sudjic appeared first on Granta. Continue reading at Granta
[ Granta | 2023-10-25 16:15:22 UTC ]
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Best of Young British Novelists 2023 ‘She rings a tiny cymbal over your body. She says, The experience is finished now.’ – Best Last Minute Spa Deal for Under £40 The post Yara Rodrigues Fowler appeared first on Granta. Continue reading at Granta
[ Granta | 2023-10-25 15:37:27 UTC ]
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Best of Young British Novelists 2023 ‘I don’t remember his face, nor him as a whole.’ – Kweku The post Derek Owusu appeared first on Granta. Continue reading at Granta
[ Granta | 2023-10-25 14:58:42 UTC ]
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Best of Young British Novelists 2023 ‘If Wales win tonight, everything will turn out okay.’ – Wales The post Thomas Morris appeared first on Granta. Continue reading at Granta
[ Granta | 2023-10-25 14:51:57 UTC ]
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Best of Young British Novelists 2023 ‘He was grumpy in a way that I enjoyed. It reassured me that he was easily displeased – he was discerning, I thought.’ – Circles The post Anna Metcalfe appeared first on Granta. Continue reading at Granta
[ Granta | 2023-10-25 14:45:13 UTC ]
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Best of Young British Novelists 2023 ‘The monstrous years of my late teens lay lined up alongside the rest of my life like bullets in a gun.’ – Theories of Care The post Sophie Mackintosh appeared first on Granta. Continue reading at Granta
[ Granta | 2023-10-25 14:39:37 UTC ]
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Michelle Williams' impression of Justin Timberlake as she narrates Britney Spears' memoir is going viral as 'the greatest clip of audio since Watergate.' Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-25 01:06:01 UTC ]
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