Kristian Mercer

All Things Austen

What is it about Jane Austen? I have to agree with the gentle ladies over at AustenBlog--this summer it feels like "she's everywhere."

Just consider the new crop of "tribute" novels, all of which draw upon the characters or themes in Austen's work. There's Austenland by Shannon Hale (which I mentioned in an earlier post), where the heroine wins a holiday at an Austen theme park. There's Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler, where the heroine wakes up in Regency England and must sort out the rakes from the heroes. (BTW, Rigler will be signing her book on Monday night at Third Place Books--come join me!)

And those are just the two that I had on my wish list. This recent USA Today article mentioned books I wasn't even aware of. Me and Mr. Darcy? (Great title, don't you think?) Lost in Austen? (Another great title, but...an Austen-inspired choose-your-own-adventure? Well, that's what the public library is for, I suppose...)

Not to mention the film. Have you seen Becoming Jane yet? I saw it last weekend with Lacey Kaye (read her post about it here) and I have to add my voice to the chorus: I loved it. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me writhe with envy (some of the lines were that period-perfect). I will see it again. I will definitely buy the DVD. (As Lacey said, James McAvoy's green velvet coat alone was totally worth it.)

So yes, I am very much a Janeite. Not a purist, mind you--I am totally willing to suspend my disbelief and check my historical-accuracy-monitor at the door. But something about this second wave of Austen mania (remember the late 1990s?) makes me wonder--what is it about Jane Austen? Why do her books continue to resonate with us?

Some critics claim it's because her keen wit and sharply observant commentary dissect a society that doesn't sound that much different from ours. Others note that her themes of love and marriage--of finding the partner of your heart, not just your pocketbook--continue to have meaning for today. Anne Hathaway (the actress who portrays Jane in the current film) noted in a recent interview that "there's an excellence to Jane Austen that people crave" in this age of mediocrity.

Or maybe she just writes a good story. Thoughts, gentle readers?

P.S. And for those of you who need even more Austen in your life, check out the jewelry at Hoolala. There's a great Jane Austen charm necklace and a really spectacular "Pride & Prejudice" charm bracelet (in the "deluxe" category).