Book rec: A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz

[Kathleen in VA]

Subtitle is: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter.

 

Not sure if this has been suggested before (the search feature on this board is abysmal), but I am enjoying it a lot so thought I'd recommend it to y'all.

 

Here's a tiny peek into the book. About Mansfield Park he writes, "Love means effort and self-control--for the sake of others, and thus, ultimately, for your own."

 

and

 

"Austen was not a novelist for nothing: she knew that our stories are what make us human, and that listening to someone else's stories--entering into their feelings, validating their experiences--is the highest way of acknowledging their humanity, the sweetest form of usefulness."

[sparrow]

This sounds good. Thanks for the recommendation!

[JVA]

I'll recommend this to my Jane Austen book club....we just met last night to discuss P&P. Great timing!

[Jane in NC]

Just a side note, but Deresiewicz's speech that he gave at West Point on leadership is also an excellent read.

 

Link

Edited February 26, 2012 by Jane in NC
Fixing the link.

[Kathleen in VA]

Just a side note, but Deresiewicz's speech that he gave at West Point on leadership is also an excellent read.

 

Link

 

Thanks! I read this article by him the other day - I believe it was linked in another thread here but don't remember which one now.

 

The Disadvantages of an Elite Education