The examination of Jane Austen's complete novels and juvenilia highlights the interplay between civil society and gender roles. Steiner's study integrates diverse contexts, including Scottish Enlightenment theories, early-Romantic discussions on gender, and contemporary sociological insights into the civilizing process, offering a multifaceted appraisal of Austen's contributions to literature and society.
Frances Brooke's first novel, published in 1763, explores the life of Lady Julia Mandeville. This modern critical edition enhances the reading experience with an introductory essay, detailed endnotes, and textual variants. Additionally, it includes appendices featuring contemporary reviews and selections from Brooke's other works, providing valuable context and insight into her literary contributions.
Exploring the literary expressions of eighteenth-century cosmopolitanism, this work highlights its significance in the context of postcolonial studies. It delves into how these historical perspectives inform contemporary understandings of cultural exchange and identity, offering insights into the complexities of global interactions and the enduring impact of cosmopolitan ideals.
"Northanger Abbey was one of Jane Austen's earliest manuscripts; Persuasion was her last. Published together in a single volume after her death, the two books differ widely. Northanger Abbey is a spirited, Gothic parody, while Persuasion has increasingly been seen as a new direction for the Austen canon. The two texts have been widely analysed and debated since publication, and continue to be so today. In this Readers' Guide, Enit Karafili Steiner delineates a clear trajectory through the books' many interpretations over two centuries, mapping these out thematically and chronologically contextualises and brings into dialogue influential approaches such as psychoanalytical criticism, structuralism, deconstruction, Marxism, New Historicism, and feminism - discusses film adaptations of the novels and their relation to literary criticism"-- Provided by publisher