Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence
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Book Reviews of Becoming Jane Austen
Book Review: engaging investigation into the character of our favorite old maid
Summary: 4 Stars
A well-written, well-researched biography of our beloved, complex spinster. While the book doesn't annoyingly dwell on its far-fetched claim to be the "true love story that inspired the classic novels", it does often try to make some leaps of faith (most notably the weight it places on the character names of novels as evidence). Some of the interpretations of her novels are equally improbable. But this is an engaging, interesting biography woven with Jane's letters and her novels. It is the story not only of her life and her times, but also of the people who surrounded and influenced her. It is a story of how she saw the world, of her complex character, and how the woman in love with marriage chose her novels to be her children. Well worth the read. Grade: B+Book Review: Misleading title; exemplary biography.
Summary: 3 Stars
I was a bad Jane Austen fan and watched the movie Becoming Jane long before I read the biography that it was [albeit loosely] based upon. Did I like the movie? Yes. Was it historically accurate in portraying Jane Austen's life? Eh...not really, I think. I say that based on what I already knew and now also based on reading Spence's Austen biography.
Becoming Jane Austen was for me a quick read. It was interesting and I was extremely pleased with the number of direct quotes from Jane Austen and her family members (mostly from letters they wrote). I loved reading about so many aspects of her life, including her many family members, and I would not hesitate to suggest this biography as a must-read for Austen fans.
That said, I do have a few complaints. First and foremost, neither the title of the biography nor the names of the chapters really make much sense in regards to the content. The chapter titles were completely unnecessary and if anything just put constraints on the author. The title of the biography itself is certainly eye-catching, but as this biography focuses on the history of Jane's family long before she was born as well as her entire life, it is a bit misleading.
On a side note, I have the Hambledon Continuum paperback edition and feel the need to note that the physical quality of this edition is at best poor. I hadn't read 10 pages before the binding cracked down the center, not to mention the fact that they apparently never planned on including the portraits and pictures in the paperback edition and yet forgot to remove the page listing them.
Physical quality of the book aside, I certainly enjoyed this biography despite its faults and rate it 3.5/5 stars.
Book Review: Ripped off?
Summary: 3 Stars
I saw this paperback movie tie-in last night and grabbed it.
I love Jane and am looking forward to the film. I've read a
number of bios of Jane over the years and this one looks
interesting.
However, I have to give a thumbs down to the publisher.
Where are the illustrations that are clearly listed in
the text? The author obviously included them in the
original edition, but they are gone from this one.
When I pay $15 for a book, even a paperback, I expect
to get the WHOLE book, illustrations included. The
paperback edition of "Queen Isabella" by Allison Weir,
which was about the same price, included ALL the
illustrations from the original, and in color! So
what's the deal with Continuum? I'd return the book.
except I still want to read it. Maybe I'll get it
out of the library and see what I'm missing!
Book Review: A romantic view of Jane Austen, if not the most well-supported
Summary: 3 Stars
A biography with a hint of "dramatic interpretation". I enjoyed it, although I thought many of the author's assertions were a stretch. Unfortunately, the evidence is so fragmentary that we will never really know about some of Jane Austen's life. Spence's main contention is that she had a failed romance with Tom Lefroy, which dominated her heart and her literary imagination for the rest of her life. I thought it was a romantic notion, and I liked the fictionalized movie based on this book, but I think there is not enough evidence to say with such conviction. Too bad her sister destroyed most of Jane's letters after her death or we might have actually known.Book Review: Biographical fact. Not like the movie.
Summary: 3 Stars
Spence gets Austen's life to us in a dry, factual way. The movie took these facts, put them in a blender, embellished, and made a wonderful flick. However, if you wanted to get this book as a read of the movie, you're out of luck. Hollywood SHOULD get their facts straight. I don't blame Spence for that. He just lucked out that someone took his book, gave him money, meanwhile making a lovely (if quite fictitious) 'based on' biography.