Jane Austen and Eighteenth-Century Courtesy Books

(Hardback)

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Description

One of the most important novelists of the early 19th century, Jane Austen (1775-1817) continues to be read and studied today. Throughout her novels, she creates characters who embody various virtues and limitations. The best characters represent the best behaviour, just as the less admirable ones behave in less admirable ways. Proper behaviour was of great concern to Austen's contemporaries. Throughout the 18th century, numerous courtesy books were written, advocating certain moral behaviour for character development. Austen would have been familiar with these books, for they were influential during the late 18th century, when she grew up, and in the early 19th century, when her works were published. Although Austen is known as a novelist of manners, surprisingly little work has been done to compare the manners recommended by the courtesy books of the time with the manners of the characters in her novels. This study demonstrates Austen's parallels with 18th century courtesy books in shaping her characters. Educational and recreational activities in her works are often similar to the activities recommended by the courtesy books of her time. So too, the social activities and personal characteristics she presents frequently accord with the recommendations of the courtesy books. Austen's reliance on courtesy books is of great importance, for scholars have generally held that her novels are reflective of the manners of the period.

Reviews

Fritzer's work provides valuable insights into what Austen believed regarding conduct and morality, and what courtesy book authors espoused....Fritzer allows us to redisover Austen by way of discovering courtesy book literature.-JASNA News
What distinguishes Fritzer's approach is that she offers a full definition of courtesy books, drawing a good deal on primary sources. She pulls together, reexamines, and enlarges previous notions of how these concepts appear in Austen, devoting chapters to education, recreation, social intercourse, and personal characteristics. Faculty and graduate students will find most use for Fritzer's sparse, focused, and well-researched examination, though upper-division undergraduates in courses exploring the rich cultural background of Austen's life and times will also be glad to have it.-Choice
"Fritzer's work provides valuable insights into what Austen believed regarding conduct and morality, and what courtesy book authors espoused....Fritzer allows us to redisover Austen by way of discovering courtesy book literature."-JASNA News
"What distinguishes Fritzer's approach is that she offers a full definition of courtesy books, drawing a good deal on primary sources. She pulls together, reexamines, and enlarges previous notions of how these concepts appear in Austen, devoting chapters to education, recreation, social intercourse, and personal characteristics. Faculty and graduate students will find most use for Fritzer's sparse, focused, and well-researched examination, though upper-division undergraduates in courses exploring the rich cultural background of Austen's life and times will also be glad to have it."-Choice

Author Bio

PENELOPE JOAN FRITZER is Assistant Professor at the Davie Campus of Florida Atlantic University. Her research interests include 19th century British literature, detective fiction, and humor studies, along with various aspects of English and social studies education.