Available Formats
Jane Austen in 50 Words
By (Author) Maria Frawley
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Bloomsbury Academic
13th November 2025
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900
Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers
Paperback
224
Width 156mm, Height 234mm
What does Jane Austen mean when she writes approvingly of a character's 'gentility' and delicacy, or critically of another's 'indolence' and 'impertinence What are her characters doing when they take the measure of a person's 'air' and 'address' These questions and more are answered in this Janeite treasure trove, which examines the distinctive language woven through Austens signature stories.
Much of the language used in Austen's time has either fallen out of common use or changed valence in significant and surprising ways. Maria Frawley takes 50 of those words - words that are integral to the fabric of Austens fiction - and explores them in short, accessible and lively entries.
With juicy morsels for lifelong Austen lovers as well as new students of the great writer, Frawley offers new perspectives on Austen's world, giving readers the tools to better understand her novels individually and as a whole.
This beautifully, authoritatively and accessibly written book is indispensable reading for all Austen fans, students and teachers. Whether you are reading her novels for the first or fiftieth time, Frawleys book will teach you something new about the ethical and social world of Austens novels. * Professor Jennie Batchelor, University of York, UK *
Maria Frawley is a Professor of English at the George Washington University, USA.