Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Engaging the Age of Jane Austen</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>Engaging the Age of Jane Austen</i> by Bridget Draxler and Danielle Spratt is a captivating exploration of the cultural, social, and literary context of Jane Austen's era. Through a series of insightful essays, Draxler and Spratt shed light on the key themes, influences, and historical events that shaped Austen's work and continue to resonate with readers today.

<h4>The Details</h4>

The book delves into various aspects of Austen's world, including gender roles, class dynamics, marriage and courtship, education, and the impact of the Napoleonic Wars. By examining these topics through the lens of Austen's novels and letters, as well as contemporary sources such as diaries, letters, and conduct manuals, Draxler and Spratt offer readers a deeper understanding of the social and cultural landscape of Regency England.

Draxler and Spratt draw on a wide range of historical, literary, and cultural sources to provide a nuanced and comprehensive analysis of Austen's world, while also making their arguments accessible to readers with varying levels of expertise.

Moreover, the book offers fresh insights into Austen's novels, exploring themes such as female agency, the role of the family, the dynamics of friendship, and the tension between tradition and innovation. Draxler and Spratt examine Austen's characters, settings, and plots with sensitivity and nuance, revealing the depth and complexity of her work.

In addition to its scholarly analysis, <i>Engaging the Age of Jane Austen</i> also offers a richly detailed portrait of Regency England, drawing on contemporary sources to bring the era to life. Through vivid descriptions and evocative anecdotes, Draxler and Spratt immerse readers in the sights, sounds, and sensations of Austen's world, allowing them to experience firsthand the joys and challenges of life in the early 19th century.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>Engaging the Age of Jane Austen</i> is a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Austen's work and its cultural significance. With its insightful analysis, engaging writing style, and rich historical detail, Bridget Draxler and Danielle Spratt's book offers a compelling exploration of Austen's world and its enduring appeal.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. I like reading anything by or about Jane Austen. I think any fans of Austen should read this.

A must read for any Jane Austen fan. This book gave an interesting insight to the novels of Jane Austen and I am keen to reread them in relation to this new knowledge.

Engaging the Age of Jane Austen: Public Humanities in Practice was an invigorating and exciting look at how deep connections can be made between 18th-century literature and the needs of students and the public today. The authors and contributors made an excellent argument for the importance of studying the humanities in general and literature in particular.
I am inspired by the innovative projects that the authors used in their classrooms to help their students make connections between the past and the present; make connections between ideas presented in canonical and non-canonical literature and ideas we wrestle with today; and finally giving them hands-on experience with bringing ideas to the public in a wide variety of ways.
I highly recommend this book to teachers and scholars who are looking to make their work relevant to public audiences, who want to build strong relationships with their community, and who want to better be able to answer questions about why the humanities and literature are vital.

Thank you NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. While the book was interesting in regards to literary scholars, I was disappointed that it was not about Jane Austen. I thought the title was somewhat misleading.

The author did a brilliant job of explaining the importance of a career as a literary scholar. I had never heard of this being a full time career, so this book was really interesting to me.

So I feel like this was a bit of a bait and switch for Jane Austen fans. I was expecting a look at her life and work by various humanities scholars. Instead, this was a look at how humanities scholars relate to their work.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.

It was interesting even if I thought it was about Jane Austern and her age.
A good read for anyone interested in humanities.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Engaging the Age of Jane Austin is a book for Humanities scholar. What can and should someone with a humanities degree pursue in life. As a political science student, I learned what Noam Chomsky called the duty of intellectuals -- IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies. Plenty of work in that field. Humanities students have a challenging course to plot if they want to remain true to their field. Granted they do not build bridges, design computers, or lead in discoveries, but they do reflect society and culture.

Spratt, Draxler, and others look at ways to engage students in the spirit of the humanities. Teaching reading to adults, reproducing old texts into electronic format (think something like the Guttenburgpress.com) and making them available to the public, and social justice programs (something in line with Jane Austen's era). Liberal Arts, which Humanities fall under, are losing in public opinion and rather useless in today's world and economy. The public needs to be reminded that we are a result of the humanities. These are what shaped us as a society and a culture. It is our literature, history, diversity, journalism, art, and music that make us what we are. As our society narrows its views into two separate and defined camps, our vision needs to expand. Austen lived in exciting times: The American and French revolutions, the abolition of slavery, extended suffrage, industrialization. Reflected in her work are these events preserved for all. Spratt, Draxler, and other writers look to find ways to make humanities important to society again.