Christina O.'s Reviews > Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend

This review is a story of two books. I had an ARC of “Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend” sitting in my kindle waiting to be read, and Hoopla credits leftover on December 31st. I borrowed “Belinda” by Maria Edgeworth since I knew she was one of the authors in “Jane Austen’s Bookshelf.” I never expected I would actually listen to it, but I wanted an audiobook I wouldn’t get too pulled into, a 19th century novel seemed like a good choice. I was wrong. I read Rebecca Romney’s journey when I had time, and listened to “Belinda” while I was doing chores. In the beginning I was comparing “Belinda” to the other 19th century books I read in terms of quality and tropes. The farther I got into Romney’s journey, her passion for the books she was reading for the first time won me over. She isn’t just reading to study the book, she’s reading to enjoy the book. Somewhere along the way her journey gave me permission to fully enjoy “Belinda” on its own merit. The whole reading experience for both of these books inspired me and made me feel like I was getting back to my roots. I read books because I enjoy them, and I forgot classics other than my old favorites could be enjoyable. This entire experience was exciting and even emotional (there may have been tears). I was able to view old books as a reader again, rather than a critic. But that’s enough about me, here’s my actual review:

“Jane Austen’s Bookshelf” is part biography of 18th and 19th century women authors, and part memoir as Romney discovers these authors who were bestsellers of their time but have disappeared from literary canon. It begins when Romney decides to read through the women authors that Jane Austen read—authors she mentioned in her books or personal letters. Romney knew of Scott and Johnson and other famous male authors of the time, but she’s exploring why she’s never heard of women authors such as Frances Burney and Charlotte Lennox who Austen names as being favorites of hers. Through this exploration, Romney joyfully finds new books and authors who she loves, and she traces their careers through old books. Romney is a rare book collector and this brings a unique perspective as she decides which edition of the book she wants to add to her personal collection. There are luscious descriptions of old books. Beautiful old books with leather covers and gilt designs. Musty old books that are cracked and falling apart, but with amazing histories of their own. It makes you feel like you’re in the room with the books.

The perspective of a book collector also adds to the conversation as Romney is not a literary critic. She is reading the books for enjoyment and she tracks the rise and fall of these authors through how many editions were printed in the past. Many authors fell out of the canon because there wasn’t a way to access their books. But there is also a history of literary critics who have discredited and demeaned the works of these women. These literary critics create the canon which defines what gets published, and what gets studied in classrooms. These literary critics also produced texts that future critics stand upon to make their arguments and assessments—as such, one person’s opinion gets passed along as the standard of how these authors works are viewed.

“Jane Austen’s Bookshelf” is going to appeal to readers interested in women’s history, literary history, and Jane Austen fans. I also believe it is a valuable read for anyone pursuing a degree in English so that they understand how and why things are chosen as canon, and they can investigate a source before taking their opinion as fact when it comes to underrepresented authors. Like my reading experience with “Belinda,” “Jane Austen’s Bookshelf” wasn’t just an informative read, it was an enjoyable one.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.