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

Do I even need to write a review? The title alone is enough to sell the book to the right reader. This is a fascinating account of one person's quest to find the "forgotten" authors who influenced Austen. Rebecca Romney crafts a compelling story of intellectual inquiry and the hunt for rare books, anchored by a very honest depiction of the reading life. Romney admits to not reading certain books out of snobbish preconceptions, of loving some very flawed stories, of not being able to finish others. All of which I found relatable. And I am sure I am not the only one fascinated by the act of locating, acquiring, and creating a cohesive book collection as described here. Do I want to become a rare book collector now? Maybe. Or maybe I simply want to become more discerning about the books I bring into my own home. I appreciate how the author frames the story, the discussion around accessibility, the acknowledgement of this book as one in an ongoing discussion. Thank you to the author, publisher, and goodreads giveaways for the ARC.