Tag Archives: Jane Austen

An Iranian Hostage Recalls Tolstoy

In which one of the 1980 Iranian hostages explains why “War and Peace” meant so much to him at the time.

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Austen: Romance without Words

Jane Austen never directly reports a protagonist saying “yes” to a marriage proposal. For Valentine’s Day, I explore why.

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Our Round of Austen-Like Visitations

Julia and I spent the last week in a series of visits such as one encounters in Jane Austen novels.

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Jane Austen’s Thematic Use of Cards

In which I share a talk I will be giving on the thematic significance of card playing in Jane Austen’s novels.

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Burns on December (and Austen on Burns)

In “Thou Gloomy December,” Burns mourns a sad parting. While I enjoy Burns, I also enjoy Austen’s satiric takedown of the poet in “Sanditon.”

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Austen’s Revolutionary Style

Austen may have innovated a way to blend satire with romance as a way to protect us from heartbreak.

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History’s Arc Bends Towards Kafka

The late Kundera has fascinating insights into how the novel has intersected with history.

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Libby Changes the Way We Read

Listening to Libby books on my cellphone has opened up a new dimension of engaging with novels.

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Good Company, Rich Conversations

As we visit with old friends in Slovenia, I think of how Jane Austen’s Anne Elliot values “good company.”

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