Jane Austen is considered to be one of giants of English literature. Millions of high school and college students have had to read one of her books -- usually Pride and Prejudice. I must say, her books are not my cup of tea. But I thought reading this particular book, a biography about her, would be a better choice. Unfortunately I can't say it was.

Jane Austen by Peter J. Leithart is meant to present a more rounded picture of Jane. But as I went through, I didn't get that sense. It just seemd to me that Leithart did what so many authors in the past have done: pigeon-hole her into a certain image. Leithart chooses to view her through her child like joy and spiritedness. That rankles with me, because it smacks of male patronization. It's almost like a condescending pat on her head.

It's clear that Leithart is a huge Jane Austen fan. It's also clear that I am not, at least when it comes to reading her works or biographies about her. I rather watch a documentary about her or see a movie version of her books. They are more interesting to me.

If you're a Jane Austen fan, this will be up your alley...if not, bypass it.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

An overview of the life of the author with some interesting context and insights about her relationships with family and others. The process and commitment made by Austen, who was determined to be a published author, offered an additional layer of understanding of her character and ambition.

DNF. This begins with the following premise:

“Austen has become what she never was in life, what she would have been horrified to be: a literary celebrity.”

Why the assumption Jane be horrified to be a literary celebrity? She wanted to earn money for her work and even laughingly resented Walter Scott’s shift from poetry to novels because he was more competition for her. There were literary celebrities who were her contemporaries, so what in her letters and novels indicate she wouldn’t have wanted that success?

“The current obsession with everything Austen might be taken as a form of dementia.”

What? Dementia? A love of Austen means you have a progressive loss of intellectual functioning? Geez, just let people enjoy things.

The attempt to shoehorn her Christian faith into the forefront of her life and work felt disingenuous. And the author kept calling her Jenny because of ONE letter her father wrote calling her that when she was born.

Cannot recommend as an intro to Austen or to diehard Austen fans…who apparently are suffering from dementia.