3.5ish stars

This book was an informative source of insight into Jane Austen’s life, family, and career, so in that sense, it was a success. That being said, I really didn’t love it. The writing style was a bit dry, and I wasn’t a big fan of much of the way the writer characterized Austen, including his insistence on referring to her as “Jenny” at several points in the text. As much as I wanted to learn more about her, I didn’t really feel that the book told any kind of cohesive or engaging story, so I wasn’t terribly invested in the narrative itself. I don’t regret reading it, but I suspect others have written similar books that I would appreciate much more.

This was a very intriguing biography of Jane Austen. I like how it had a Christian focused and how she was a Christian writer. This biography was very short and a bit dry at times! Still, I recommend this for anyone interested in Jane Austen and her novels!

Loved this book. So interesting and well written. It is probably one of my favourite ones about Jane Austen up until now. There were even one or two things that were new to me.

I’ve read a lot of Jane Austen biographies as she is one of my favorite authors, and I have to say this was one of the hardest for me to get through. I understand that this was originally published as a non-book, but boy is it dry. I struggled to find a connection to the Jane I’ve come to know and love and didn’t find any information that I wasn’t already aware of. Most of the book was a regurgitation of already published works and the rest was speculative. Overall, not a great Jane biography and not one I would recommend.

Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity is a reissue of Jane Austen from the Christian Encounters series. This is worth noting because it gives insight into the perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

ane Austen is famous for such books as Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma. Now learn about the author’s journey through a life spent making up stories that touched the lives of millions.

Jane Austen is now what she never was in life, and what she would have been horrified to become--a literary celebrity. “Janeia” is the author’s term for the mania for all things Austen. Dive into Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity and discover:

how it all began and Austen’s love of poetry
her early masterpieces and the inspiration behind the stories
her road to getting published and the health decline that led to her death
In this updated edition, you’ll also find discussion questions that work well for book clubs and ELA lesson plans. This biography is perfect for:

Jane Austen fans and collectors
men and women who have enjoyed Austen-inspired films and TV series adaptations
anyone interested in learning about the varied sides of Austen’s character and the characters she created
Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity is a fascinating look at a woman who never meant to be famous.

I wasn't able to review this book, as it was archived before I could download it.

Although my favourite biography of Jane is by Park Honan, this was a lovely one which emphasizes her Christianity, and her humanity. As well as discussing Jane's life and relationships, Leithart gives a mostly spot-on analysis of her writing, and he also gives priority to her playfulness. He also writes about her romances, and her superior knowledge of people.

He appears to be almost a bit sneery at times, however, about Jane's writing about ordinary life, and her 'ignoring' the wars, and politics. He even seems to think this about Mansfield Park, disregarding Jane's being an abolitionist, and slavery being a fairly obvious feature of the novel if you look at it closely? The navy also plays a huge part in this book, and in Persuasion.

I also think that Leithart makes some statements without providing much, or indeed any evidence. For example, he writes that 'prior to the eighteenth century, many Church of England clergymen were little more than peasants...'. I am not sure about this! There is no footnote here, and I am not sure where the evidence for this opinion comes from. I have read about many Anglican clergymen who lived before the eighteenth century, who were extremely well-educated, and nothing like peasants! John Donne, anyone?

He also criticises Jane's education, and states that she doesn't reference Shakespeare in her novels. However, there are plenty of high-brow literary references in Austen's novels. As he states, her father had an extensive library, and Jane was extremely well-read.

I would read more books by Leithart, but watch out for statements like this.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

<i>Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity</i> is a delightful biography of an author who has proven herself worthy of much praise and research. This book is an excellent dive into her life and works, and I emerged from its pages knowing a great deal more about Jane (or Jenny, as the author occasionally calls her) than I did before. It also inspired me to buy a few collections of her letters, which I look forward to reading. And I think that's what good books do: they lead one to further exploration and reflection. Just like Austen's six classic novels do.

Jane Austen's life, from the 21st century's perspective, would appear rather bland and uninteresting, but there is much to be learned from her peaceful and pious life. Her sarcasm, wit, and style came from somewhere, after all.

There were two things about this book I wasn't particularly fond of, and the first might have been corrected later in the publication process, as I was reading an ARC. Two spots mistook character names, nothing major. And the second thing was merely a critique of the first third of the novel, which dragged a bit more than the rest. Perhaps it was just my mindset was wrong - I will probably return to this biography again to revive my recollection someday.

All in all, if you are at all interested in Jane Austen, I would definitely recommend this book. It's a great biography. Peter Leithart's other book on Austen, <i>Miniatures and Morals</i>, is also excellent and dives in to each of her books on a deeper level than this one.

<i>At her best, Jane Austen wrote out of laughter. Her art came from the impish glee of a precocious teenager amused by the follies of the world around her, wanting to get us in on the joke. Her final voice is modulated, deepened, but it is still the voice of the <i>juvenilia</i>, the joyous voice of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, the voice of the narrator in <i>Emma</i> and of the comic passage in the unfinished <i>Sanditon</i>. It is the playful voice whose resonance is enriched by the piety that is always in, with, and under it. It is the voice of the supremely talented, supremely meticulous writer who lived and died as Jenny, whose greatness as a woman and as an artist is the greatness of one who became, and remained, a little child.</I> || quote from an unfinished ARC, possibly not the same as in the final published edition

I found this book so disappointing that I didn't finish it. I Googled the author and found out he doesn't appear to have any background in Austen, so i felt I might have been fooled into committing to read it. Then I re-read the blurb provided by NetGalley (presumably supplied by the publisher). It doesn't describe the book at all. It describes a concise biography of Jane Austen, not the crude pastiche of unsupported claims and passages from other scholars' work. The other scholars were footnoted. Leithart's assertions were apparently opinions.

I disagree with the author's high-handed dismissal of all film adaptations of Austen's novels. He claims that "the camera can record only surfaces, but the whole point of an Austin novel is to record the ironic discrepancies between surface and reality, to expose social masks as masks." He must be dozing in front of the movies with the sound off. Of course, the many words Austen writes are not captured on film, just like every movie based on a book, but the films provide enjoyable entertainment for people who have read the books and those who simply like the costumes and the drawing rooms. That's okay with me.

He also doesn't like Janeites, who "stomp through Jane's various homes…"

He indicates that the closest JA got to discussing a topical issue was the discussion of the role of a pastor in Mansfield Park. Curiously, at that point he doesn't mention the role of the enslaved people working on the plantations in the West Indies in supporting the rich lifestyle of the Bertrams even though that is explicitly brought up by Fanny Price in the novel. He does allude to it later.

I don't disagree with his characterization of the Jane Austen industry. I notice it with amusement, where he scorns it. The comparison of Austen fandom to a religion misses the mark on my opinion though others may differ. This book, to me, is an example of trying to capitalize on this exact trend.

The author uses the device of arguing both sides of a statement, for example, whether Jane was well educated or not, but I found these passages awkward, for instance, when to make the point she didn't refer to Homer, Athanasius or Shakespeare, he compares her to Joyce. ??

He asserts that the best marriages in Austen are "marriages of minds and temperament… Compare Austen to the latest "chick flick" and the difference is apparent in an instant." He gives no support to this assumption, we don't know which, if any, "chick flicks' he has deigned to watch, so what was that? A swipe at what he considers lowbrow or unchristain?

I am far from an expert in Austen but on page 65 the name Frank Churchill is incorrect. He's not in MP. Also on p 69 he says Thomas Elliot but I think he means Walter.

Starting on p 67 with the subtitle Johnson's Daughter, the points become incoherent as he tries to make a pointless argument that for Jane, manners were moral, with examples only half-described. Um, I think manners are moral for everyone.

I skimmed a few more pages, curious about the religious angle, and didn't find it inspiring. I don't argue that Jane was a Christian, and even penned some prayers, but he states things like: she went to church and was a godmother, to prove his point, not acknowledging that this is only evidence of orthopraxy. I'm done.

Peter J. Leithart, Jane Austen A Literary Celebrity,
Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson Aug 2022.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Peter J. Leithart’s biography of Jane Austen is a charming story, replete with a feel for family and Jane’s place in it, as well as ensuring that her contribution to the world is fully acknowledged. Leithart gives the public Jane Austen another persona when he refers to her as Jenny, the name by which she was known as a member of her close family. In most cases ‘Jenny’ is used well as it is tied to Jane Austen’s younger images. However, the motif works less well on occasions. Sometimes the link was not so well made, and the move between Jane and Jenny was frustrating. However, this is a small quibble with an otherwise comfortable and engrossing read.
The first chapter provides a wealth of information about the way in which Jane Austen’s novels have stood not only the test of time, but their interpretation in television and film versions. Descriptions of how these versions deviated from the originals, while maintaining the flavour of Austen’s work, are knowledgeable, detailed and informative. Anyone studying the way in which Austen has been acknowledged through the film and television world has a huge amount of information at their fingertips.

Even more engrossing is the way in which Leithart has given so much space to the various prequels, sequels, and modernisations which have contributed to Jane Austen’s place in current literature. Having just read Alice McVeigh’s Harriet (too recent to be mentioned in this book) and several other of the examples he uses, I was thrilled to see how the universal ideas in Austen’s works have been used in modern contexts; rewritten to give shadowy characters more presence; or taken a different aspect of the main character and developed that contrary to Austen’s original vision.

Added insights to the novels and characters are those associated with the family, and their desire to know more about the figures in the published work. Austen’s responses tell us more about her ideas and her approach to character development and plot. The books end where they should, but there is something more to know. In some cases, this is supplied by Austen in response to her family’s speculations and requests; in others by new authors, film makers and television writers who also want the characters and plots to thrive.

Leithart says that he wishes to ‘capture the varied sides of Austen’s character’ and this he does with sensitivity and recognition that her Christianity is not the whole of this enticing character and writer. It is clear from her written work that she was indeed sharp, playful, enjoyed satire, was unlikely to withdraw from veiled and unveiled criticism of human failures in her development of her characters. Leithart draws upon her letters, published writing, family reminiscences and his own ability to discern underlying the motivations and ideas that permeate Austen’s life and her work. As a follow up to this enticingly thoughtful biography, Leithart adds notes for each chapter and useful appendices. One appendix describes Austen’s family, friends, and neighbours; and a second, the characters in Austen’s novels.

Leithart’s biography of Jane Austen is fun to read, while providing a well-balanced and engrossing look at this singular author.

I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author.

This biography of Jane Austen was the first I've read. I am a fan of Jane Austen and I find that this author is as well. He describes her life in a way I think she would have appreciated and made sure to elaborate on just how funny, perceptive, and human she really was. I was truly expecting more religious proselytizing, considering this author does primarily write religious books and is a minister, but I think he said it all when describing Jane as a person who never found forcing religion on others to be an effective way to get them to listen. The light touch of Christianity in this biography was appreciated.

A few weird things stood out to me, most notably the disdain for modern screen adaptations and books like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" or "Becoming Jane", which I felt was rather unnecessary to further the narrative of the biography. These kinds of extensions/adaptations of Austen's work are all in good fun, and I don't think they take away anything from the stunning prose Austen has gifted us.

Overall, this biography was a solid 3.5/5 for me.

Jane Austen
A Literary Celebrity
by Peter J. Leithart
Pub Date 30 Aug 2022 | Archive Date 31 Jan 2023
Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson
Biographies & Memoirs | Nonfiction



I am reviewing a copy of Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity through Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:



Jane Austen is now what she never was in life, and would have been horrified to become a literary celebrity. “Janeia” is the author’s term for the mania for all things Austen. Dive into Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity and discover:
how it all began and Austen’s love of poetry,her early masterpieces and the inspiration behind the stories,her road to getting published and the health decline that led to her death.



This updated edition of Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity, offers discussion questions that work well with book clubs and ELA lesson plans. This biography is perfect for: Jane Austen fans and collectors men and women who have enjoyed Austen-inspired films and TV series adaptations
anyone interested in learning about the varied sides of Austen’s character and the characters she created.


If you are looking for a deep delve into Jane’s Austen’s life this is not that, but it showcases how her legend has grown larger than life in the centuries following her death.


I give Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I wasn't aware, when I requested it, that it was a religion focused book. Not interested. For that reason, it wouldn't be fair for me to rate it. However, I'm forced to do it for the way netgalley works. I don't want to be unfair to the publisher and the author so I'm giving it 4 stars. Thank you for accepting my request.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this eARC for review. There were some typos and spacing issues (i.e. spaces missing between words) that I assume were part of the ebook format and a hazard of reading an eARC.

What I liked: It is a good overview of the life and works of Jane Austen. There is only so much you can cram into 192 pages. The end notes include her family and circle of acquaintance and a list of characters from her works. This is an updated version of the book that was published in 2010. It includes information about film and TV adaptations of her work that have come out since the original, including some things that are set to release after the publication date of this book. I think the cover is more attractive as well. I liked that the author relied heavily on letters written by Austen. It is a much more reliable way to determine her true feelings than trying to glean them from her fiction.

What I didn't like: The author frequently (and I mean A LOT) refers to her as "Jenny". I hate this. He means to imply that her childish self was always a part of her personality. I've read a lot of Jane Austen biography and criticism. Never once have I seen her referred to as Jenny. This really put me off.

The author made points about Austen's Christianity. Originally this book was part of a series called Christian Encounters. This edition does not carry that designation. I haven't read the original, but I'm guessing it contained more discussion of her beliefs.

As a lover of Jane Austen's work, it was very interesting to see this perspective on her life. Her stories live on in various forms and she does as well. This book provides some insight as to why that is.

I found this an easy to follow book on Jane Austen. It also taught me some things that I didn't previously know about Jane! I have read a few other books about Jane, but this one is not the same. It comes with a different perspective. I highly recommend this book!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I love learning more about Jane Austen. It was very interesting to get a peak into her everyday life and how it all played out for her. Most of this was taken from her letters to her best friend, Cassandra. I'm her number one fan, so any new info is welcome. Loved it!

Thank you so much to @Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy for an honest review.

The book "Jane Austen - A Literary Celebrity" by Peter J. Leithart is a easy to read biography of Jane Austen.
This book gives a very interesting perspective on Austen’s life, from a Christian perspective. Peter Leithart’s refeares at Jane Austen as “Jenny" - that was the first time when I found in a book about Jane Austen. For me Jane Austen is a big phenomenon, but if one refears at she as "Jenny", I find it disrespectful and it surely takes it greatness away.
Thank you to Netgalley and Nelson Books for my advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Nelson Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

As an Austenite, I was excited to see a new biography about Jane Austen. Much of my undergraduate work centered around Austen and I plan on centering a thesis partially around her work. One could say that I love Austen and one would be right. All of that said, I found this biography to be quite disrespectful to Austen and to her body of work.

Like many other dismissive academics, Leithart writes condescendingly and narrow-mindedly about Austen as well as fans of her work. He assumes a lot about her which is ironic considering he goes into her personal life, her relationships, who she was and yet, he completely misses the point about who Jane Austen was and who she is to fans and Austenites.

Even coming at this biography from an objective viewpoint, it's just not very well-written. It's a very run of the mill biography that offers nothing new or poignant to Austen scholarship. As an Austenite, I absolutely detested this. It was disrespectful, lazy, presumptuous, condescending, and dismissive.

I would not recommend this as any kind of introduction to Austen nor would I recommend it to anybody familiar with her work.

Also, he really tries to sell her as a Christian author which I don't even want to get into the laziness of THAT.

If I had known about the author's objective of casting Austen as a Christian author, I would not have requested this book. It felt forced and disingenuous to the max. I dislike biographies with these kinds of moral agendas.