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This volume of international research provides a wide-ranging account of Jane Austen''s reception across the length and breadth of Europe, from Russia and Finland in the North to Italy and Spain in the South. In historical terms, the survey ranges from the near-contemporary - since Austen''s novels were available in French very soon after their original publication - to modern times, in those countries which for various reasons, linguistic, historical or ideological, have taken up the novels only in recent years. For many, Austen''s novels are valued for their romantic content, as love stories, but increasingly they are being perceived as sophisticated, ironic narratives. In this, the quality of translation has been a significant factor and the many film and television adaptations have played an important part in establishing Austen''s reputation amongst the public across two centuries. It will be seen from this that across Europe Austen''s ''reception history'' is far from uniform and has been shaped by a complex of extra-literary forces.>
List of contents
Series Editor's Preface: Elinor Shaffer (University of London)
Acknowledgements
List of Contributors
Abbreviations
Timeline: European Reception of Jane Austen: Anthony Mandal (Cardiff University) and Paul Barnaby
Introduction: Anthony Mandal (Cardiff University)
1. The Reception of Jane Austen's Novels in France and Switzerland: The Early Years, 1813-1828: Isabelle Bour (University of Tours)
2. The Reception of Jane Austen in France: The Later Nineteenth Century, 1830-1900: Isabelle Bour (University of Tours)
3. The Reception of Jane Austen in France in the Modern Period, 1901-2004: Recognition at Last?: Isabelle Bour (University of Tours)
4. Going Dutch: The Reception of Jane Austen in the Low Countries: Maximiliaan van Woudenberg (Sheridan Institute of Technology)
5. The Reception of Jane Austen in Germany: Annika Bautz (University of Keele)
6. 'Unconditional Surrender'? Jane Austen's Reception in Denmark: Peter Mortensen (Aarhus University)
7. Jane Austen and Norway: Sharing the Long Road to Recognition: Marie Nedregotten Sørbø (Volda University College)
8. Jane Austen's Reception in Sweden: Irony as Criticism and Literary Value: Git Claesson Pipping (Södertörn University College) and Eleanor Wikborg (Stockholm University )
9. The Reception of Jane Austen in Finland: Ellen Valle (University of Turku)
10. Still the Great Forgotten? The Reception of Jane Austen in Spain: Aída Díaz Bild (University of La Laguna)
11. The Reception of Jane Austen in Italy: Beatrice Battaglia (University of Bologna)
12. The Reception of Jane Austen in Greece: Katerina Kitsi-Mitakou (Aristotle University, Thessaloniki) and Maria Vara (Aristotle University, Thessaloniki)
13. Jane Austen in Hungary: Nóra Séllei (University of Debrecen)
14. A Hidden but Prestigious Voice: Jane Austen's Fiction in Slovenia: Vanesa Matajc (University of Ljubljana)
15. Between Bath and Bosnia: Jane Austen and Croatian Culture: Tatjana Jukic (University of Zagreb)
16. Jane Austen in Serbia, 1929--2000: Svetozar Koljevic(University of Sarajevo)
17. Jane Austen: Persuading Romanian Readerships and Audiences: Mihaela Mudure (Babes-Bolyai University)
18. The Reception of Jane Austen in Poland: Grazyna Bystydzienska (University of Warsaw)
19. The Reception of Jane Austen in Russia: Catharine Nepomnyashchy (Columbia University)
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Anthony Mandal is Lecturer in English Literature at Cardiff University.
Brian Southam is former Chairman of the Jane Austen Society. Among his many books are the two volumes of Jane Austen: The Critical Heritage (1968, 1987).
Report
In the age of 'global' Jane Austen...the study of her reception around the world and through the ages is becoming of increasing interest to her readers. For this reason this collection of essays...is extremely timely...Each contribution stands on its own, enabling readers to delve into the history of Austen's increasing popularity in a particular country, while the exhaustive timeline, which charts the pan-European reception of Austen from 1775 to the present day (a stroke of genius), and the introduction by Professor Mandal provide the all-important overview of the vast subject matter of the book. As we approach the two hundredth anniversary of the foreign reception of Austen's peerless novels, we are fortunate to be able to welcome this fine new contribution to the important tradition of scholarship that explores and assesses the amazing phenomenon of Austen's enduring legacy and universal fame. Elisabeth Lenckos JASNA News: The Newsletter of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Winter 2008. Vol. 24 No. 3
