Jane Austen's Bookshelf - The Women Writers who Shaped a Legend

'Everything a reader could desire: wit, passion, mystery, brilliant detective work, a love of rare books, a deep dive into literary history and, best of all, the restoration of reputation for a group of great women authors whose names should never have been forgotten' Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, LovePublishing to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth.It all started with a book that made me curious.When rare books dealer Rebecca Romney found an emerald clothbound edition of Evelina by Frances Burney, she was happy to discover that she'd stumbled across a novel by one of Jane Austen's favourite authors. Inspired by the connection between the two writers, she returned to Austen's books with a new lens, picking out clues sprinkled throughout her works that pointed to the writers she had admired.Austen read William Shakespeare, John Milton, Daniel Defoe, and Samuel Richardson, all authors Rebecca had read. But Austen also read Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Hannah More, Charlotte Smith, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth, all authors Romney hadn't. These female writers all sat proudly on Austen's bookshelf, but have disappeared from ours.Romney became fascinated with these writers and wanted to answer three important questions: What were the stories behind the lives of these women? Why have they disappeared from our bookshelves? Who wrote them out of history? She had a mission, an obligation: she needed to collect Jane Austen's bookshelf.

Product details

• Authors: Rebecca Romney, Romney Rebecca
• Publisher: Zaffre Bonnier
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 01.10.2025
• EAN: 9781785124136
• ISBN: 978-1-78512-413-6
• No. of pages: 455
• Dimensions: 129 mm x 198 mm x 31 mm
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Biographies, autobiographies; England, Wales, Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Literary Figures, LITERARY CRITICISM / General, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / Georgian Era (1714-1837), LITERARY CRITICISM / Women Authors, Literature: history & criticism, Social and cultural history, Literary studies: general, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Literature: history and criticism, Early 19th century c 1800 to c 1850, Literary companions, book reviews & guides, Later 18th century c 1750 to c 1799, Wales / Cymru