About Books & Literature: Spotlight on Jane Austen

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Mark Twain famously hated Jane Austen's writing. Hated it. Despised it with a fiery passion. Being an artful old coot, though, he made hilarity out of his loathing. Jane Austen - The Collected Works Mark Twain: "I haven't any right to criticise books, and I don't do it except when I hate them. I often want to criticise Jane Austen, but her books madden me so that I can't conceal my frenzy from the reader; and therefore I have to stop every time I begin. Everytime I read 'Pride and Prejudice' I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone." If you've never read Jane Austen before, check out our collection of E-Texts of her novels and see if you agree. Read More... Jane Austen Biography and Selected Quotes More Mark: "To me his prose is unreadable -- like Jane Austen's. No, there is a difference. I could read his prose on salary, but not Jane's. Jane is entirely impossible. It seems a great pity that they allowed her to die a natural death." A grumpily hilarious old codger, he was. Learn more about Jane Austen's life and work. Read More... Search Related Topics:  jane austen  women writers  english literature Jane Austen Quiz Even more Mark: "She makes me detest all her people, without reserve. Is that her intention? It is not believable. Then is it her purpose to make the reader detest her people up to the middle of the book and like them in the rest of the chapters? That could be. That would be high art. It would be worth while, too. Some day I will examine the other end of her books and see." Grumpy old Mr. Twain would never have passed this quiz, but maybe you can? Read More... Search Related Topics:  jane austen  literature quizzes  english literature Jane Austen Movies And a last one from Mark: "Jane Austen? Why I go so far as to say that any library is a good library that does not contain a volume by Jane Austen. Even if it contains no other book." Well, you big galoot, how about a movie, then? Here are some of the better adaptations of Austen's books onto the big screen. Read More... Search Related Topics:  jane austen  movies  books made into movies Related Searches Jane Austen Books Amazon Books Reading Books Fiction Books Authors Literature Featured Articles Robert Frost: 'The Mending Wall' Video Review: 'Both Flesh and Not' by David Foster Wallace Review: 'In the Shadow of the Banyan' by Vaddey Ratner Best Illustrated Books of 2012 Review: 'Every Never After' by Lesley Livingston Review: 'Water by the Spoonful' by Quiara Alegria Hudes   More from About.com The Perfect Engagement Ring How to find a gorgeous ring with a style and price that suit your needs. Read more...> Best U.S. Destinations Experts pick the top U.S. destinations for 2013 based on budget, special events, and more. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Even More Jane Austen 22 Facts About Jane Austen Review: 'Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict' Jane Austen Quotes Advertisement