Started: Nov. 3
Finished: Nov. 9
Pages: 318
This novel features my least-favorite "historical novel" trap: it makes its characters and their attitudes modern. I know, I know. These books are written to entertain. They're written to appeal to a contemporary audience. And *of course* they're written to sell. So what do I expect from a novel that features Jane Austen as the detective?
Sigh. I know, I know. If I pick up a piece of trash at the library, I get what I deserve. But I refuse to forfeit my right to complain about getting exactly what I ought to have expected..... :-)
I have always believed that Jane Austen had a certain modern attitude, which allowed her to write about the culture and mores of her day with such light irony and wit and a bit of a distance. The urge of the writer to recreate her as a modern character must have been overwhelming.
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