Jane Austen

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. " -Jane Austen

I've been on a Jane Austen kick lately. In the past few weeks I've listened to Emma, Mansfield Park, Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, and a Memoir of Jane Austen. Not to mention watching a few of the movies too.

Why do I like them so much you ask? I love the characters. Many of them are humorous, some are noble, a few are nasty, but most all of them have characteristics we see on a daily basis and can relate to. All of the stories include a young female as the main character. They are all set in England in the 1800's. I find the time period to be intriguing. So much emphasis is placed on rank, wealth, and connections. These were all more important in marriage then actual love. Marrying a cousin to keep the money in the family was common.

I enjoyed them all, but my favorite is Pride and Prejudice.

"Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us."
-Jane Austen