THE JANE AUSTEN HANDBOOK by MARGARET C. SULLIVAN - A REVIEW

If you plan to time travel to Regency as it happens to Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) in Lost in Austen or to Courtney Stone in Laurie Viera Rigler's Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict  , you'd better read this highly informative book,  THE JANE AUSTEN HANDBOOK by Margaret C. Sullivan,  before leaving. Especially the "How to Become an Accomplished Lady" section,  in which you are suggested a store of accomplishments of no practical use, therefore, quite attractive to gentlemen. Then, you can't miss the "How to Identify the Quality" or "How to ensure a Good Yearly Income" sections , where you learn to choose your company - and even your husband-to-be - according to birth, education, manners and rank as well as to ensure an income that will keep you in the common necessaries of life. 

Don't you plan to take a step from our frantic, highly technological 21st century? 

You'll find this handbook very useful , anyway, in order to escape  our crazy rhythms and consequent troubles,  at least: advice is provided as to decline an unwanted proposal, carry on a secret engagement (read "affair" nowadays ),  to get your "him" back after you have quarrelled, how to behave at a formal dinner party and so on.

Jokes apart, this lovely handbook is a must in any Janeite book collection. It must  be on your Austen shelf!  It is a precious object, cute and pretty to look at, but it is especially a witty, amusing way to have a glimpse into day-to-day life in Jane Austen's time. THE JANE AUSTEN HANDBOOK is perfect companion for fans of her novels and their film adaptations, complete with detail information on love among the social classes, currency, dress and nuances of graceful living.

Aren't you curious to spot all the hypochondriacs in Jane Austen's novels? Hilarious.To elope to Scotland? So adventurous! To learn all the secrets to be successful at an elegant Regency ball? Dreamy! Can't you find a way to get rid of unwanted guests? At last!  Just get hold of this little treasureable handbook and you'll be ready to cope with all that and to enjoy your Austenesque reads even more!

This is also a perfect gift for  a Janeite friend  or  a romantic young niece/daughter to incline toward Austen world, terrific for Mother's Day.

Long before Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Quirk Books published this guide to life in Regency England. It has been newly published with a revised cover  much to the delight of Austen fans everywhere. Margaret C. Sullivan is the editrix of Austenblog.com and an active member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Her favourite Austen novel is Persuasion.