Saturday 19 November 2011

JANE AUSTEN'S LETTERS - FOURTH EDITION BY DEIRDRE LE FAYE - PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK AND GIVEAWAY


“Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings,” said Jane Austen.  And yet, the unfolding of these nothings is what makes up the amazing stories of our lives, whether they are the lives of characters in books, or the lives of writers. Few writers are as revered, emulated, and beloved as JaneAusten, her novels holding a secure place in the cannon of English literature. Now, at the bicentennial anniversary of the publication of Sense and SensibilityAusten’s first novel in print—comes an intimate look into the life of Jane Austen in her own words in JANE AUSTEN’S LETTERSFourth Edition(Oxford | December 2011), edited by Deirdre Le Faye.

In these letters—mostly addressed to members of her family, and the majority of those to her sister, Cassandra—Austen shares her personal insight into contemporary events and places in her own turn of phrase. Her observations serve to further our understanding of life in that time, and in so doing, we learn some of her own secrets. Most significantly, the gossip, witty social commentary, humor, and voice found in Austen’s letters echo unmistakably in such novels as Northanger AbbeyEmma, andPride and Prejudice.


The fourth edition of JANE AUSTEN’S LETTERS also includes:

·       A new insightful preface by Le Faye
·       Reorganization of the letters into their correct chronological sequence
·       Complete annotations for each letter as well as a list of the physical details of the manuscripts
·       Updated and enhanced biographical and topographical indexes and a new subject index
·       Added notes to the general index

Scholars, students, and fans of Jane Austen will relish in this exposure of the novelist’s life as she experienced it. Le Faye’s updates in JANE AUSTEN’S LETTERSFourth Edition greatly enhance our understanding of the life and times of one of the most popular writers of all time.


About the Author:

Deirdre Le Faye, now retired, worked for many years in the Department of Medieval & Later Antiquities at the British Museum. She started researching the life and times of Jane Austen and her family in the 1970s, and since then has written several books about them, the latest being A Chronology of Jane Austen and her Family 1600-2000, as well as numerous articles in literary journals.


JANE AUSTEN’S LETTERSFourth Edition
edited by Deirdre Le Faye, will be published by Oxford in hardcover on December 15, 2011
($45.00 ׀ 688 pages ׀ ISBN: 9780199576074).

DOUBLE GIVEAWAY 

Oxford University Press has kindly granted the readers of My Jane Austen Book Club 2 copies of this precious book. Unfortunately this giveaway is limited to US and Canada readers only. Please leave a comment to enter the contest and don't forget to add your e-mail address. Winners will be announced on November 30th.

28 comments:

Linda said...

I love reading letters; this book sounds like one to keep on the night stand and dip into. Love the cover, also. Thanks for the giveaway.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

i would absolutely love to win this book!!!! thanks so much!

Literary Chanteuse said...

I love books with letters. It always seems so personal and real insight to someones mind and heart. Thank you for the giveaway!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Kelli H. said...

I would love to win this book! This collection of Jane Austen's letters sounds wonderful! I love the cover! Thanks for the giveaway!

kellik115@yahoo.com

Sophia Rose said...

This sounds like a great source to learn more about Jane Austen's life. I was struck that you pointed out that the letters were 'in order' in this volume.

Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

sophiarose1816@gmail.com

editorStet said...

Oh, how I love Austen. I've had the pleasure of editing some of the P&P continuations published by Sourcebooks, and working on them has turned that love into a full-fledged obsession. I would love this book! Thanks for the contest!

gretchen(at)cogitatestudios(dot)com

Diana Birchall said...

I'd love to win the new edition! Fingers crossed.

cyn209 said...

this is a fantastic giveaway!! thank you!!

cyn209(AT)juno(DOT)com

Kelda said...

This book sounds just fabulous .Something to look forward to !

Debra Brown said...

What a great giveaway! Please enter my name.

kescah at gmail dot com

marilyn said...

This book would be such a scholarly addition to my JA library. Thank you for the giveaway!

marilyn
daniel423@centurytel.net

Margay Leah Justice said...

I am so totally fascinated by Jane Austen - I would love to read this book.

Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Joanne Angelina said...

I would so love to win this, it seems like such a wonderful read, being a huge Jane Austen fan.

thepainterstudio@hotmail.com

kirk c said...

I would love to win this one. Thanks for a great giveaway!

rearadmiral00@gmail.com

Annette said...

Thank you so much for the opportunity!

bellevieanne@gmail.com

Annette

Rebecca (RivkaBelle) said...

This sounds like a great resource! Wonderful giveaway! :oD

quarterback.girl[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I am such an Austen fan. Would love to have this book for my library!
Thanks for the contest :o)

Mary
ilovalab@yahoo.com

~Brandy~ said...

I did my undergraduate thesis on Jane Austen. I love anything and everything Austen and would especially enjoy adding "Jane Austen's Letters" to my collection.

blr098@hotmail.com

loveforbooks said...

This book sounds great! kraftyhorselover@hotmail.com

Vinci said...

As a fan of Jane, very excited to know
about this book. Sound interesting
and thanks for this amazing giveaway.
also for the link.
follow your blog by gfc as dayleb
dayleb at telus dot net

Marcie said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I'm a huge Jane Austen fan and would love to read this book. marcie(dot)turner(at)yahoo(dot)com

Pabkins said...

Oh deary deary me - do sign me up!
tlabunski ((**gmail))**

Unknown said...

Thanks for the giveaway! This looks interesting!

thebookishmama at gmail dot com

Heather M. said...

I've read other Austen related books by Le Faye and she really knows her stuff. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

hmoll(at)nycap)dot)rr(dot)come

Unknown said...

What a wonderful giveaway!! Thank you for the chance!

cait(dot)lore(at)gmail(dot)com

phastings said...

One of my favorite Jane Austen quotes is: "What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."
Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Jane Austen's Letters.

pamo321(at)comcast(dot)net

Barbara Plakans said...

I've read everything Jane Austen has written except her letters. So I can't pass up this chance at a copy of the latest edition from the eminent Deirdre Le Faye. Thanks for the opportunity and for this blog, which is first class. Barbara

Laura Hartness said...

I haven't read Jane's letters yet-- this would be a great addition to my collection. Thanks for the chance to win!

Laura Hartness
CalicoCritic at gmail dot com