The Language of Jane Austen (Palgrave Studies in Language, Literature and Style)

Joe Bray’s careful analysis of Jane Austen’s stylistic techniques reveals that the genius of her writing is far from effortless; rather he makes the case for her as a meticulous craftswoman and a radical stylistic pioneer. Countering those who have detected in her novels a dominant, authoritative perspective, Bray begins by highlighting the complex, ever-shifting and ambiguous nature of the point of view through which her narratives are presented. This argument is then advanced through an exploration of the subtle representation of speech, thought and writing in Austen’s novels. Subsequent chapters investigate and challenge the common critical associations of Austen’s style with moral prescriptivism, ideas of balance and harmony, and literal as opposed to figurative expression. The book demonstrates that the wit and humour of her fiction is derived instead from a complex and subtle interplay between different styles. This compelling reassessment of Austen’s language will offer a valuable resource for students and scholars of stylistics, English literature and language and linguistics. -- ‡c From back cover For much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the prevailing critical view was that Jane Austen has no discernible style; that as a result of her genius, her writing is simply effortless. The most influential proponent of this view was her most respected editor, R. W. Chapman, who doubted whether she "was conscious of having a style of her own. Outside her dialogue it is not highly individual; it is just the ordinary correct English that [...] 'everyone now writes'." In recent years, however, this claim has been comprehensively challenged. Editors and critics have shown, often using evidence from the surviving manuscripts, that Austen in fact honed her writing diligently, continuously making small yet significant revisions to her work.