Audiobook Review: The Life and Works of Jane Austen by Devoney Looser

Narrated by: Devoney Looser
Publisher: Audible Audio
Genre: Non-Fiction – Literature
Format: Audiobook
Release Date: January 29th, 2021
Goodreads

Rating: 5/5 Stars

I really like The Great Courses series. These lectures are entertaining and informative, and I definitely think I’ll continue to check them out. I especially liked Looser in this one, who had a really clear and interesting delivery that kept me absolutely hooked as she took us through Austen’s life and influences.

What I liked about this was how Looser uses Austen’s work – and not just the novels! – to also look at the world Jane Austen lived in, giving context and information about the Regency era and the society Austen would have moved in. She examines health and medicine, romance, and the structures of society and shows how these are reflected in the works of Austen herself, and how these give a really excellent insight into life during this fascinating century.

This course isn’t just for ‘diehard’ Austen fans either – Looser gives a great summary of each book, so if like me you’ve only read a few of Austen’s work, it’s not a barrier to this at all. And as someone who disliked Emma but loved Pride and Prejudice, it actually makes me want to try and read Emma again, outside of needing to do so for school, as well as Austen’s other works that I haven’t got around to yet.

If you have even the slightest interest in Jane Austen and/or the historical era she lived in, I definitely think The Great Courses’ lecture series The Life and Works of Jane Austen is a great way to dive deeper.

Reading Challenge
The Disney Reading Challenge
Prompt: The Sword in the Stone – King Arthur – a book that mentions a historical figure
Progress: 10/40 Completed