Jane's Legacy













"Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery." Jane Austen

While I spent the weekend and subsequent days at Bonnie's, we went to see Becoming Jane. I'm a decided Jane Austen fan, though not rabid about it. Becoming Jane was rather heart-breaking, and I was glad to learn later that the evidence of the cruelly dashed romance between Austen and Lefroy was not significant.

Meanwhile, thinking of her life, I had to reflect upon her early death. She died at 41 after having written 6 novels. Those stories have gone on to inspire countless books, movies, societies, museums, stage plays, and the admiration of millions. Charlotte Bronte and Mark Twain were quite critical of her work, but I find I can love it without guilt. If characters are put through their trials and tribulations, they usually deserve a happy ending. While I can sometimes enjoy a novel where things are dark and scary or dreary, as an author, I am usually with Jane. Let others dwell in the darkness, I prefer the light. It seems I am not the only one.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I don't favor Jane. However, she squeezed the language around her characters tighter than any boa constrictor ever did, wrapped them tight until the only undeniable thing left was the psychological truth bursting forth.

The stories may not be of my liking, but the writing is an education in of itself.

-Leonard (still kicking)
Kimberly Frost said…
Dear Leonard,

Fair enough. :) And glad to see you're still kicking.

I just finished a book where Jane Austen is the sleuth. A mystery by Stephanie Barron called: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor. It was clever, but I'm definitely ready for something contemporary next.

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