December 16 will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen in 1775, whose novels have become so foundational that she is now often regarded in the same breath as Shakespeare. It would be difficult to imagine English literature without either one of them.
One of the world experts on Jane Austen is a professor right here at the University of Texas (in Austin, not Austen). Janine Barchas holds the prestigious title of Chancellor’s Council Centennial Professor in the Book Arts. Unlike her previous scholarly books on Austen, this one is actually a ‘graphic biography’ with illustrations by Isabel Greenberg, a London-based illustrator and associate lecturer at Camberwell College of Arts.
Their book reads like an elevated comic book, complete with dialogue balloons. Perhaps the most innovative book ever published on Austen, it is a sheer delight.
As the introduction states, the biography focuses on three extended periods: the early luxuries of Bath, the famous spa town west of London (1796-1797); her lean years living in Southampton (1801-1809); and the modest comforts of Chawton (1809-1817), a small place close to Winchester, SW of London. Austen, who only made it to 44 years, is buried in Winchester Cathedral.
Regarding the delightful graphics: they adopt a muted colour palette based on yellow and shades of blue and gray. Red and pink are used very sparingly. White is mostly used for faces, green for a few trees. It all works perfectly, exuding a calm sense that despite financial hardships Jane enjoyed a good life.
The text takes us through most of the highlights of Jane’s short life in a way that seems we are eavesdropping a real conversations she had with her sister Cassandra, who is her constant companion throughout.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. As an introduction to her life for those who know little about the author we celebrate this year, the book is an ideal portal, but even those who have read all her novels will find this a truly heart-warming homage to one of England’s greatest treasures: Miss Jane Austen.
[Barchas recently gave a talk on this publication at BookPeople in downtown Austin. BookPeople is Austin’s best source for new books. Visit their website www.BookPeople.com]
The Novel Life of Jane Austen: A Graphic Biography is by Black Dog & Leventhal publishers, an imprint of The Hachette Book Group. It lists for $28.
for another recent book review on Austen, read my article here:
Another new book about Jane Austen will be reviewed soon in SunNewsAustin.com