The Making of Jane Austen

Whether you’re a devoted Janeite or simply Jane-curious, The Making of Jane Austen will have you thinking about how a literary icon is made, transformed, and handed down from generation to generation.

“Energetic and revealing.”—Jane Smiley, New York Times Book Review

“Timely and authoritative.”—Times Literary Supplement

“Austen fans have another book to add to their libraries.”—Publishers Weekly

“A studious and sensible book, driven by a commitment to shedding light on Austen’s work and context.”—Times Higher Education

“The Making of Jane Austen lovingly unveils Austen’s posthumous journey to become a permanent fixture in classic English literature.”—Foreword Reviews

“An informative and delightful read for literary lovers who want to learn more about one of the most celebrated authors of all time, The Making of Jane Austen puts the famed novelist in a whole new light.”—Bustle

“Written with wit and in pleasing yet learned prose, the book bridges well the gap between academic and popular writing.”—Choice

“The Making of Jane Austen is both an essential, rigorously researched text for serious Austen scholars and an irresistibly lively reading experience for even the most newly initiated of Janeites.”—Romantic Circles

“The story of how Jane Austen became, in Looser’s words, ‘Jane! Austen!’, is a meandering tale with unlikely participants, unexpected twists, and a great deal of humour.”—Jane Austen Society of Australia

“The Making of Jane Austen . . . will be remembered as a book of the decade in Austen scholarship.”—JASNA News

“Devoney Looser tells us as much about what we want and need from our literary celebrities as [she] does about ‘Aunt Jane’ herself.”—Review 19