Jane Austen For Dummies by Joan Elizabeth Klingel Ray, Joan Klingel Ray

Jane Austen for All
A Janeite, A reviewer, 05/10/2007

A highly recommended book both for readers who are discovering Austen’s novels for the first time and for those of us who have read them many times—as well as for readers who are somewhere in-between these two categories! The author, Joan Klingel Ray, is a respected and popular English professor and is also a three-term former president of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Ray has delighted and instructed students and many other audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada with her lectures on Austen’s works. She has written Jane Austen for Dummies in a light-hearted and lively style, but her entertaining volume is based on extensive knowledge and scholarship. Fans of film versions of Austen’s novels would also enjoy Ray’s book. For all of us, it adds to our understanding of Jane Austen’s life and times and her wonderful books.

A reviewer
Suzanne, a high school literature teacher, 03/31/2007

Jane Austen for Dummies is a perfect addition to the library of any Janeite. In many ways, it offers a cultural history of the Georgian/Regency period, allowing a firm grounding for a more complete enjoyment and appreciation of Austen's works. The author, a college professor, shows her love of learning and teaching -- it is an approachable, easy-to-read book for all fans of Austen, whether new or old.

A great reference for ALL of Austen's Novels!
Joanne Profitt, an educated Austen lover!, 03/25/2007

Compared to the other books designed to help you understand ONE Austen novel, this one, by an established Austenscholar, is understandable, humorous, non-stodgy, and complete and helps with ALL of Austen's novels. A+++++++ to Professor Ray!

Also recommended: Pride and Prejudice, edited By Pat Rogers

Becoming a Regency Reader
Cheryl K., A reviewer, 03/04/2007

Ever wonder how much of the story or the 'joke' you are missing out on in a Jane Austen novel? Professor Joan Klingel Ray's 'Jane Austen for Dummies' will give you every advantage that a Regency reader would have had when they first read Jane Austen's works. Dr. Ray clearly and concisely explains the nuances of life in Jane Austen's time and allows the modern reader to enjoy the novels even more. Well done!

Also recommended: The new Cambridge editions of 'Emma', 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Persuasion'. Haven't had time to read the others yet.

A Must-Read for Austen Fans
Pen and Quill, A reviewer, 02/18/2007

Jane Austen for Dummies is a tribute to that marvelous author and a must-read for any Austen fan, new or seasoned. Joan Klingel Ray's writing is crisp, clear and humorous, and often as page-turning as the subject's works themselves. Jane Austen, the woman, the writer and the wit comes to life and we are treated to an inside look at the culture and times that shaped her. No matter how many of JA's books you have read, and no matter how many times you've read them, Jane Austen for Dummies will contribute to your pleasure and your understanding.