Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life On Love, Friendship, and Becoming the Person God Created You to Be by Haley Stewart

Haley Stewart mentions a story by Flannery O'Connor, an old woman turns to goodness just before a serial murderer kills her. Jane Austen's heroines don't wait until they are dying to start striving for virtue! We can see in almost all of them, and in all of her books, the interior struggle between goodness and vice. The author brilliantly analyses each heroine and novel from a uniquely Catholic persective, and inspires readers to turn back to reading Jane Austen again.

Here are Elizabeth, witty and charming but prejudiced, wealthy Emma with every advantage, but selfish, and Marianne, over-emotional and lacking in temperance. They must each discover their flaws, and 'wake up' in the course of the novels. Fanny and Anne, on the other hand, exemplify certain values, but the heroes of Mansfield Park and Persuasion have to learn to be better people.

Jane Austen is one of my favourite writers, and it is fascinating to think of her as a 'life coach', and see these valuable insights into her work. Haley Stewart also discusses such eminent writers as C.S. Lewis and Alasdair MacIntyre to show how Jane Austen writes about the struggle to be good. This is a lovely book for any Jane Austen fan.

EDITION    Paperback

ISBN           9781646801398

PRICE        $16.95 (USD)