Although Jane Austen holds a secure place in both academic and popular culture, she is still sometimes misunderstood–seen as a quiet, retiring spinster rather than as the bold, pioneering artist she was.
In her new book Wild for Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive, and Untamed Jane, Devoney Looser, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University, draws on Austen’s work, legacy, and family history to argue that Austen was far wilder than we’ve realized. Looser uncovers links between Austen’s family and the abolitionist movement, describes film adaptations that never made it to the screen, and details Austen’s brief acquaintance with a French spy.
Looser will discuss her book at the next JASNA-NJ meeting—a free in-person event co-sponsored by the Princeton Public Library. Her talk will take place at the library, 65 Witherspoon Street in Princeton, New Jersey, at 3 pm on December 7. The library encourages (but does not require) pre-registration for planning purposes.
As an extra incentive, cake will be served after Looser’s talk, in honor of Jane Austen’s upcoming 250th birthday.
Looser is the author or editor of twelve previous books, including The Making of Jane Austen (2017) and Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters, Who Paved the Way for Austen and the Brontës (2022).
Jane Austen Society of North America - New Jersey Region 