The Genius of Jane Austen - by Paula Byrne (Paperback)

About the Book

Jane Austen loved the theatre. She learned much of her art from a long tradition of English comic drama and took joyous participation in amateur theatricals and her visits to the theatre in London and Bath. Her juvenilia, then 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Mansfield Park' and 'Emma' were shaped by the arts of theatrical comedy. Her admiration for drama's dialogue, characterisation, plotting, exits and entrances is why she has been dramatised so successfully on screen in the last twenty years -- and these versions are at the centre of her continuing fame, culminating in her celebration on ¹10 note. From the stage adaptations of Austen's novels to modern classics, including the BBC 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Persuasion', Emma Thompson's 'Sense and Sensibility', and the phenomenally brilliant and successful 'Clueless', 'The Comic Muse' presents an Austen not of prim manners and genteel calm, but filled with wild comedy and outrageous behaviour.

Book Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, this updated edition of Paula Byrne's debut book includes new material that explores the history of Austen stage adaptations, why her books work so well on screen, and what that reveals about one of the world's most beloved authors.

Originally published by Bloomsbury Academic in 2003 as Jane Austen and the Theatre, Paula Byrne's first book was never made widely available in the US and is out of print today. An exploration of Austen's passion for the stage--she acted in amateur productions, frequently attended the theatre, and even scripted several early works in play form--it took a nuanced look at how powerfully her stories were influenced by theatrical comedy.

This updated edition features an introduction and a brand new chapter that delves into the long and lucrative history of Austen adaptations. The film world's love affair with Austen spans decades, from A.A. Milne's "Elizabeth Bennet," performed over the radio in 1944 to raise morale, to this year's Love and Friendship. Austen's work has proven so abidingly popular that these movies are more easily identifiable by lead actor than by title: the Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibility, the Carey Mulligan Northanger Abbey, the Laurence Olivier Pride and Prejudice. Byrne even takes a captivating detour into a multitude of successful spin-offs, including the phenomenally brilliant Clueless. And along the way, she overturns the notion of Jane Austen as a genteel, prim country mouse, demonstrating that Jane's enduring popularity in film, TV, and theater points to a woman of wild comedy and outrageous behavior.

For lovers of everything Jane Austen, as well as for a new generation discovering her for the first time, The Genius of Jane Austen demonstrates why this beloved author still resonates with readers and movie audiences today.

Review Quotes

"Byrne presents an Austen immersed in her time's popular entertainment...any Austen devotee should appreciate the thorough analysis of the novels and the crediting of previously overlooked influences." -- Publishers Weekly

"Paula Byrne's THE GENIUS OF JANE AUSTEN gives us the most insightful analysis of the making of the Austen legacy. Byrne's investigation into Austen's enjoyment of plays...gives us real insight into how Austen learned to focus her material, make it amusing and give it critical punch...Byrne demonstrates her own ample knowledge of the history of the English theater. The illustrations she has included are colorful and instructive...Thanks to Paula Byrne, I now readily see that the amusement Austen is giving me (and herself) was inspired by plays Austen knew well and techniques she saw on the stage." -- Jane Smiley, New York Times Book Review