A Rambling Fancy: In the Footsteps of Jane Austen

For those who love Jane Austen this is the book to read. A delightful trip through some of the areas she herself walked, and lived. The author blends the novels and characters into the historical settings with grace and wit. I thoroughly enjoyed the rambling! In fact, it has inspired me to save up for a trip to travel along the same paths. What fun.

Found the enthusiasm of the author and guide contagious. Well referenced, and fulfills the desire to see, and learn of the locations which inspired our beloved Ms. Austen. Jane Austen fans, will enjoy!

I read this while in England. It is just one woman's opinion and reactions to various places that Jane Austen knew or wrote about. The author revisits these places herself and writes about how they are now. To me, the best part was what she wrote about the bedrooms in Chawton (Jane Austen's home) - I hadn't known there had been work done since my last visit. Her descriptions motivated me to return to Chawton. I'd say this book is not a valuable addition to the Austen-lover's library but it is of some interest to the dedicated fan. Some of her descriptions were sufficient; I no longer felt I had to visit those places myself. She does a fair amount of extra digging and research that enhances her visits and takes them beyond what I would be able to get out of going to the same places. Steventon is a place in point, as nothing of the original house remains except a pump in a field. The author went to a lot of trouble to find out what had been there when Austen was growing up. The worst part of the book for me was the misuse of a quote about Wickham, which the author used to state that Wickham used to go to Bath when he regretted his marriage to Lydia and needed more excitement. The actual quote merely said, "Lydia was occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath..."