The World of Jane Austen

I actually read a different edition of this book, but on the theory that they are essentially the same, I'll repeat the review here. Nigel Nicolson has attempted to find every house and some of the outdoor and public places that Jane Austen might have seen. This approach means that the reader is treated to a much wider variety of buildings than most books, which tend to stick to the houses of the very wealthy. Mostly the exteriors are shown, although there are some interior shots. Where possible, there is a contemporary photograph by Stephen Colover, but in cases where the house is no longer extant, old photographs and drawings have substituted. In cases where the exact address is not known, pictures of houses typical of the time and place are included. Nicolson notes changes that have been made in the buildings since Jane Austen's time. Nicolson points out that Jane Austen did not give detailed descriptions of the places in her books, and he believes that her buildings, like her characters, are not necessarily based on real life counterparts. Even so, the pictures give the reader a sense of the physical environment of the time. He briefly describes changes in architectural fashions during the period. The book includes a detailed index and a very useful bibliography, but no notes. I wavered between 4 and 5 stars. Readers may be disappointed that most of the photographs are in black and white, although there are a few in color. He tells us that Box Hill is still a famous scenic spot, so I really wish that there was a picture! It would also be nice to have interior pictures of No.1 Royal Crescent in Bath, since its interior has been restored to this period. Recommended for both Jane Austen and general Regency fans.

Nigel Nicolson has attempted to find every house and some of the outdoor and public places that Jane Austen might have seen. This approach means that the reader is treated to a much wider variety of buildings than most books, which tend to stick to the houses of the very wealthy. Mostly the exteriors are shown, although there are some interior shots. Where possible, there is a contemporary photograph by Stephen Colover, but in cases where the house is no longer extant, old photographs and drawings have substituted. In cases where the exact address is not known, pictures of houses typical of the time and place are included. Nicolson notes changes that have been made in the buildings since Jane Austen's time. Nicolson points out that Jane Austen did not give detailed descriptions of the places in her books, and he believes that her buildings, like her characters, are not necessarily based on real life counterparts. Even so, the pictures give the reader a sense of the physical environment of the time. He briefly describes changes in architectural fashions during the period. The book includes a detailed index and a very useful bibliography, but no notes. I wavered between 4 and 5 stars. Readers may be disappointed that most of the photographs are in black and white, although there are a few in color. He tells us that Box Hill is still a famous scenic spot, so I really wish that there was a picture! It would also be nice to have interior pictures of No.1 Royal Crescent in Bath, since its interior has been restored to this period. Recommended for both Jane Austen and general Regency fans.