Authors Similar to Jane Austen
So in a previous post, I talked a bit about my own reading fingerprint and how uncovering why I loved Jane Austen led me to other authors and books that I love. This journey is a personal one and may not look the same for everyone. That’s why I call it a reading fingerprint–it’s unique to you.
So I figured out that I like books by women about women for women. I also love British literature and a bit of history. I want to learn a little about the time and place in the story. But I want that “real” view of it. The way women wrote about life in their own time period without really thinking too much about it–that’s the good stuff. The plots aren’t earth shattering or even particularly complicated. But it does give one the sense of peeking through the window of time just for a moment to find out what women were talking about in their drawing rooms and gardens at that particular time.
My Austen Readalikes
I can tell you what you won’t find in my Austen Read-a-likes–no fan fiction & no modern books written about a historical time period (that means no Regency period novels!) For me it’s not about the time period so much as the sense that one is a fly on the wall listening in to real characters with their flaws but without the inevitable judgement that modern writers can’t help but add to their stories. If I read one more historical fiction novel where the female character is “ahead of her time” or goes about doing and saying ridiculously inaccurate things, I will scream. I want to know what real women thought and did in their own time–especially the ones that added a little spicy wit and satire. That’s an even more personal glimpse into the author’s view of what might have been considered normal. It’s fascinating to see how much more subversive gentle mocking can be as opposed to an in your face approach.
Enough of my rant and on to the good stuff. In the next few posts, I’ll share the authors & books I turn to when I have read all my Austen and still need a fix. First up…
Barbara Pym
Barbara Pym’s books mostly take place in the 1950’s and in either London or an English country village not unlike the sort that Austen wrote about 150 years earlier. While there are many authors who sketch “village life” etc, Pym’s acerbic wit and ruthlessly ridiculous characters always manage to avoid being precious or cloyingly sweet. I recommend Some Tame Gazelle & Excellent Women.
Some Tame Gazelle
Published in 1950, Some Tame Gazelle was Barbara Pym’s first novel and tells the story of unrequited love somehow managing to neither be too sad or sweet. The story is gently comedic and follows two middle aged sisters–neither of whom are married living in a quiet country village. Belinda, shy and sentimental, has loved the temperamental but unfortunately married archdeacon for the last 30 years. The other sister, Harriet, has a passion for curates–for taking care of them that is. She is more bold and forthright and relentlessly pursued by an Italian count. Interesting characters who at times show their unflattering sides live together in relative harmony despite the ups and downs of village life.
Excellent Women
Excellent Women is probably Barbara Pym’s most well known book and has a satisfying fullness and depth to it while still bringing her sharp comedic eye of human nature. Mildred, a mild-mannered spinster leads a gentle if perhaps dull life of good works and church involvement until she becomes entangled in the lives of her neighbors.
Every book that I plan to share in the next few posts is one that I have read countless times. They never seem to get old, in fact, they get better each time I read them. The story fades a little more into the background and I come to appreciate the characters more. These two books are no exception. If you have never read Barbara Pym, you are in for a treat!
More authors and titles coming soon…
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