Jane Austen and her Readers, 1786–1945

‘[A] richly informative study […] While Halsey clearly distinguishes her aims from those of scholars concerned with Austen’s receptions in such modern-day forms as film adaptations or fan fiction, this study is likely to prove highly instructive to specialists in these areas, given the thoroughness with which Halsey surveys historic, imaginative appropriations of Austen’s narratives and characters within private and public spheres alike.’ —Jenny McAuley, ‘BARS Bulletin and Review’

‘[Katie Halsey] presents an excellent, useful book about ways to define the “reading” and “readers” of Jane Austen [and] makes Austen novels part of the last two hundred years of material culture, a fascinating project. Summing Up: Highly recommended.’ —R. Shapiro, City University of New York, ‘Choice’

‘The cult of Jane Austen has a long history: Halsey shows how wonderfully variable its membership has been.’ —Susan Allen Ford, ‘JASNA News’ (Jane Austen Society of North America)

‘Using a battery of methods too rarely combined, Halsey ably examines some major ideas to produce a successful and stimulating example of the benefits of a holistic, “book-historical” approach to an author, her texts, and her readers.’ —Andrew Hobbs, ‘Reception: Texts, Readers, Audiences, History’

‘This is a sophisticated exploration of the relationships between Jane Austen’s texts and their readers from 1786 (when the first responses to her writing are recorded) to 1945 (when new media start to replace print culture). This volume is part of the current interest in Austen’s reception initiated in the 1990s by Claudia L. Johnson and developed more recently by Rachel Brownstein, among others. What Halsey adds to the discussion is an original analysis of the complex experience of reading Austen: from the material side of reading (including analyses of different editions, book costs and illustrations) to little-known responses to Austen’s fiction by celebrated and ordinary readers (found in diaries, journals and private correspondence)… An important contribution to Austen and readership studies.’ —‘Forum of Modern Languages’ 48, no. 4 (October 2012)

‘[A] welcome addition, bringing the vocabulary and methods of the history of the book and the history of reading to bear on Austen studies in outstanding, illuminating detail.’ —Devoney Looser, ‘SHARP News’