Jane Austen at Home: A Biography

Worsley (If Walls Could Talk) writes with a historian's acumen and a Janeite's passion, using these skills to unlock the doors of the many houses of Jane Austen (1775–1817). This book is written in the style of a play, with four acts linking Austen's residences to her life and writings. Worsley suggests, "A home of her own must have seemed to Jane to be always out of reach," and she delves into some of the interpersonal, financial, and creative struggles connected to this lack of such autonomy. At times, Worsley leans too heavily on details from Austen's fiction rather than providing biographical or historical facts. This is a relatively minor criticism, though, especially since Worsley's knowledge of Austen's works buttresses her analysis of the author's physical world. Her book is a lovely excavation of Austen's home life, in which she provides readers access into places such as Pemberley without ever giving too much of herself away.