What Matters in Jane Austen?

Twenty Essential Questions Answered

By: John Mullan

Narrated by: Charles Armstrong

Bloomsbury presents the 250TH BIRTHDAY EDITION of What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan, read by Charles Armstrong

"An Austen lover’s greatest wish is for more of her novels. This intimate guide to the world of her books in the next best thing." —The Atlantic

Marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, What Matters in Jane Austen? solves the mysteries of Austen’s fictional world.

Is there any sex in Jane Austen?
What are the right and wrong ways to propose marriage?
Which important characters never actually speak?

Jane Austen’s novels have been a staple of the English canon since the nineteenth century. Yet critics of the time did not appreciate the true complexity of her work. Nothing, John Mullan argues, is accidental or coincidental in Austen. As Austen herself said, she wrote for readers who have "a great deal of ingenuity themselves."

What Matters in Jane Austen? gets to the heart of what it is that makes Austen’s work so singular. In twenty chapters, answering questions her novels have posed for over two centuries, Mullan uncovers the hidden truth of an extraordinary fictional world and reveals the true brilliance—and underappreciated complexity—of Austen’s work.

Jane Austen is the author of classics including Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility. 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Austen's birth, and this beautiful, insightful book is the perfect gift for every Austen fan.©2025 John Mullan (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Joyful and Insightful

I loved this!! The author was very insightful and pointed out plot points which never occurred to me in the past. This is a must read for any Jane Austen fanatic

What Matters in Jane Austen

Fascinating look at the genius of Jane Austen. It’s likely more interesting if you’ve read her books first. It’s well written and well narrated and kept my interest. I’ve come late to the reading of Jane Austen’s novels and am totally taken by them. This book delves into many of the aspects of them that make them so irresistible and enjoyable to read.