Lady Susan and the Gift of Discernment

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Lady Susan and the Gift of Discernment

December 22, 2014 by posted by Mary C. M. Phillips

I’m writing over at the Dark Jane Austen Book Club today about Jane Austen’s Lady Susan, Elizabeth Bennet, and the gift of discernment.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

7 Responses

on December 22, 2014 at 11:19 pm | Reply John Peter

I think any great writer, Austen or Wharton, Dickens or Twain, like their “chosen few” characters, must themselves, as a kind of prerequisite for using fiction to make a statement about society, have this gift of insight. Call it writer’s intuition.

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- on December 22, 2014 at 11:51 pm | Reply Mary C. M. Phillips
  
  Yes! And I love when the reader discovers a character’s true nature — via hints from the writer — before it’s revealed.
  
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on December 24, 2014 at 7:03 am | Reply bookheathen

I don’t think ‘Lady Susan’ is a work many people read, yet so much of Austen’s really early work already shows that spark of wit and genius that would blossom in her adult years: bookheathen.wordpress.com/2014/10/26/janes-juvenilia/

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- on December 25, 2014 at 12:29 pm | Reply Mary C. M. Phillips
  
  I agree. I think one can appreciate Lady Susan more if they’ve already familiarized themselves with her later novels. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year book heathen!
  
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  - on December 30, 2014 at 1:07 pm bookheathen
    
    All the best to you!
    
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on December 26, 2014 at 6:35 pm | Reply mrscrumpett

I’ve been toying with the idea of re-reading Austen… I think this tipped me over the edge! Thank you 😀

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- on December 26, 2014 at 7:16 pm | Reply Mary C. M. Phillips
  
  You’re welcome Mrs. Crumpet! I think a lot of Jane’s writing is better the second time around. Particularly Emma. Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!
  
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