What Did Other Authors Say About Jane Austen?

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Kirstin Odegaard

The answer to this question is…a lot.  They love her or they hate her, but, either way, they can’t stop talking about her.  (And, as Oscar Wilde said, “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”)  Here’s a look at what authors past and present have said about Jane Austen.

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series

“Jane Austen is the pinnacle to which all other authors aspire.”

“My favorite writer is Jane Austen, and I’ve read all her books so many times I’ve lost count … I imagined being a famous writer would be like being like Jane Austen. Being able to sit at home at the parsonage and your books would be very famous and occasionally you would correspond with the Prince of Wales’s secretary.”

Photo of J.K. Rowling by John Matthew Smith

Mark Twain, author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

“Jane Austen’s books, too, are absent from this library. Just that one omission alone would make a fairly good library out of a library that hadn’t a book in it.”

“Every time I read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.”

This site is ending, so I’ve moved this post. Read the rest here (and find out what Jane has to say in response).

Photo of Mark Twain by A.F. Bradley

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6 responses to “What Did Other Authors Say About Jane Austen?”

  1. Alice McVeigh Avatar
    Alice McVeigh

    I never heard about J.K. Rowling’s admiration, and am frankly amazed.

    I’m such a good mum/mom that I read my kid (now doing a PhD at Harvard in Chinese Lit.) ALL the Harry Potters at bed-time for YEARS.

    Which seemed to me like DECADES.

    Rachel has since recovered from her Potter-mania (she was very young at the time, which must be her excuse). I’ve never forgotten how, despite her page-turning quality, I used to moan that the series SHOULD have been called Harry Plotter, because, while she has no style to speak of, Rowling’s plotting is near-miraculous. Not an end left untied, not a motive unaccounted for, all tied up with a bow on top!

    I’d never have guessed she loved my fav. author (except that, famously, on the first page of the first and best Harry Plotter volume there’s a cat called… Mrs Norris!)

    Reply
    1. Kirstin Odegaard Avatar
      Kirstin Odegaard

      There is Mrs. Norris! I had forgotten about that. I think I remember her being unpleasant, too.

      My son and I are reading Harry Potter now. She does weave a good plot.

      Reply
  2. cindie snyder Avatar
    cindie snyder

    I knew about I K Rowling liking Jane and Mark Twains comment. So many other Authors opinions too! Some linked her some not. I’m glad Jane had the last word!lol

    Reply
    1. Kirstin Odegaard Avatar
      Kirstin Odegaard

      Maybe Jane would be amused just to have so many people talking about her. All publicity is good publicity!

      Reply
  3. Gianna Thomas Avatar
    Gianna Thomas

    I love Jane Austen’s tongue in cheek comments. Most that I have read are hilarious. As to other authors comments, I wonder how many of them have become popular and had hundreds of variations that followed in their footsteps. Kudos to Jane Austen.

    Reply
    1. Kirstin Odegaard Avatar
      Kirstin Odegaard

      I think the same, Gianna. If those people who criticized only knew… Maybe it’s a good lesson in taking it all with a grain of salt.

      Reply

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