Jane Austen: Her Contemporaries and Herself

5W Walter Herries Pollock. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899.

Notes

Jane Austen: Her Contemporaries and Herself by Walter Herries Pollock is a concise critical study that places Austen within the literary landscape of her time, comparing her to contemporaries like Maria Edgeworth, Fanny Burney, and Susan Ferrier. Pollock praises Austen’s subtle genius, particularly her precise observation of everyday life and her restrained, ironic style, which he argues distinguishes her from the more sentimental or moralizing tendencies of other early 19th-century novelists. He emphasizes that Austen’s strength lies not in dramatic plots or exotic settings, but in her truthful portrayal of ordinary characters and domestic life. By situating her work alongside that of her peers, Pollock illustrates how Austen transcended the conventions of her era, crafting novels of enduring psychological and social insight. The book remains an early but influential voice in Austen criticism, reflecting how her literary reputation began to solidify in the late Victorian period.

Description 

Green canvas binding with cream canvas spine. Gilt lettering to spine. Browning to spine. Very good condition overall.