Jane Austen lived a short, quiet life in southern England, during which she wrote six novels about young women. Two hundred years later, how do we account for the continuing global appeal of these drawing room dramas among readers and moviegoers? More important even than getting married, her successful heroines learn how to read, and it is by close reading that they discover both text and subtext.

Novelist Deborah Lee Luskin discusses how Austen’s novels demonstrate the importance of reading closely, of tempering face-to-face flirtation with the sober reflection of prose, and – most of all –of reading fiction, especially Jane Austen’s own.

Special Arrangements: podium and projector (optional).

About the presenter

Deborah Lee Luskin - Deborah holds a PhD in English literature, and has worked as a journalist, novelist, radio commentator, blogger, pen-for-hire, office manager, farmer, and beekeeper. See full biography.

Booking a talk

First, contact the speaker to confirm their availability and discuss any special arrangements. Then, click the “Book this Talk!” button below to send a request form to VHC. We’ll respond within one week.

Talks by Deborah Lee Luskin

• 1964: A Watershed Year in Vermont’s Political (and Cultural) History
• Getting from Here to There: A History of Roads and Settlement in Vermont
• Why Are We Still Reading Jane Austen?