"This is an extraordinarily well-designed book. The structure is rock solid; the content fascinating. The reasoning and argumentation is deeply insightful. The re-conception of reasoning (in and by description) is profound, and this, as the backbone of the book, will be recognized as a new, fuller, richer, way of contemplating both what Austen did and why that is so important. Brett Bourbon's approach is original and excellent. This will be recognized as a very significant contribution."
Garry Hagberg, James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy, Bard College, and Editor of Philosophy and Literature
"At last a book on Jane Austen's morals and politics that doesn't turn her novels into forms of advocacy. Brett Bourbon offers brilliant insights on power, reasoning and conflict, but mostly on how Austen's novels always remain admirable exercises in thoughtfulness. This is clearly one of the most original books on Jane Austen that I know of."
Miguel Tamen, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, University of Lisbon, and Professor of Literary Theory
Garry Hagberg, James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy, Bard College, and Editor of Philosophy and Literature
"At last a book on Jane Austen's morals and politics that doesn't turn her novels into forms of advocacy. Brett Bourbon offers brilliant insights on power, reasoning and conflict, but mostly on how Austen's novels always remain admirable exercises in thoughtfulness. This is clearly one of the most original books on Jane Austen that I know of."
Miguel Tamen, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, University of Lisbon, and Professor of Literary Theory