[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Christoher Herbert’s history employs one of the most useful strategies when dealing with a subject for whom the material is sparse. In this case, there is an abundance of material about Jane Austen who has been the subject of so many biographies. However, Herbert does not rely solely on this and has adroitly using his independent research, bolstering it with material that sets the context for events that are not recorded. He also uses the more conventional way of contributing to research when dealing with a writer – studying the author’s work for clues. In this case, both Jane and Henry Austen’s writing. This is a work of substance, accessible writing, a broad history of the time and social mores, and an intriguing insight into Henry and his family, including Jane for whom it becomes clear, Henry was indeed her favourite brother. There are wonderfully comic passages – the discussion of studying at Oxford and Cambridge in the period was delightful... Read more
NetGalley, Robin Joyce

Georgian Feminists is a must read for anyone who is an avid history buff. It digs deep into the forgotten lives of Georgian women, their struggles, their hopes, and how they tried to change the world not only for themselves but for their descendants. I couldn't put this down. As a history buff, I found the story enthralling and intriguing.
NetGalley, Katherine McCrea

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars This book is an absolute revelation. I’ve been glued over a couple of days as it reads more like an adventure story. James Hobson, whose research appears to be extensive and meticulous, has presented a lively and vibrant picture of Georgian England as witnessed by one man, Edward Law. I’d never heard of him, but it turns out he was a real mover and shaker of the time. He was at the centre of high society, not well liked but influencing in various ways the major institutions; church, law, schools and the royal family. He was an extraordinary and exceptional individual and Hobson’s biography gives real insight into the Georgian world. It was one of accepted order; the wealthy and royals ruled and the poor should know and be kept in their place. But change was afoot and the peasants were revolting. This is one of the best books I’ve read about the Georgian period. Law’s beginnings were relatively humble and his early years are fascinating. His grandfather.. Read more
NetGalley, Anita Wallas

In Jane Austen: Daddy's Girl, biographer Zoe Wheddon shares a wealth of little-known archival information and informed (and even wonderfully playful) conjecture to vividly bring to life the man most responsible for cultivating the genius of Jane Austen, her father. George Austen was a renaissance man--a top student, teacher, clergyman, and farmer--who understood the power of literature, and opened his library to Jane as a child, gave her the now-famous portable writing desk, and cold-contacted publishers to proudly tout her talent. Jane Austen was born at a time when women's education was never guaranteed, which makes her father's efforts in that regard all the more special and critical to her success. With palpable affection, illuminating detail, and a highly entertaining writing style, Wheddon creates for the reader the consummate portrayal of a man who encouraged all his children in their ambitions, regardless of ability: the result was a strong and loving large family who were able.. Read more
Natalie Jenner Internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society, Bloomsbury Girls & the forthcoming Every Time We Say Goodbye (2024)

Using an enormous range of primary sources, this exhaustively researched study... casts fresh light on the origins of psychiatric medicine and draws some thought-provoking conclusions about the understanding of mental illness, then and now.
Joceline Bury, Jane Austen's Regency World