South Carolina Region: Jane Austen's Reputation

Jane Austen's Reputation 

Join the South Carolina Region as we welcome JASNA President Mary Mintz for her talk on "Jane Austen's Reputation: Highlights of Her First Century in American Periodicals."

References to Jane Austen appear more than one thousand times in U.S. magazines and journals during the 19th century. The articles that discuss Austen provide an interesting story of a woman author who was deeply appreciated for her writing and for her biography—for the most part. Perhaps, not surprisingly, her greatest advocates and defenders were other prominent women. Critical standards and critical language were vastly different from the 21st century interpretations we enjoy today. Continuous attention, appreciation, and even controversy helped ensure that her reputation remained alive for the first hundred years of her afterlife among American readers. 

Mintz holds master's degrees in library science and English literature, with a specialization in 19th century British literature. After a 40-year career, she retired as the associate director for outreach at the American University Library in Washington, D.C., as well as the humanities and honors librarian.

For more information, visit the region's website.