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Jane Austen's body of work delivers a nuanced understanding of life—especially as a woman, family dynamics, insights into the historical context of the period, and the social norms between men and women. For the last two decades, I have been fascinated by Austen’s diverse and massive fan following, scholars, and writers, and I love discovering why her words and characters still resonate with so many these two hundred years later. Once a month in 2024, I feature one Austen fan to offer their insights.
For August, I am over the moon for author and anthropologist Nikki Payne's unique perspective on Why We Read and or Write About Jane Austen. I first became enamored with Payne's writing while reading her debut Austen-adjacent contemporary romance, Pride and Protest. I remember the first time I read it, messaging her every time something resonated with me or some remarkable coincidence to my own life. I was definitely that annoying fangirl authors dread in their DMs. But at 4:30 a.m., after reading through the night, I had little impulse control. What can I say? I was excessively diverted. I didn't think I could love a book more and then I read her next Austen modern re-imagining, Sex, Lies, and Sensibilities. It's about love and the many kinds of love, what it is to love and be loved, and what we sacrifice for love. Be ready with a box of Kleenex. You’ll weep. Then weep for joy.
By Nikki Payne
I write Jane Austen because her POV is a little bit outside of the society she wrote about. Reminds me of the anthropological stance. Jane Austen, in many ways, was indeed like an anthropologist of her day. She meticulously examined and detailed the societal norms, rituals, and dynamics of the English gentry of the early 19th century. Through her observations, she presented a microcosm of her world that's so vivid it still resonates with readers today. Like I mentioned before, she was a little bit outside this social class she wrote about, giving her a keener perspective of the stifling rigidity and social mores. Moreover, during Jane Austen's time, marriage wasn't just a personal matter; it was a whole game of socio-economic strategy.
We're talking about late 18th to early 19th-century England, where a woman's worth and societal standing were heavily tied to her marital status. While love matches did happen, marriage was often approached with a sense of duty and practicality. It was a business transaction. Dowries, inheritances, and connections played huge roles. Love? Well, that was a bonus, not a requirement.
In that same way, some of your favorite authors have always been observers of the human condition. They document the current cultural, societal, and individual dynamics, of characters and their lives. My favorite example is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who, through works like "Americanah," captures the nuances of immigration, identity, and romance in the modern world. So, yeah, authors have always been, and will continue to be, the commentators of their times, curating tales and observations that future generations will look back on to understand our world. Jane’s eye was sharp, and she was one of the best to do it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
By day, Nikki Payne is a curious tech anthropologist asking the right questions to deliver better digital services. By night, she dreams of ways to subvert canon literature. She’s a member of Smut U, a premium feminist writing collective, and a cat lady with no cats.
Connect with Nikki via her social media and website.
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