JANE AUSTEN, THE SECRET RADICAL

Jane Austen's novels are the cornerstone of many a literature syllabus, and Kelly's exploration of Austen's influences and influence sounds like it could be a lecture from one of those courses. Emma Bering narrates with a brisk and matter-of-fact tone that only occasionally brings Kelly's arguments about Austen's literary intentions to life. While enthusiastic and capable in narrative skill, Bering's performance is inconsistent in providing enough momentum to keep the listener engaged. Because of the book's structure and its lack of section titles or headings to help the listener along, it may not be well suited to the audiobook format. This recording is best for the true Austen devotee. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2017]