You can't really say too terribly much about a replica etiquette manual for the Regency period of England. I did enjoy the book, and it provided some interesting insights for me into the life and time of Regency England. As a historical romance novelist concentrating in this particular era, it was a useful tool but not my favorite research book thus far.

I enjoyed this book immensly, as it was just as I expected. It gives an accurate over-view of Regency life, in a simple, fun and informative way.

Some of the other reviews for this book have said that this book is good for people who are new to Jane Austen's work, and need a hand, but I disagree. I am a huge Jane fan, and I still found the book somewhat informative and helpful. A lot of the information was familiar, but some was new, and the information that I already knew about was still good to read, because it gave a deeper, more insightful view on the subjects.

I recommend The Jane Austen Handbook to any Janeite. It really is a joy to read and there is a good chance you'll learn something new, no matter how knowledgable you think you are :)

I'm ashamed to admit I've never read any Jane Austen but I've seen all the movies and PBS series of her novels and was looking for additional commentary. If you are intrigued with the manners and mores of this time and want a little more information in an accessible format, you'll like this handbook. This guide is probably not for those seeking in-depth historical analysis but the material is well-organized and efficient in its presentation of the world of Jane Austen. Even my eleven-year old daughter is intrigued with this book, especially after seeing the movie, "Pride and Prejudice." Overall, an entertaining companion book with attractive illustrations.

extremely helpful in understanding the times and actions of the Jane Austin books and movies. Understanding the why of things gives incite into the lives of the characters in the books and movies. Helped me to enjoy the movies much more.

What a charming little volume! The cover illustration says it all. This is for the modern woman who retains a Regency era aesthetic and sensibility, who ofttimes wonders: Where have all the manners gone? From email correspondence that starts bluntly with one's name and no "dear" to shop cashiers who expect the customer to be person that says "thank you," the 21st Century is devoid of what used to be called common courtesy, and Jane Austen reminds us of a more genteel era. True, there were class and gender inequalities, but that's not what we modern readers yearns for, nor are we just indulging in highbrow bodice rippers or retrogressive fantasies of subordination.

Some reviewers have snobbishly complained that The Jane Austen Handbook is just for those who came to appreciate Jane Austen after seeing "Colin Firth in a wet shirt" in the BBC production of Pride & Prejudice, but to that I say, the accusation is, one, off base and two, out of line. I, for one, studied Austen in grad school before that movie ever came out and I love it and this book. Secondly, even if it is true for some readers, so what? What sort of superiority are these detractors trying to claim -- "I read Jane first so I'm better than you"? That's an indication of a course and simpering immaturity that Miss Austen herself would not countenance and would indeed be inclined to masterfully caricature.

The Jane Austen Handbook is a combination handbook or primer and compact compendium of Regency life. It is for those of us who live and work and love and dress in the modern world, but who nonetheless like to display civility, sometimes laced with irony, in our speech and actions, to fold our letters property and to drink our tea from china cups, even as we work for our own "10,000 pounds a year" (Mr. Darcy;s income, worth between one-half and six million in today's currency, as the section on Modern Money Equivalents on page 27 explains).

Indeed, as the detractors point out, the information in this book can be obtained from numerous other sources, but why should anyone have to apologize for wanting it all in one attractive and amusing place?

Margaret C. Sullivan's writing style reminds me of that of Judith Martin, a/k/a Miss Manners, whose works I also recommend to the modern Jane Austen acolyte, particularly her wonderful first novel, Gilbert.

I bought the cheapest copy of this book I could find and it hardly looks used.

Oh Dear. Well, I have something to say about this book all right.

In my opinion this book should never have been published. Where is the judgement these days? Another 'publisher gone wild' thinking that if its Austen-related, people will buy it.

There is very little in here that is new that you don't already know from reading Austen's writings themselves. It seems to be primarily one person's digestion of what she has learned from the books with a lot of quotes or references to the books. There is very little real information added. It fails at being useful, educational, clever, or entertaining.

A better choice if you are interested in learning more about the societal context would be "What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew".

Sorry to be harsh to any author...but there it is.

I was really disappointed with this book - I have read every Jane Austen novel at least twice, many of them several times. This book simply tells you what you know when you read the books. I had been hoping that the author had done some deeper background research to explain the why's behind the facts. It's an attractive book, and for someone who hasn't read Jane Austen, well, it might prove to be educational, but, then, why would you buy this for someone who hasn't read Jane?

Yes, it honestly says so in this book, on page ninety-two.

Okay, actually it doesn't quite, but after a lengthy discussion of undergarments of the Regency, what it truly does say is:

"That means we may assume, with a high degree of probability, that Jane Austen went commando."

And I don't think that means that the authoress of Emma (which inspired the movie Clueless, y'know) was involved in special forces military operations during the Napoleon Wars.

All righty, now that my title and opening paragraphs have alienated Austen scholars everywhere while also nicely hemming in Amazon's male readership, I'll try for the other half of the public by mentioning that this bite-sized robin's egg blue book is great as a resource for describing the minutia of morals, manners, social customs, dining habits, drinking practices, religion, travel arrangements, and much else of Englishwomen and Englishmen from the period in which Austen set her novels. Far from the boring and dusty tomes that too frequently tackle subjects like these, The Jane Austen Handbook is fast-paced and fun. I can't fairly describe myself as a great admirer of Jane Austen's sex-`n-violence-lacking tales but I thought Margaret C. Sullivan's work was absolutely first-rate. I enjoyed tremendously reading about the background facts of exactly how life would have been played out for those who peopled Persuasion, or who truly lived two centuries ago in rural England.

To highlight a few of the eye-opening revelations:

Back then almost everyone was on opium at one time or another.

Like the former pop stars of today, women didn't wear underwear. (Oh, wait, I already covered that..)

Gentlemen could be more elaborately dressed than women without being thought the slightest bit light in the wrist.

Eloping to Scotland was an option for those seeking the Vegas wedding of the day. In one infamous Scottish town, Gretna Green, girls as young as twelve or boys as ancient as fourteen could seek out the local blacksmith and be legally wed without a license, certificate, or even a pastor. Cool!

"Flattering a gentleman's vanity" was the best all-purpose come-on there was in Miss Austen's age.

Female hypochondria was de rigueur and skilled hypochondriacs were much-respected. (While the garden variety practitioners like Mary Musgrove were less lauded.)

There were but four acceptable professions for a gentleman to enter--the church, the law, the military, or medicine---and strangely not one of them involved music, sports, or acting.

So, whether you want to know the difference in a hack, a gig, or a curricle, wish to know how to fold your next letter "just so" or if you're one of those types who just can't get enough Jane ("Why can't she have her own twenty-four-hour cable network?" you've sincerely remarked) Austen this is the reference book for you!

This book is an interesting companion book for someone who is reading Jane Austen for the first time and does not know much about the Regency period. It will clear up many incidents in the book, specially those where a character behaves contrary to the etiquette of the period. Since most of the formalities are no longer in practice, they can be very confusing to a modern reader.

People who have read most of Austen's work or are more familiar with the Regency will quickly realize that this book is strictly tied to Austen. No other sources are sited and all examples are from Austen books.

I found this limitation very irritating. The book did not expand my views on the subject at all and did not explore any of the more subtle social tensions in the book. It quickly became a game of spot the reworked Austen quote.

Jane Austen aficionados can be divided into two groups: those who found Jane before Colin Firth came out of that pond in his wet linen shirt, and those who found her afterwards.

Margaret Sullivan's witty, informative, and instructive little volume is the perfect companion for the members of the post-Wet Darcy fandom, although most Janeites should find plenty here to enjoy. The ever-growing numbers of readers who are discovering the pleasure of reading the novels after having fallen in love with the popular movies and miniseries will find many of their questions about Jane's world answered in a humorous way which does not condescend. What is entailment? Why was the toad-eating Rev. Collins considered a good catch for Lizzie? Why did Catherine and Henry have to maintain a clandestine correspondence when everyone knew that they had formed an attachment? Why is a morning call sometimes paid in the afternoon? The list goes on.

The illustrations are charming and period perfect. None of this nonsense you see in the popular press associating Jane Austen's world with corsets and hoop skirts and bustles and other such Victoriana.

This book will definitely enhance a new fan's enjoyment and appreciation of the novels as they delve into them, and provided this pre-Wet Darcy fan with the perfect little volume to peruse in those times of extreme deshabille when a few minutes of light reading is required, but no more.

While it would never be mistaken for a doctoral thesis, and is clearly not masquerading as such, I think even most longtime fans and readers will find a few nuggets of information that they did not know. The author's broad knowledge of her subject matter shines through the froth.

Now, if Ms. Sullivan would only share with us her views on the various movies and adaptations of Jane's work...perhaps "A Sensible, Yet Snark-filled Guide to the World of Jane on Film", my happiness would be complete.