Paper Jane - 250 Years of Austen

A new view of Jane Austen-s literary career and legacy through print artifacts. In the semiquincentennial year of Jane Austen (1775-1817), she is arguably the best-known author in the English language after Shakespeare. However, this reputation was hard-won and was many years in the making. This book traces Jane Austen-s ascendence as a literary celebrity through print-from fine first editions to mass-market paperbacks, supplemented by manuscripts, movie posters, graphic novels, theater bills, play scripts, and paper currency. The temporal dimension makes this not only the story of Austen-s growing fame but also traces the changes in readers and reading culture over the last two centuries and a half. It demonstrates that cheap books are, in fact, the force that made -Miss Austen- canonical. Paper Jane accompanies an exhibition at The Grolier Club, drawing from private collections by Janine Barchas, Mary Crawford, and Sandra Clark.