A Bend in the Road

Episode 40: Author and Rare Book Dealer Rebecca Romney: Jane Austen’s Bookshelf … and Beyond

4 snips
Aug 6, 2025
Join Rebecca Romney, a rare book dealer and author, as she delves into the literary world surrounding Jane Austen. Discover the influence of Frances Burney on Austen through an intriguing find that initiated her research. She discusses Austen's unique style and how societal factors shaped the writing careers of women like Radcliffe and Inchbald. The conversation also explores the significance of rare book provenance and the use of social media to bring these treasures to a wider audience. A captivating exploration of literature and its hidden gems!
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ANECDOTE

Cranford Cover That Changed A Career

  • Rebecca Romney bought a Cranford-series copy for its cover and discovered Frances Burney's Evelina inside.
  • That accidental find launched her quest into the women writers who influenced Jane Austen.
INSIGHT

Austen As Part Of A Female Literary Tradition

  • Jane Austen borrowed phrases, models, and techniques from earlier women writers like Frances Burney.
  • Seeing those connections revealed a broader literary tradition beyond Austen alone.
INSIGHT

Different Strengths, Not Hierarchies

  • Different authors excelled at different techniques, so comparisons are taste-based rather than absolute.
  • Anne Radcliffe, for example, performs narrative feats Austen does not, and vice versa.
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