". . . she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree."

I know this sounds crazy but the humor in Jane Austen reminds me of the humor in the Andy Griffith Show: a slight pressure against the normal. It is spiked, but warm and forgiving. Jane Austen, sometimes through surrogates, is Sheriff Taylor; Marianne, Deputy Fife. 

Comments

[amy]

I love that! Good point.

I've just been reading a book from the '20s called _Lolly Willowes_ that made me laugh out loud in several parts -- a slightly similar kind of humor. At one point a boring man is attempting to woo Lolly and remarks that it's a nice night, and she really awkwardly responds something like, sure, so long as you're not a werewolf! It's AWESOME.

[Ellen]

I've read Lolly Willowes! I thought I was the only one (besides the people who choose books for the NYRB series) who'd ever heard of it!