I became acquainted with Lori Smith when she wrote her first book, A Walk With Jane Austen. Our association has continued with her new book, The Jane Austen Guide to Life. (Read my review here.) Please welcome Lori as I talk to her about her most recent writing experience. I hope to meet her, as well as many other Janeites, at the JASNA meeting in New York this fall:
Hi Lori! What were your reasons for writing this book as your follow up to A Walk With Jane Austen?
You know, I didn’t expect to write another Jane Austen book, so this book, which was actually my editor’s idea initially, came as a great gift and a surprise. It covers some of the same material as A Walk with Jane, but from a completely different viewpoint. While A Walk with Jane was so deeply personal and so much about my journey, this book steps back and looks at how Austen would advise women today if she could. I took everything we know about her life and all the wonderful stories she gave us, and tried to ferret out how she might guide us today.
Why will people regard the advice on romance and life from a 19th c. country spinster?
For those already members of the cult of Austen, this isn’t a tough sell, but I’m sure it will be for some. I mean, really, a woman who lived two hundred years ago, who wouldn’t understand modern dating, tweeting, texting—can she really have helpful advice?
But the thing is, we adore Austen for her lovely stories. She understood people, what motivated them, their faults and foibles. As one reviewer commented on Sense and Sensibility, she had “a great deal of good sense.” Her good sense is so welcome today, and still so useful. The issues she dealt with—fame, money, heartbreak—are the same ones we face today. I think she can help us bring back some of the graciousness of the time she lived in, help us imbue our own lives with grace and good sense.
What about today’s society would scandalize Jane Austen the most?
I’m sure it would be sex. There was plenty of raunchy behavior in Austen’s era, but it wasn’t on display the way it is now, in movies, TV shows, magazines. And it’s become so very casual. I don’t think she would know what to make of that.
What changes would she like most?
Well, she wrote in one letter about not knowing what to do about a new gown, and said “I wish such things were to be bought ready made.” (In Austen’s day, you had to buy fabric and then work with a dress-maker.) So I think she would love how easy and affordable fashion has become. (Not that she cared overly much about fashion.)
But I think she would be happiest that singleness has become a viable option for women, that women can work and earn their own keep and don’t have to be dependent on family or have to marry to survive. I think that would thrill her. She herself never married, and even with the income from her writing, was financially dependent upon her brothers.
On a personal level what advice from Jane meant most to you, and why?
This time around I really appreciated her perspective on the need to be thoughtful about romance—two concepts that don’t always go together in our world. And as someone who has lived with chronic Lyme disease for more than a decade, her own journey through a lengthy and mysterious disease touched me.
But every time I come back to Austen, more than anything else, I’m astounded by her joy. She celebrated the world, relished in it, brought so much energy to it. She laughed as much as possible, I’m sure, but her joy was deep as well, loved a quiet evening by the fire or sitting and watching the flow of the tide. If I could take one thing from Austen, it would be that joy and effervescence.
Bio:
As a child, Lori Smith’s mother had to pay her to read books. So it’s a bit ironic that she now gets paid to write them. Lori feels connections to Austen on many levels—as a writer, a single woman, an Anglican, and as someone struggling with a mysterious chronic illness. For her last book, A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith, Lori spent a month in England tracing Austen’s life and works. Readers voted to give that book the Jane Austen Regency World Award for best nonfiction.
Her writing has also appeared in Washington Post Book World, Publishers Weekly, Beliefnet.com, Skirt!, and Today’s Christian Woman. Lori lives in Northern Virginia with her sweet but stubborn English lab, Bess.
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVYt-QOJWO8
Blogs: http://www.writerlorismith.com, http://www.austenquotes.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writerlorismith
Twitter: @writerlorismith
Jane Austen's World 
Two things really Lori and Vic.
Lori, your comment,”She understood people, what motivated them, their faults and foibles.” Great literature is all about getting an incite into life and we should be able to learn something from a great piece of writing. This book is your way of squeezing out that bit of life from Austen it appears.
The other thing was your bio comment about being paid to read and then being paid to write.
I watched a video clip of a singer song writer yesterday, her name eludes me, singing a recent composition. She had the words of the song in a stand in front of her.It was her handwritten draft. It just occurred to me that a songwriter or indeed an author starts with a blank piece of paper and through their imagination, knowledge and creativity can form something new on a page, present it to the world and then get paid for it. I know it sounds obvious but seeing that video clip brought it starkly to life. Also I have copy of Lennon Legend by James Henke. There is a handwritten badly scribbled facsimile of, In My Life, within the covers and signed, John Lennon. Imagine (ha ha) how much that tiny piece of scrawled writing is worth?
Anyway, I shall stop wittering on.Have a great day..
Thanks, Tony. Austen was so insightful, wasn’t she? I’m sure that scribble from Lennon is worth bunches. (And what I would give for some of Austen’s scribble…)
Lori and Vic, I look forward to reading this book. I enjoyed the interview very much. Would write more just now, but I’m eager to jump over and read your review of the book, Vic!
Thanks, Jean! The recipes on your site are gorgeous. Tried to post a comment there, but my computer didn’t want to comply for some reason. Hope you enjoy the book!
I agree- I think she’d be quite shocked with the state of sex in our society. She really was quite religious, people seem to like to forget that; her personally composed prayers are published as well.
Along the same lines with clothing, although she would be pleased that they’re ready made, she would not be pleased with what little bits of (oftentimes ugly) fabric we apparently clothe ourselves! We are slaves to the fashion industry, and now having something tailor-made is a high end luxury!
Her prayers are one of may favorite things. You’re right about clothes. She complained about “ugly naked shoulders” in her day. What in the world would she think of us??!
Reblogged this on Ella Quinn ~ Author and commented:
From Jane Austen’s Blog.
What a wonderful interview. I agree that Jane could absolutely give advice today, and will now be able to. Once, years ago, I told my son that there were no new conversations. They may change a little, but the major issues are still the same.
Thanks for reposting, Ella! Lovely to ‘meet’ you here.
What a lovely interview! I look forward to reading both of Ms. Smith’s books soon. See you at the JASNA convention!
Thanks!! Look forward to seeing you at JASNA! Can’t wait!
That book is just lollywater. Keep it real. Promote literature. Jane Austen’s body of work has so much more substance than that little novel. Egggh;
Janet – actually, that’s what I’m really trying to point out with this book. Austen was all about substance. Her books are solid, thoughtful — as was her approach to life. There’s much we can learn from her. When we just reduce her to romance, we lose so much. Anyway, maybe buy the book and read it before critiquing it. ;-)
Janet, what on earth is ,”lollywater?” We don’t use that phrase over here.
The only thing I can think of is the liquid produced from melted ice lollies.
How does that apply to Lori Smith’s writing?
Anyway, i have found some extracts from Lori’s writng on the internet and i find her very thoughtful.
Talking about Jane’s humour Lori, the quote that always makes me chuckle is the letter to Cassndra and they nearly always are to Cassandra aren’t they, where Jane says something along the lines of, ” I can’t say your mulberry bush is dead but it’s not alive.” The quote might not be exact but something like that.
There is also some correspondence, while living in Southampton where she is rather cruel about Martha in her girlish infatuation of Dr Mant, a charismatic preacher at All Souls , a church that used to be in Southampton High Street.
There is no getting away from it her comments are downright cruel. Jane did have an ascerbic side, developed out of………? I wonder.
Thanks for sticking up for me, Tony! Yes — love that mulberry bush quote. Used it in this book in the chapter on joy and laughter. I actually thought the ribbing of Martha about Dr. Mant was all in good fun. I know she could be acerbic, even cruel, but I didn’t get that in the Martha/Dr. M. stuff. Just wish more of her letters survived.
Just Googled, “lollywater.” So Janet you are Australian. I used to be a member of JASA.
A sweet alcoholic drink with a strong dose of vodka. How does that apply to Lori’s writing? So it’s sweet as it goes down but has a hell of a kick after, especially after a few.
Sorry, Janet, I’m confused. Please explain yourself.
I’m afraid I have to agree with Tony on his second comment here. BTW, Tony, thanks for looking up lollywater. I was totally confused by that one. Anyway, I cannot possibly understand your comments, were they criticism or enthusiasm? Please enlighten us all about what it is that you were saying. I’m American, JASNA, Tony is British, I assume JAS, and you are JASA. Is this a clash of cultures in expression?
I have another comment. Lori Smith’s latest book is not a novel. She has patiently read through all the novels and letters to find what Jane Austen really valued in many areas. After all, isn’t that what many of us really want to know? The first book she wrote was AWESOME and I did my version of her trip inspired by her own. I’ve now read both books and love them both. They are quite different. Everybody, rush out and buy this book!
Thank you Karen!
Thank you so much for all this beauty!!
I enjoy your articles so somuch!!!!!!