On the Sofa with Jane Austen

These essays, which first appeared in Regency World magazine, celebrate the quirkiest corners and cleverest contrivances of Jane Austen’s art. The 21 topics range from coiffure to crime, from gossip to grandmothers. The title comes from the first essay, but it is also an invitation to spend time with a well-loved author in a relaxed and intimate way. Other essays include “A Very White World,” “The Silence of Mr. Perry,” “Plump Cheeks and Thick Ankles,” “November in the Novels,” “Words Overheard,” “Devoted Sisters,” “Heroes and Husbands,” and “Only a Grandmother