I totally agree that understanding the history, society and culture of JA's time immeasurably enriches ones understanding and enjoyment of the novels. Kudos to Julie W and others who make this possible here at Pemberley.

That said, I think that the realism of JA's work means that everyone has something to contribute to the collective discussion. Historian or not, young or old, from all our varied cultures, I think we all have something valuable to contribute from our own feelings and experiences. You input today about the origin of Miss Bate's chattering is a case in point Tarn - it quite altered my perception of the character.