Shires
Posted by Gwen on August 07, 1998 at 12:28:12:
In response to shires and consequences, written by Mary B on August 07, 1998 at 12:07:21
] ] I hope I am asking this question in the right place. When reading any of JA's books, I notice that she often refers to _____ shire. What does that mean? Why doesn't she list a specific place? It drives me nuts!
] Me too.
] But I think this was necessary because England has a finite number of shires, and those living in one that she actually named would lose credulity in her work. That was my early reasoning; someone else said something about Austen avoiding the negative characterization of anything that actually existed. (?)
I can understand this reason, but JA seems to be the only author that does this. Anne Bronte has listed the names of the shires in her book. I think JA could have avoided this by simply making one up. Isn't that what most authors do? ]
- Doesn't Emily Bronte do the same in Wuthering Heights?? (nfm) Tay 20:30:39 8/13/98
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