Austen Quote by Anna Quindlen
“Jane Austen may not be the best writer, but she certainly writes about the best people. And by that I mean people just like me.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Jane Austen’s Appeal, 2005
Austen writes about relatable, everyday people, making her work timeless.
In simple terms: Austen portrays ordinary lives.
Key Takeaway
Value stories about common people.
Themes
literature
relatability
timelessness
Mood
appreciative
thoughtful
Type
literary
cultural
When to use this quote
- reading groups
- teaching
- cultural analysis
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
novel
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do ordinary stories resonate?
- How does relatability affect literary legacy?
A Different Perspective
Not all readers find her style accessible.
![“[On Jane Austen:] To believe her limited in range because she was harmonious in method is as sensible as to imagine that when the Atlantic Ocean is as smooth as a mill-pond it shrinks to the size of a mill-pond.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8d4/rebecca-west-1248_atlantic-ocean_on-jane-austen-to-believe-her-limited-in_215037.jpg)
![“[Jane] Austen was not a novelist for nothing: she knew that our stories are what make us human, and that listening to someone else's stories -- entering into their feelings, validating their experiences -- is the highest way of acknowledging their humanity, the sweetest form of usefulness.” quote by William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2bb/william-deresiewicz-15471_austen_jane-austen-was-not-a-novelist-for-nothi_62623.jpg)
