Friends of Jane: They’re Everywhere
At least in Scotland! Inspired by Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh’s recent confession that Jane Austen was among his main literary inspirations, the Edinburgh Evening News asked several local authors about their literary influences. Two of the authors, Isla Dewar and Alexander McCall Smith, took Welsh’s cue and cited Jane Austen.
EDINBURGH-BORN Scots author Isla says that she shares Welsh’s love of Austen: “My biggest influence was Jane Austen as well. I’m very fond of her. I think she was very witty and elegant. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books, I return to it a lot. I think it is timeless. It’s a very modern story, there is still a lot in it today for people.”
Alexander McCall Smith, author of the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency mystery series, and whose work is often compared to Jane Austen’s, said:
Like Irvine Welsh, I am a great admirer of Jane Austen - and also her modern-day successor Barbara Pym.
And though the article doesn’t mention it, we can’t forget one of Edinburgh’s most famous literary residents, J.K. Rowling; definitely a Friend of Jane. (We suggest that you do not get the Editrix started on her comparison between James and Lily Potter and Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Really.)
January 6th, 2005 at 12:41 pm
James and Lily and Darcy and Elizabeth? Well, how stupid am I not to have seen that parallel before. Of course–it’s especially evident through Snape’s memory of Cruel!James.
OK–I predict an eventual pairing of Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione. I think it’s obvious–am I all wet?
January 6th, 2005 at 12:47 pm
I think it’s obvious, too.
(I hope this doesn’t start a shipping war… ;-))
I’m also shipping Tonks and Charlie Weasley. Not sure why. I just think it would be hilarious for Molly to have Tonks for a daughter-in-law.
January 6th, 2005 at 12:49 pm
Oh, and Ron and Hermione are Emma and Knightley, with genders switched. Discuss. *runs away*