The Thing About Austen - Podcast Rankings and reviews

If you are hungry to know more about the material culture of Jane Austen’s novels, this podcast is for you. At its best, The Thing About Austen makes objects like the Indian shawls in Mansfield Park speak to us about the deep roots of the book in English imperialism by explaining the ancient hand production of Indian muslins and their rise as Regency status symbols. The hosts often bring on scholarly guests who speak, clearly and without jargon, about their research on everything from the meanings of Marianne’s Romantic music and the colonial implications of geographic puzzles to Regency tourism and the picturesque, divorce laws, pug breeding, and much more. Using such scholarship is important, as much of it is remains inaccessible to the lay reader behind digital and monetary pay walls. While at times the hosts dissolve into giggly fan-girling, The Thing About Austen is always informative, thoughtful and fun.

This is a great podcast for really understanding the cultural nuances of Austen’s time. Just as few will understand our references to Vegas or Elvis or Silicon Valley in 200 years, these ladies shine a spotlight on similar references in Jane’s novels. I’ve now listened to all episodes and it was well worth the time. Thank you Diane and Zan!

I love the rabbit holes this pod dives into. It has brought me more context and understanding of Austen’s work, making me love it even more than I had before. Highly recommend!

I am unable to add an original thought to the recent rave reviews so I will reiterate that this podcast is essential listening for Austen fans. Each episode focuses on a topic that Austen’s contemporaries would have easily understood but no longer applies in our time. The context provided in these podcasts will enrich your understanding of Austen’s works and thus make them even more enjoyable.