I’ve been listening to the complete works of Jane Austen on Audible. I’m using The Jane Austen Collection, released by Audible Originals in 2020.

The main narrators are Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Claire Foy, Billie Piper, Emma Thompson, and Florence Pugh. The dialogue is voiced by a large cast of actors, and there are sound effects.

So far, I’ve listened to Sense and Sensibility. I’m now most of the way through Northanger Abbey.

It’s a lovely audio production. I’d recommend it to anybody. It’s like listening to a really good radio play.

It’s been a while since I last read Jane Austen. Listening to the novels now, I’m struck by how closely she observed human behaviour and how relevant she still is today.

In Northanger Abbey, her descriptions of the young friends in Bath reminded me of my student days. The way they interact and sometimes misunderstand each other feels very true to life. It has some of the awkwardness of the TV show Girls.

Sense and Sensibility includes an account of a disastrous relationship breakup that involves elements of ghosting and gaslighting.

I’m interested in the authors who influenced Jane Austen. So, after Northanger Abbey, I’ll take a break and give Fanny Burney or Ann Radcliffe a go.