The Roller Coaster of Jane Austen's Subordinate Clauses

Jane Austen invites the reader to have a certain experience. She doesn’t use the language. Her worlds exist in the language.

Image Courtesy

My daughter has been reading Pride and Prejudice for a while. I asked her what she liked about it the most, and she said, “The language. I know the plot. But it’s how they speak that’s fascinating. Why can’t I speak that way?”

I nodded.

She opened the book and read aloud a sentence by Elizabeth when she comments on Charlotte Lucas’ choice o…