Last impressions : Jane Austen's endings / Theresa M. Kenney.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kenney, Theresa M., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Austen, Jane, 1775-1817--Criticism and interpretation.

Austen, Jane.

Closure (Rhetoric).

Fiction--Technique.

Fiction.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Literary criticism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Other Title:

Jane Austen's endings

Place of Publication:

Toronto ; Buffalo ; London : University of Toronto Press, 2025.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

"Jane Austen's conclusions have often perplexed her readers, who at times perceive her novels' endings as hasty or overly simplistic. However, a closer examination reveals that her final chapters are meticulously crafted, serving as critical touchstones that redefine the entire narrative. Last Impressions offers an in-depth analysis of the literary strategies Austen employs to conclude her novels. This work explores recurring techniques, such as securing parental consent, the absence of dramatized scenes, and the use of rhetorical devices like Socratic irony and metalepsis, uncovering meaningful patterns that highlight Austen's artistry. By illuminating the intentionality behind the endings of all six of Austen's major novels, as well as her epistolary novella Lady Susan, this book provides valuable insights into her narrative architecture. In a literary landscape that has frequently dismissed Austen's conclusions, Last Impressions asserts that her final chapters demand critical engagement, challenging readers to reconsider their interpretations and appreciate her enduring complexity."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Austen's Telos: Speeding Truth into the World

"Abjuring All Future Attachments": Teaching the Reader to Desire the Right Object in Lady Susan

Parental Tyranny and Filial Disobedience: Socratic Irony and Metalepsis in Northanger Abbey

Forced Retrospection in Sense and Sensibility: Willoughby's Desire for "Something Like Forgiveness" on "More Reasonable Grounds"

"The Happiest, Wisest, Most Reasonable End": Silence, Spatial Dislocation, Secrets, and the Sublime in Pride and Prejudice

"As Nearly for Ever as Possible": Apophasis in Mansfield Park

"The Perfect Happiness of the Union": Undeceiving Mr. Knightley and the Reader in Emma

The Oracles of Kellynch and Uppercross: Predicting the Future in Persuasion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Online resource; title from PDF title page (De Gruyter Brill, viewed January 8, 2026).

Other Format:

Print version: Kenney, Theresa M. Last impressions.

ISBN:

9781487559892

1487559895

1487559887

9781487559885

OCLC:

1484324744

Publisher Number:

CIPO000319660

Access Restriction:

Access restricted to LAC onsite clients. Online access with authorization.

Restricted for use by site license