This volume investigates the historical reception of Jane Austen’s novels by tracking critical responses from the initial publication of her works through the Victorian era. B. C. Southam, a noted scholar of Austen’s life and work, compiles a comprehensive collection of contemporary reviews, letters, and essays. By organizing these primary sources chronologically, the book demonstrates how the perception of Austen’s literary reputation evolved from a minor novelist of manners to a canonical figure in English literature.

Scholars and students of 19th-century literature frequently cite this work as a foundational resource for understanding the reception history of the Austen canon. The text is recognized for its academic rigor and its utility in tracing the development of literary criticism during the Victorian period.