Is It Jane?

I love giving you quizzes...maybe I was a teacher in a previous life.

One of the things that sets Jane Austen apart is, of course, her language and her wit. Authors of historical and especially Regency-set fiction strive to match her sly sense of humor and lightly satirical touch. Do they succeed? Well, why don't you decide?

Below are seven quotes...some are by The Jane, and others are by (ahem) various authors of historical fiction. Can you tell which are true JA, and which aren't? Answers will be posted in the comments section...and don't forget, all commenters during our two-week Jane Appreciation Fortnight will be entered in a drawing to win a delightful bag of Janeian books and other goodies.

Good luck!


1. "A scoundrel prides himself on his ability to turn a lady's head. I do not trust sweet words. They rarely lead to anything but trouble."

2. "My love, you contradict everybody," said his wife, with her usual laugh. "Do you know that you are quite rude?"
"I did not know that I contradicted anybody in calling your mother ill-bred."
"Aye, you may abuse me as you please," said the good-natured old lady. "You have taken Charlotte off my hands, and cannot give her back again. So there I have the whip hand of you."

3. "Dancing was not to his liking; in fact, it was he who had first been heard to utter the now-famous epithet that dancing represented society's sanction, in public, vertical expression, of what were essentially private, horizontal desires."

4. "A kaleidoscope of gowns in every shade and tone, topped by headdresses sometimes charming, sometimes fearsome, swept by her in all directions as ladies who had probably taken tea together just hours before greeted one another with insincere shrieks of joy and cries of admiration."

5. "You are inimitable, irresistible. You are the delight of my life. You are worth your weight in gold, or even the new silver coinage."

6. "The doctor snorted. 'Romantic indeed,' he said. 'But then everything is romantic to young ladies these days, isn't it?'"

7. "A family of ten children will always be called a fine family, where there are heads, and arms, and legs enough for the number...."