{"product_id":"jane-austens-fashion-bible-by-ros-ballaster","title":"Jane Austen's Fashion Bible by Ros Ballaster (Macmillan Collector's Library)","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-display font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+\u0026amp;]:mt-4\" id=\"3-jane-austens-fashion-bible-by-ros-ballaster\"\u003eJane Austen's Fashion Bible by Ros Ballaster\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003eTwo centuries ago, Jane Austen's novels captured the wit, intelligence and romantic yearnings of Regency heroines in exquisite prose. What did those heroines actually wear? \u003cem\u003eJane Austen's Fashion Bible\u003c\/em\u003e brings together the world of Austen's novels with the visual reality of Regency fashion, creating a remarkable dialogue between literature and material culture. Drawing on exquisite colour illustrations from the period magazine \u003cem\u003eLa Belle Assemblée\u003c\/em\u003e, Ros Ballaster matches detailed descriptions of elaborate evening gowns, elegant walking dresses, charming seaside outfits and intimate domestic wear with passages from Austen's published novels, letters and manuscript fiction. The fashion plates come alive when read alongside Elizabeth Bennet's spirited observations or Anne Elliot's quiet dignity; the clothes become character, and character becomes visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003eProfessor Ballaster's lively commentary guides the reader through this fascinating intersection of fashion history and literary culture, revealing how what women wore both reflected and shaped their social position, romantic prospects and personal agency. From the elaborate embellishments of evening wear to the telling details of a morning dress, \u003cem\u003eJane Austen's Fashion Bible\u003c\/em\u003e shows that Austen was not merely writing about fashion—she was writing through it, using clothes as a language of self-expression and social commentary. This beautifully illustrated edition is essential for Austen devotees, fashion historians, and anyone curious about how the material world and literary imagination intertwine. A gift that celebrates both Austen's genius and the visual splendour of her era.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Literary Cat Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52855367532808,"sku":"9781035049127","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0967\/7688\/0392\/files\/9781035049127.jpg?v=1763915933","url":"https:\/\/literarycatbooks.myshopify.com\/products\/jane-austens-fashion-bible-by-ros-ballaster","provider":"Literary Cat Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}