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(Anonymous) 2009-11-21 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Austen and the Brontes are readable for pretty much exactly the same reasons Shogun was a hit. They are visages into deeply alien societies, Science fiction for the masses with the respectability of being considered classics added on top. As romances, they are not so hot.

[identity profile] icecreamempress.livejournal.com 2009-11-22 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
I think lots of women dig Austen as romance. I know that I think Persuasion is much more romantic than any contemporary romance novel.

And I don't really see the problem, either: the Austen heroes love the heroines for their spunkiness, independent thought, and wish to help others, not for their giant breasts or whatever.