Faking Austen Expertise

​Not everyone of us has read and analyzed every written classic on the planet. And then there are those of us who steer clear of reading altogether. Well, of course there are better things to do. However, as fate would have it, one will come across a literature snob, sooner or later, and would eventually be looked down upon. 
So the next time you sense an incoming encounter with a literature snob or for that matter your intellectual crush, get hold of the quick read; Who's Afraid of Jane Austen? How to Really Talk About Books You Haven't Read by Henry Hitchings.
Lets face it. Reading Ulysses, cover by cover, is not everyone's cup of tea. This witty book will help you feign a classic's knowledge without going through the trauma of actually reading one. However, the guide can only arm you against the snobs. If you come across a book lover who reads because they like to and not to boast, then please don't overshare your freshly-acquired shallow expertise. They can sense it when you are bluffing. 
Notwithstanding the title, the book is not solely meant to rescue you in your literary encounters . It is an enlightening read and more about persuading you to read those classics that you have not read yet. It will make it easier for you to decide whether or not to finally read a literary masterpiece that has long been on that bucket list. This book is a fun way to find more about many classics and to determine if you would enjoy reading them.

-Hitchings, Henry. Who's Afraid of Jane Austen? How to Really Talk About Books You Haven't Read (London: John Murray Publishers, 2008): 262 pages

---