Truly excellent. This is a great book for tea lovers, Jane Austen fans, and readers who enjoy glimpses into focused social history.

Wilson has compiled a book detailing how tea was "done" in Jane Austen's time (the late 18th and early 19th centuries). Since this predates the Victorian era, which solidified the British tea time as we know it today, the book gives an insightful glimpse into the forces that were shaping not only tea services but also British society. The author spends each chapter focused on one area where tea would have been used in Jane Austen's world. In addition to quotes and insights from Austen herself, Wilson explores how the perception of tea was changing in her parents' youth. Tea facts are interspersed with quotes from Austen and her contemporary writers. An extensive bibliography, period artwork, a beautiful layout, and recipes (with their original notes and modern conversions & directions) add to the authenticity of this work.

My only quibble (and it's too minor to downgrade the rating) was that I did not know enough about Austen herself to read without a little reference. Wilson extensively quotes Austen's unfinished/unpublished works, as well as letters to and from family members. A quick bibliography and family tree or biography at the beginning would have been helpful. However, context got me through 95% of this.

Highly recommended for tea enthusiasts and Austen fans.

I adore Jane Austen and am fascinated by the role of tea throughout time and culture. An avid tea fan, I am impressed with the quality and variety of teas currently available (black, green, white, herbal, etc.) and, having had the pleasure of partaking in various tea ceremonies in Japan and Great Britain, am intrigued by the importance of tea as a social ritual in such disparate cultures throughout the centuries. From the beautiful orchestration of the Asian tea ceremony to the delightful sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats of the elegant Anglo-Irish tradition, sitting down to tea with a group of friends remains as pleasant a social and culinary experience as it has been throughout the ages. Though the American experience of partaking in tea is light on ceremony, the opportunity to gather with friends over a steaming cup is a wonderful experience to be savored.

As someone who loves Jane Austen and tea, this was the perfect book for me. It was fun to read about tea rituals during Austen's era and how the drink related to her and her characters. It was also interesting to see the tea time recipes from the Georgian period and how Wilson was able to adapt them for our modern kitchens. Overall, the book is an enjoyable look at this favorite beverage in the context of the social, literary, and culinary history surrounding Jane Austen.

I was given this book as a Christmas gift (Thanks Lisa!), and had no idea what to expect. Overall, I was pleased with the context. Kim Wilson provides the history of tea in England, as well as describing the influences tea had on Jane Austen. This was an enjoyable short read, it only took me two days to read this book leisurely.

Obviously, I am interested in anything that has to do with Jane Austen. I happened to see this somewhere online and borrowed it from the library. I will say, this book is far more substantive than I initially expected. It's not just a silly book that muses on what it would be like to have tea with Jane Austen, but gives an in depth look at social customs of the early 19th century and provides recipes for foods that one might be served at the time (among many other things). Overall, it was very interesting!

Kitapta verilen tarifleri denemeyi planlıyorum. Özellikle de içki tariflerini :D
Keyifliydi :)

Tea With Jane Austen is a fun, light read all about tea. Kim Wilson combines historical facts about tea, knowledge of the Austen family's tea traditions, excerpts from Jane Austen's works and letters referencing tea, quotes from various poems and songs about tea, and recipes from the 18th and 19th centuries accompanied by modern translations to create a worthy tea companion book.

I learned a lot of cool things about the history of tea. For example, Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, originated afternoon tea around 1840 after complaining of a "sinking feeling" in the afternoon. So she'd take tea and snacks in her room, inviting friends to join her. I also didn't know that it was fashionable to have dinner late, as early dinner was more common practice than that of high society.

I skipped to the last chapter before diving into the book so I could learn how to brew the perfect cuppa. It proved beneficial because I was able to enjoy many cups of tea while reading this. While more illustrations, or even photos, could make this book more worthwhile, Tea With Jane Austen is still an enjoyable read that I'll probably read again.

Tea is an important part of all Jane Austen's works. She was the keeper and maker of tea in her family and each chapter of this small book contains a description of how tea was served at a particular place or time of day. It includes history, recipes, and even how to make a perfect cup of tea.

I liked this little book about the life and times of Jane Austen from the perspective of tea time. Since I love tea, this was especially delightful. I also felt that some of the subtleties of Austen's novels were further explained to a modern reader, for example, the dreaded Mrs. Elton was made even worse by my new understanding of what she was really saying about entertaining guests and drinking tea!

I saw this book on the shelf of the bookstore where I work, and since I love tea and Jane Austen, thought I’d read it in between customers. Very interesting: the history of the ritual of tea, and references to tea in her novels. Also recipes for some of the goodies served at teas. A very nice, quick read.

a must-read for any fan of Austen and a perfect cup of tea :p

A delightful, quick read for lovers of tea and Jane Austen. It was more informative than I anticpated and I loved the quotes mixed in from Austen's books, letters and even cookbooks from her time. This book made me smile and feel a bond with the author and fellow readers who obviously agree that curling up with a good cup of tea and an Austen novel is a lovely way to spend an evening.