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Here are some exerpts from the book:



 

Excerpt #1
Excerpt #2

Excerpt #2

From Chapter Twelve, or how to respond to a proposal from a nineteenth-century gentleman:

What do you say to a man you are supposed to know but don’t but he proposes to you anyway and he lives in a different time period? I peruse my mental catalogue of Jane Austen dialogue for possibilities. Emma’s I have no thoughts of matrimony at present might lead Edgeworth to attribute it, like Mr. Collins, to my wishing to increase his love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females. And Emma’s Believe me, sir, I am far, very far, from gratified in being the object of such professions is far too harsh. As is Lizzy Bennet’s You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it. Even if I wanted to say yes, I couldn’t expect Jane Austen to do all the work. After all, what did Emma say to Mr. Knightley? Just what she ought, of course.

Edgeworth’s squeezing my hands snaps me out of search mode. “Allow me to interpret this interesting silence as a favorable reply?”

Oh my God. He is practically quoting Mr. Elton verbatim, and Emma hasn’t even been written yet.

He raises my hands to his lips, but I extricate them before he can seal the deal. “I don’t mean to be rude, but -- are you out of your mind?”