By Sophia Sullivan, Editorials Editor
When one thinks of Jane Austen, what does one usually think of? Typically, it’s ballgowns, carriages, and slightly unrealistic romantic encounters. But Dr. Kathryn Duncan, professor of English at Saint Leo University, thinks of the Buddha.
On March 8, 2023, Duncan performed a reading from her book, Jane Austen and the Buddha, in front of students and faculty alike. She not only explained how she formed a connection between these two iconic entities, but she also recalled her inspiration for the book.
While she read her preface, Duncan told her audience about her childhood love of novels and stories.
“Books were my friends and comforters,” she recalled fondly.
However, Duncan also classifies herself as an “anxious reader.” She described her tendency to read the same books over and over in order to “feel reassured that all will be well.”
As she underwent a few personal issues in her own life, Duncan found that this anxious reading style, along with readings of Buddhism, helped her through her own suffering. This is where the idea was born.
Duncan explained that her book, which is comprised of eight chapters, takes a dive into each of Austen’s books and main heroines, in order of least enlightened to the most enlightened.
“What novels do as an art form is what humans do every day: We create stories and live that as our reality,” wrote Duncan in her conclusion.
It is no secret that Duncan feels a keen sense of adoration towards the mind’s ability to create stories. She referenced many MRI studies that showed positive physical effects of reading.
“Buddhism teaches us to read so that all may be happy,” said Duncan.
So, there it is: the connection between the Buddha and Jane Austen: they both teach “not to get caught by stories and that our duty is to be happy.”
While Duncan may have been suffering while writing this book, it was helpful to her in her healing process.
“I wrote the book I needed to read,” said Duncan.
For now, fans of Duncan’s work can look forward to more work on bibliotherapy, in which she is particularly interested.
Some attendees of the reading were excited to purchase their own copies of Jane Austen and the Buddha at the reading, but it is also available to buy on Amazon and other bookstores online.
