Jane Bites Back 3

Something that I am noticing is how much background knowledge I am using while reading this book. The author not only mentions a bunch of Jane Austen works (and spin-offs) but he mentions other books as well (like How Stella Got Her Groove Back and The Devil Wears Prada). It's helpful that I have also already read these books because I can see the sarcasm that the author is trying to get across and if I hadn't then I might not see how funny the author is being.

Also, my background knowledge and familiarity with literature is helping me think and inference about some of the characters. A man from Jane's past has come back into her life. His name is Brian and he is a poet. Knowing what I know about poets from the past and how the author is describing this character, I can only guess that he is actually Lord Byron and he's a vampire as well (which is interesting because there is speculation that Lord Byron had a relationship with a vampire and that is what the poem She Walks in Beauty is about). Now, I'm only guessing, but with Brian being a poet and seemingly is a vampire from Jane's past, the coincidence is too much to ignore.

She Walks In Beauty

by George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824)

Composed June, 1814

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!