The following version of this poem was used to create this guide: Stevenson, Anne. “Re-Reading Jane.” fleurs du mal, https://fleursdumal.nl/mag/anne-stevenson-re-reading-jane. Note that all parenthetical citations refer to the line number from which the quotation is taken.

“Re-Reading Jane” is a three-stanza poem by English-American poet Anne Stevenson. It was written in response to a memorial plaque for Jane Austen, which sits inside Winchester Cathedral, England. Lines from the plaque are included in the poem, as well as references to specific characters in Austen’s novels. The speaker of the poem reflects on these novels and the way they explore the human condition.