People
I am looking over Self Control again, & my opinion is confirmed of its being an excellently-meant, elegantly-written Work, without anything of Nature or Probability in it.
— Jane Austen
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
A sharply witty piece of literary criticism, praising a novel's craftsmanship while sarcastically noting how disconnected it feels from real, believable life. The backhanded compliment captures a sardonic sense of humor, appreciating fine writing even as it mocks the work's lack of genuine plausibility.
Context reviewed