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Why did Mark Twain hate the writings of Jane Austen so much? And should I know if my writing is as bad instinctually?

Mark Sterling
Mark Sterling
Research Editor · Mar 6, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Austen is actually an incredibly *good* writer, whose style unfortunately is now very antiquated. [This blog post](_URL_0_) suggests Twain was being sarcastic, and actually appreciated Austen. But Twain was a sharp critic of overly flowery language — and Austen wrote at the apex of the era of "l…

112
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1 min
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#83
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The Short Answer

Austen is actually an incredibly *good* writer, whose style unfortunately is now very antiquated. [This blog post](_URL_0_) suggests Twain was being sarcastic, and actually appreciated Austen. But Twain was a sharp critic of overly flowery language — and Austen wrote at the apex of the era of "less direct is best" writing style. So maybe he honestly hated the prose. You can't possibly write like Austen, for good or for ill. You don't have the abstruse vocabulary or patience with tenses to pull off one of her circumlocutions. If you're afraid she's rubbing off on you, read a little Hemingway and you'll level out at a normal level somewhere in between.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Austen, good, style

This explanation focuses on austen, good, style and spans 112 words across 7 sentences. At 65% above the average Psychology explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Austen is actually an incredibly *good* writer, whose style unfortunately is now very antiquated.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 7 connected points.

How This Compares in Psychology

Ranked #83 of 500 Psychology questions by answer depth (top 17%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why mark twain hate the writings of jane austen so much? and should i know if my writing is as bad instinctually?

Austen is actually an incredibly *good* writer, whose style unfortunately is now very antiquated. [This blog post](_URL_0_) suggests Twain was being sarcastic, and actually appreciated Austen. But Twain was a sharp critic of overly flowery language…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Psychology questions?

This is one of the most thorough answer at 112 words, ranked #83 of 500 Psychology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are austen, good, style.

What approach does this answer take to explain mark twain hate the writings of jane austen so much? and sho?

The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 112 words. It is categorized under Psychology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.