Much Ado About Loving What Our Favorite Novels Can Teach You About Date Expectations, Not So-Great Gatsbys, and Love in the Time of Internet Personals

"A treat for any book lover, happily mated or cheerfully single" ( USA TODAY)two popular journalists give hilarious relationship advice borrowed from the most famous characters in literature. In our quest to reach romantic nirvana, we turn to self-help manuals, daytime TV, magazines, talk shows, friends, relatives, and shrinks. But we've forgotten a far better source of wisdom: the timeless stories written by the great novelists. Jane Austen was around long before Oprahand though ladies in tight-laced corsets didn't have to deal with Internet profiles or speed dating, they can help us better understand why first impressions shouldn't necessarily be lasting ( Sense and Sensibility) and why sometimes it's okay to date bad boys ( Jane Eyre). The authors of Much Ado About Lovinghave combined expert dating advice with literary criticism. Maura Kelly and Jack Murnighan have gone through as many romantic highs and lows as Bridget Jones and Don Juan combined. They've also stayed in plenty of nights, comforting themselves with great novels and learning a few lifetimes' worth of lessons in the bargain. Whether they're talking about Moby Dickheads or why brides are prejudiced, each chapter will get you thinkingand keep you laughing all the way to a great relationship.

Jack Murnighan has a Ph.D. in medieval and renaissance literature from Duke University. His book, Beowulf on the Beach helped tens of thousands of readers rediscover their love of the classics. His two previous books, The Naughty Bits and Classic Nasty, were critically acclaimed tours of sexuality in the history of literature. He lives in New York City.

Maura Kelly has been a staff writer for Glamour, a daily dating blogger for Marie Claire, and a relationships columnist for amNew York. Her work has appeared in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, More, The Boston Globe, and Rolling Stone. She received her BA in psychology from Dartmouth College and her MFA in creative writing. She lives in New York City.