Charlotte Brontë wrote some memorable criticism of Jane Austen. What particularly affronted her was Jane Austen's treatment of emotion. This suggests grounds for comparison. If conducted historically the comparison makes more sense. It also helps to consider the novel as 'conjectural history', i.e. to assign (some) novels not to the category of make-believe (creating imaginary worlds which only make sense if certain conventions are accepted), nor that of lying (evoking possible but partial worlds for consolation), but that of guesswork (considering what might have happened in this world).