Introduction

 

 

Jane Austen is one of the giants of English literature. Her name is the first to spring to mind when talking of Georgian society at the turn of the seventeenth/eighteenth century. It has been over two hundred years since Pride and Prejudice was written – but the story is as relevant and enjoyable today as it was then.  The sparkling wit, lively characters and engrossing stories have been turned into films, musicals and have encouraged generations of writers to try their hand at creating sequels. Her books continue to fascinate, and capture the attention of readers and filmgoers alike.  Memorable films include the BBC adaptation starring Colin Firth and the Bollywood version Bride & Prejudice.

 

This is the story of Jane Austen and her books.  It shows how her work has become an integral part of English literature and film, and looks at the many places which are associated with her from Bath to York, London to India, Chatsworth to Hollywood. Around a hundred locations are involved, each detailing the links with Jane Austen and her work, plus historic and tourist information. A unique combination of biography and guide, this book will inform and entertain as well as providing lots of ideas as to where to go to see the places associated with Jane.

 

 

Jane Austen and her books

Sparkling and witty, the stories of Jane Austen are memorable – especially Pride and Prejudice. Numerous film versions constantly bring her stories vividly alive to new audiences.  Knowing that so many people continue to enjoy her stories over two hundred years later, would certainly have pleased her.

 

From a very early age, she loved writing stories but preferred to keep her identity anonymous.  When her brother Henry identified her as the author of Pride and Prejudice to some friends, Jane was extremely annoyed commenting ‘A thing once set going in that way – one knows how it spreads’.  At her death, few knew who she was.  Her original gravestone in Winchester Cathedral made no mention of her work as an author.  It was only when her nephew Edward wrote a memorial to his aunt in 1870, and used the money raised to erect a brass plaque referring to ‘Jane Austen, known to many by her writings…..’, that her identity as the author of Pride & Prejudice and other novels became well known.

 

Born 16 December 1775, in the quiet village of Steventon, Hampshire, Jane was the daughter of the local clergyman.  As such she was a member of the gentry, but the family was never very well off.  Her mother Cassandra was related by birth to minor aristocracy and various Oxford scholars. 

 

There were seven children in the family, mostly older than Jane.  She had five brothers – four older than her and one younger.  Two became officers in the navy, fighting against Napoleon; another two followed their father’s steps into the church.  There was another brother, born nine years before Jane, who had some kind of handicap.  The child was brought up by distant neighbours and had no contact with the remainder of the Austen family.

 

Jane was closest to Edward, her third brother and her older sister Cassandra. Edward Austen was adopted by the wealthy, but childless, Thomas Knight, a relative of the Austen’s.  Edward took his name and eventually inherited the Godmersham and Chawton House estates.  

 

Jane grew up in a very friendly, relaxed environment. Reverend Austen possessed a good library with all the latest novels. After dinner, he would read extracts to the family together with poetry by Cowper.  Jane read widely including Shakespeare, gothic novels, and travelogues.  She could speak some French and Italian. Most of her education was undertaken at home with just a few years at school between 1782 and 1787. Cassandra and Jane were sent away to school in 1782, attending schools in Oxford, Southampton and Reading. Jane enjoyed writing, and from a very early age was writing stories and plays. One of her most famous early works was entitled a History of England and included irreverent comments such as ‘Lord Cobham was burnt alive, but I forget what for.’

 

Jane was known for her humour and wit.  In one of her letters she wrote about a woman who gave birth early as a result of a fright, commenting ‘she must have seen her husband!’ 

 

There is only one confirmed image of Jane that tells us what she looked like.  This image was sketched by her sister Cassandra in 1810. A tiny watercolour, it now resides in the National Portrait Gallery, London. The image resembles the written description provided by Sir Egerton Brydges following a visit to Steventon: “her hair was dark brown and curled naturally, her large dark eyes were widely opened and expressive. She had clear brown skin and blushed so brightly and so readily’.

 

Life at Steventon Rectory provided Jane with a busy social life.  As members of the gentry, they were invited to balls, dances and house visits. Jane’s letters and writings include many references to such events.  She attended a New Year’s Ball at Kempshott Park in 1800; visited the Hansons of Farleigh House, and the Bolton’s of Hackwood Park. 

 

Although Jane had many suitors, she never married.  She is believed to have fallen in love with Lefoy, an Irish lawyer who was staying with relatives of the Austens. Unfortunately, Lefoy had to marry money and Jane had none.  The affair ended, Lefoy returned to his studies and eventually became Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.  The situation gave Jane much scope for thought, and she was able to put it to good use in her novels, especially Pride & Prejudice. As in Pride & Prejudice, the relationship between Lefoy and Jane was blighted by conflicting attitudes and social problems.

 

Her life changed dramatically when her father decided to retire, handing the living to his son James.  With limited funds at their disposal, the family moved to Bath and took lodgings there. Jane was unhappy with the move. It is said that she fainted on hearing the news but eventually wrote “I get more and more reconciled to the idea of our removal. We have lived long enough in this neighbourhood …. There is something interesting in the bustle of going away, and the prospect of spending future summers by the sea or in Wales is delightful.”

 

Life in Bath was very sedate.  Although there were balls and assemblies to attend, much of her life was spent in walks around the town and drinking the waters.   There were offers of marriage, but these fell through. One offer was from Harris Bigg-Wether.  It was a suitable match, as he was heir to an estate and the brother of one of her friends.  Jane initially accepted the offer, but changed her mind the next day saying ‘she was not prepared to marry for the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment.’ 

 

Some years later, she told her niece Fanny that ‘Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without Affection.’

 

Further change came in 1805, when Reverend Austen died, leaving his widow and two daughters with an income of just £500.  They had to find cheaper accommodation.  Jane’s brothers provided a small additional income.  When Frank Austen was given a posting in Southampton, they moved to join him and his new wife in their lodgings. Jane welcomed the move, commenting ‘with what happy feelings of Escape.’  By the time Frank and Mary moved to the Isle of Wight, Edward Austen had inherited the Chawton Estate and was able to provide a permanent home for his mother and sisters at Chawton.

 

Life became a round of social calls, family duties, needlework, playing the piano and writing.  The family rose about 7 or 8 am undertaking daily chores before breakfast at 10.00am.  Social calls would be made on most days, with the evening meal being taken about 5pm.  She spent many hours writing letters to friends and family.  The number of pages per letter affected the price paid by the recipient. Consequently, her letters were always crammed as full as possible. She used abbreviations such as yr, wd, morn and when the sheet was full, she would turn it sideways and write crossways over the existing lines.  Once complete, the edges would be tucked around, sealed with a coloured wax (known as a wafer) and impressed with a seal.

 

In an age when single women were regarded as being past marriageable age by their mid twenties, Jane’s future options became very limited. As a result, Jane and her sister Cassandra settled for a life helping relatives, taking charge of other households when required.  They acted as companions to each other, and to various relatives when required.  Jane saw her future as an aunt rather than a wife and mother.  She was also seeking to become a professional writer. Jane wrote for her own pleasure – she did not want fame and fortune.

 

She sold her first novel, Susan, to a publisher in 1803 but it was never published. Jane eventually repurchased the rights and rewrote it as Northanger Abbey. It tells of the activities of Catherine Morland, a keen reader of Gothic novels. Invited to visit Bath in the company of friends, she meets a young gentleman named Henry Tilney.  Visiting his home, she finds the house reminiscent of a gothic novel, and is convinced that horrors have taken place there.  His father opposes the relationship developing between Catherine and Henry, and there are further problems caused by her friendship with the Thorpes before all ends happily.

 

Her first published story was ‘Sense and Sensibility, A novel in 3 volumes by a Lady’.  Her identity was not revealed. Reviewers described it as ‘a genteel, well written novel’ and ‘a pleasing narrative’. 

 

This story is sometimes described as a comedy of manners as well as romantic fiction.  It deals with the problems and romantic attachments of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne. Changes in their financial status mean that they have to move to a cottage on a distant relative’s estate, they both encounter love and heartbreak, particularly with regard to the handsome scoundrel John Willoughby. Only after considerable difficulty, does Marianne discover that she really loves Colonel Brandon and Elinor is reunited with her sweetheart, Edward Ferrars.

 

Within two years, Jane had made a profit of £140.  Pride and Prejudice soon followed.  It tells the story of the Bennett sisters focusing on the problems of finding a husband when money and resources are limited.  The central characters are Elizabeth and Darcy. The story follows their relationship from initial dislike through to love and marriage despite problems caused by

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 22.03.2014
ISBN: 978-3-7309-9412-2

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