A Memoir of Jane Austen (Illustrated) E-Book

J.E. Austen Leigh

• Herausgeber: Bauer Books
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature. Her realism, biting irony and social commentary have gained her historical importance among scholars and critics.

Leseprobe

J.E.

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Table of contents

JANE AUSTEN PREFACE.

T HE M EMOIR of my A UNT, J ANE A USTEN, has been received with more favour than I had ventured to expect. The notices taken of it in the periodical press, as well as letters addressed to me by many with whom I am not personally acquainted, show that an unabated interest is still taken in every particular that can be told about her. I am thus encouraged not only to offer a Second Edition of the Memoir, but also to enlarge it with some additional matter which I might have scrupled to intrude on the public if they had not thus seemed to call for it. In the present Edition, the narrative is somewhat enlarged, and a few more letters are added; with a short specimen of her childish stories. The cancelled chapter of ‘Persuasion’ is given, in compliance with wishes both publicly and privately expressed. A fragment of a story entitled ‘The Watsons’ is printed; and extracts are given from a novel which she had begun a few months before her death; but the chief addition is a short tale never before published, called ‘Lady Susan.’ {0a} I regret that the little which I have been able to add could not appear in my First Edition; as much of it was either unknown to me, or not at my command, when I first published; and I hope that I may claim some indulgent allowance for the difficulty of recovering little facts and feelings which had been merged half a century deep in oblivion.

N OVEMBER 17, 1870. CHAPTER I. Introductory Remarks—Birth of Jane Austen—Her Family Connections— Their Influence on her Writings.

More than half a century has passed away since I, the youngest of the mourners, {1} attended the funeral of my dear aunt Jane in Winchester Cathedral; and now, in my old age, I am asked whether my memory will serve to rescue from oblivion any events of her life or any traits of her character to satisfy the enquiries of a generation of readers who have been born since she died. Of events her life was singularly barren: few changes and no great crisis ever broke the smooth current of its course. Even her fame may be said to have been posthumous: it did not attain to any vigorous life till she had ceased to exist. Her talents did not introduce her to the notice of other writers, or connect her with the literary world, or in any degree pierce through the obscurity of her domestic retirement. I have therefore scarcely any materials for a detailed life of my aunt; but I have a distinct recollection of her person and character; and perhaps many may take an interest in a delineation, if any such can be drawn, of that prolific mind whence sprung the Dashwoods and Bennets, the Bertrams and Woodhouses, the Thorpes and Musgroves, who have been admitted as familiar guests to the firesides of so many families, and are known there as individually and intimately as if they were living neighbours. Many may care to know whether the moral rectitude, the correct taste, and the warm affections with which she invested her ideal characters, were really existing in the native source whence those ideas flowed, and were actually exhibited by her in the various relations of life. I can indeed bear witness that there was scarcely a charm in her most delightful characters that was not a true reflection of her own sweet temper and loving heart. I was young when we lost her; but the impressions made on the young are deep, and though in the course of fifty years I have forgotten much, I have not forgotten that ‘Aunt Jane’ was the delight of all her nephews and nieces. We did not think of her as being clever, still less as being famous; but we valued her as one always kind, sympathising, and amusing. To all this I am a living witness, but whether I can sketch out such a faint outline of this excellence as shall be perceptible to others may be reasonably doubted. Aided, however, by a few survivors {3} who knew her, I will not refuse to make the attempt. I am the more inclined to undertake the task from a conviction that, however little I may have to tell, no one else is left who could tell so much of her.

* * * * * . A little spireless fane, Just seen above the woody lane, Nor does life’s stream for observation stay; It hurries all too fast to mark their way. The patten now supports each frugal dame, Which from the blue-eyed Patty takes the name. THE MYSTERY. AN UNFINISHED COMEDY. DEDICATION. T R . G . I am, Sir, your most humble Servant, T A . THE MYSTERY, A COMEDY. . . . Col. E . F E . OLD H . Mrs. H Y H . Sir Edward Spangle Daphne. and Corydon. ACT I. S I.— . C . . But hush: I am interrupted. [ C . O H S , . . It is for that reason that I wish you to follow my advice. Are you convinced of its propriety? . I am, sir, and will certainly act in the manner you have pointed out to me. . Then let us return to the house. [ . SCENE II.— H ’ . M . H F . . You understand me, my love? . Perfectly, ma’am: pray continue your narration. . Alas! it is nearly concluded; for I have nothing more to say on the subject. . Ah! here is Daphne. D . . My dear Mrs. Humbug, how d’ye do? Oh! Fanny, it is all over. . Is it indeed! . I’m very sorry to hear it. . Then ‘twas to no purpose that I— . None upon earth. . And what is to become of—? . Oh! ‘tis all settled. ( M . H .) . And how is it determined? . I’ll tell you. ( F .) . Well, now I know everything about it, I’ll go away. . and . And so will I. [ . SCENE III.— S E S . C . E . END OF THE FIRST ACT. FINIS. * * * * * Her own mature opinion of the desirableness of such an early habit of composition is given in the following words of a niece:— ‘M P , ‘Pera of Galata, May y 6th 1686. T M M . L . 1. 2. 3. Angelic woman! past my power to praise In language meet thy talents, temper, mind, Thy solid worth, thy captivating grace, Thou friend and ornament of human kind. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Can aught enhance such goodness? yes, to me Her partial favour from my earliest years Consummates all: ah! give me but to see Her smile of love! The vision disappears. 10. 11. Fain would I feel an union with thy fate: * * * * * * * * * * The first is to her sister Cassandra, who was then staying with their brother Edward at Godmersham Park, Kent:— ‘Steventon, Saturday evening, Nov. 8th. ‘M C , ‘I am yours ever, ‘J. A.’ ‘Steventon, Wednesday evening, Nov. 12th. ‘M M , ‘M C , . . ‘Lyme, Friday, Sept. 14 (1804). ‘25 Gay Street (Bath), Monday, April 8, 1805. ‘Yours ever, . ‘Gay St. Sunday Evening, ‘April 21 (1805). ‘I shall write to Charles by the next packet, unless you tell me in the meantime of your intending to do it. ‘Believe me, if you chuse, ‘Y aff Sister.’ The well-appointed King at Hampton Pier Embark his royalty. . O M . G M G , E . O - F M . W , , , . ‘So, Miss B. is actually married, but I have never seen it in the papers; and one may as well be single if the wedding is not to be in print.’ 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. . ‘Chawton, Aug. 10, 1814. ‘Sept. 9. ‘Sept. 28. ‘Hans Place (Nov. 1814). . Chawton, Friday, January 29 (1813). Chawton, Thursday, February 4 (1813). The following letter seems to have been written soon after the last two: in February 1813:— ‘Sloane Street, Thursday, May 20 (1813). ‘M C , ‘Henrietta Street, Wednesday, March 2 (1814). ‘M C , ‘Yours aff ., ‘J. A .’ CHAPTER VII. .