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Jane Austen’s Brother: Oh What a Henry!

May 2, 2023

Growing up in Steventon, the rectory was a happy and harmonious place partly due to Henry Thomas Austen. He was the third born son of his five brothers, James, George, Francis and Charles.

Henry had a lively personality and was good looking, which makes it surprising that he married late in life, first his cousin Eliza and then Eleanor Jackson. He chose a variety of careers, and was first a banker, then a soldier, a finally a clergyman.

He remained in the county of Hampshire and the nearby county of Surrey for most of his life, before a brief spell in France, before returning to Kent where he is buried.

Brother and Sister

Henry and Jane were particularly close, as Cassandra was to Edward. Jane’s niece Caroline commented that Henry was Jane’s ‘special pride and delight.’

They looked alike and had the same temperament, as both were positive, cheerful, and had an optimistic outlook. Whenever anyone did something funny, Jane and Cassandra would laugh.. ‘Oh, What a Henry!‘

Henry was good looking, had a lively personality and was loved. He was often welcomed at Godmersham by his brother Edward and his family, and his many nieces and nephews enjoyed his company.

A Banker, a baker, a candlestick maker

With Henry having such an outgoing personality, it made sense that he would have different careers throughout his life.

Being born into such a talented family, it may have been difficult for Henry to choose a profession his brothers had not already excelled at. His eldest brother James was a clever scholar, publisher and a curate of the church. His brothers Charles and Francis entered the Navy and fought for their country, winning many prizes and promotions. Edward was adopted by wealthy cousins, who trained him to manage estates with a view to inheriting a fortune.

He first went into Banking in Alton and London, which eventually went bankrupt. He had spell in the Oxford Militia, and was later ordained a priest and became a master at Farnham Grammar School in Surrey.

Life and Death

Henry caught a fever and became very ill, and almost died. It was Jane who nursed him back to health at his house in London, where she spent many months nursing him, and it was a close call. At one point she called the family to his bedside to pray for him.

It was during this time that the Apothecary that nursed Henry knew the Prince Regent’s librarian, a great admirer of Jane’s novels, and made the introduction that would lead to Jane dedicating her novel Emma to the Prince Regent.

For the Love of Eliza

Henry met his exotic cousin when she visited Steventon in his youth. The Austen children would put on plays together, similar to those Jane imagines in Mansfield Park. Eliza was married at the time, and it was only when her husband was killed in France, did she return to England and her Austen cousins. They were married on New Years Eve 1797 in London. Henry was heartbroken when Eliza died in April 1813 at the young age of 51, after a long illness.

After Jane’s Death

After Jane’s death Henry acted as her literary executor. He initially remained in Hampshire and was as curate of Chawton for three more years, and also served as chaplain to the British Embassy in Berlin for five months during that period.

In 1820, Henry remarried Eleanor Jackson who was the niece of the Reverend Papillon at Chawton. The same Reverend Papillon that Mrs Knight had hoped Jane would marry.

When he retired from the church, Henry lived in France for a time before returning to his family in Kent. He died at Tunbridge Wells on 12 March 1850 at the age of seventy-eight. He is buried at Woodbury Park Cemetery in Tunbridge Wells.

Further Reading – Henry Austen: The Banker’s Sister by E J Clery

My Dear Cassandra…

March 22, 2023

My Dear Cassandra.. Jane Austen Letter written October 1798 on display at Jane Austen’s Chawton Cottage

I bought some Japan ink likewise, and next week shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend..
Jane Austen letter to Cassandra Austen, 27-28 October 1798

A rare letter written by Jane to her sister Cassandra is on display from 22 March 2023 as part of their spring exhibition A Year of Cassandra.

The letter from Jane is dated 27-28 October 1798 and it is one of the earliest that Jane wrote of the 160 or so letters that have survived. Many of Jane’s letters to her sister were destroyed by Cassandra shortly before her own death, making surviving examples rare.

Prof Kathryn Sutherland, a trustee of Jane Austen’s House, said it would be a ‘bright jewel’ in the museum’s collection.

Jane wrote the letter from the Rectory at Steventon to Cassandra who was staying with their brother Edward at Godmersham Park, Kent.

It is full of Jane’s usual wit about their family and friends, as well as domestic news. Jane had just returned from a journey to Staines where her travel trunk was almost lost when put on a carriage going elsewhere.

In this letter she talks about Nanny, and how she let her do her unpacking for her. Jane talks about bad weather and how the grapes could be spoiled, the gloves she purchased for Cassandra. All mixed with updates throughout about their mother’s heath which was a constant concern – although she lived to be 88 years old!

Almost everything was unpacked and put away last night. Nanny chose to do it, and I was not sorry to be busy. I have unpacked the gloves, and placed yours in your drawer. Their color is light and pretty, and I believe exactly what we fixed on.
Jane Austen letter to Cassandra Austen, 27-28 October 1798

Photograph c Luke Shears, Jane Austen’s House

Jane was a much loved aunt and ends the letter with, ‘Pray give Fanny and Edward a kiss from me, and ask George if he has got a new song for me’. She was no doubt missing them dearly.

You can read the letter in full below.

Authenticity

Cassandra Austen (1773 – 1845) continued to live at Chawton Cottage after Jane’s death and is buried in St Nicholas Church, Chawton alongside her mother.

After Cassandra’s death, the letter was bequeathed to their fondest niece Fanny who was Edward’s eldest child. She later became Lady Knatchbull upon her marriage. She in turn bequeathed to her son, Lord Brabourne in 1882, who published it in the Letters of Jane Austen.

The letter comes to Jane Austen’s House Museum through the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, administered by the Arts Council and Cheffins Auctioneers in Cambridge. A Cambridge resident acquired the letter in 2000, and after their death, the family wanted the letter to go to Jane Austen’s House.

A Year of Cassandra Exhibition

A Year of Cassandra spring exhibition at the Jane Austen House Museum opens on 22 March and will run until 29 October 2023. It is free with your House Entry Ticket. There is also an online series of events.

Book your ticket for the exhibition at Jane Austen House Museum

Join a unique online guided tour of Jane Austen’s House featuring Cassandra ‘virtually’ on 1 May 2023: Buy Ticket Here

Find out more about A Year of Cassandra events and others at our Events Page

Letter from Jane Austen to Cassandra Austen

Miss Austen,
Godmersham Park, Faversham, Kent.

Steventon, Saturday (October 27).

My dear Cassandra,—Your letter was a most agreeable surprise to me to-day, and I have taken a long sheet of paper to show my gratitude.

We arrived here yesterday between four and five, but I cannot send you quite so triumphant an account of our last day’s journey as of the first and second. Soon after I had finished my letter from Staines, my mother began to suffer from the exercise or fatigue of travelling, and she was a good deal indisposed. She had not a very good night at Staines, but bore her journey better than I had expected, and at Basingstoke, where we stopped more than half an hour, received much comfort from a mess of broth and the sight of Mr. Lyford, who recommended her to take twelve drops of laudanum when she went to bed as a composer, which she accordingly did.

James called on us just as we were going to tea, and my mother was well enough to talk very cheerfully to him before she went to bed. James seems to have taken to his old trick of coming to Steventon in spite of Mary’s reproaches, for he was here before breakfast and is now paying us a second visit. They were to have dined here to-day, but the weather is too bad. I have had the pleasure of hearing that Martha is with them. James fetched her from Ibthorp on Thursday, and she will stay with them till she removes to Kintbury.

We met with no adventures at all in our journey yesterday, except that our trunk had once nearly slipped off, and we were obliged to stop at Hartley to have our wheels greased.

Whilst my mother and Mr. Lyford were together I went to Mrs. Ryder’s and bought what I intended to buy, but not in much perfection. There were no narrow braces for children, and scarcely any notting silk; but Miss Wood, as usual, is going to town very soon, and will lay in a fresh stock. I gave 2s. 3d. a yard for my flannel, and I fancy it is not very good, but it is so disgraceful and contemptible an article in itself that its being comparatively good or bad is of little importance. I bought some Japan ink likewise, and next week shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend.

I am very grand indeed; I had the dignity of dropping out my mother’s laudanum last night. I carry about the keys of the wine and closet, and twice since I began this letter have had orders to give in the kitchen. Our dinner was very good yesterday, and the chicken boiled perfectly tender; therefore I shall not be obliged to dismiss Nanny on that account.

Almost everything was unpacked and put away last night. Nanny chose to do it, and I was not sorry to be busy. I have unpacked the gloves, and placed yours in your drawer. Their color is light and pretty, and I believe exactly what we fixed on.

Your letter was chaperoned here by one from Mrs. Cooke, in which she says that “Battleridge” is not to come out before January, and she is so little satisfied with Cawthorn’s dilatoriness that she never means to employ him again.

Mrs. Hall, of Sherborne, was brought to bed yesterday of a dead child, some weeks before she expected, owing to a fright. I suppose she happened unawares to look at her husband.

There has been a great deal of rain here for this last fortnight, much more than in Kent, and indeed we found the roads all the way from Staines most disgracefully dirty. Steventon lane has its full share of it, and I don’t know when I shall be able to get to Deane.

I hear that Martha is in better looks and spirits than she has enjoyed for a long time, and I flatter myself she will now be able to jest openly about Mr. W.

The spectacles which Molly found are my mother’s, the scissors my father’s. We are very glad to hear such a good account of your patients, little and great. My dear itty Dordy’s remembrance of me is very pleasing to me,—foolishly pleasing, because I know it will be over so soon. My attachment to him will be more durable. I shall think with tenderness and delight on his beautiful and smiling countenance and interesting manner until a few years have turned him into an ungovernable, ungracious fellow.

The books from Winton are all unpacked and put away; the binding has compressed them most conveniently, and there is now very good room in the bookcase for all that we wish to have there. I believe the servants were very glad to see us Nanny was, I am sure. She confesses that it was very dull, and yet she had her child with her till last Sunday. I understand that there are some grapes left, but I believe not many; they must be gathered as soon as possible, or this rain will entirely rot them.

I am quite angry with myself for not writing closer; why is my alphabet so much more sprawly than yours? Dame Tilbury’s daughter has lain in. Shall I give her any of your baby clothes? The laceman was here only a few days ago. How unfortunate for both of us that he came so soon! Dame Bushell washes for us only one week more, as Sukey has got a place. John Steevens’ wife undertakes our purification. She does not look as if anything she touched would ever be clean, but who knows? We do not seem likely to have any other maidservant at present, but Dame Staples will supply the place of one. Mary has hired a young girl from Ashe who has never been out to service to be her scrub, but James fears her not being strong enough for the place.

Earle Harwood has been to Deane lately, as I think Mary wrote us word, and his family then told him that they would receive his wife, if she continued to behave well for another year. He was very grateful, as well he might; their behavior throughout the whole affair has been particularly kind. Earle and his wife live in the most private manner imaginable at Portsmouth, without keeping a servant of any kind. What a prodigious innate love of virtue she must have, to marry under such circumstances!

It is now Saturday evening, but I wrote the chief of this in the morning. My mother has not been down at all to-day; the laudanum made her sleep a good deal, and upon the whole I think she is better. My father and I dined by ourselves. How strange! He and John Bond are now very happy together, for I have just heard the heavy step of the latter along the passage.

James Digweed called to-day, and I gave him his brother’s deputation. Charles Harwood, too, has just called to ask how we are, in his way from Dummer, whither he has been conveying Miss Garrett, who is going to return to her former residence in Kent. I will leave off, or I shall not have room to add a word to-morrow.

Sunday.—My mother has had a very good night, and feels much better to-day.

I have received my aunt’s letter, and thank you for your scrap. I will write to Charles soon. Pray give Fanny and Edward a kiss from me, and ask George if he has got a new song for me. ‘Tis really very kind of my aunt to ask us to Bath again; a kindness that deserves a better return than to profit by it.

Yours ever, J. A.

Eight Lesser Known Facts About Mansfield Park

February 27, 2023

Mansfield Park is the first of Jane Austen’s three later novels she wrote in full whilst living at Chawton Cottage. Jane began Mansfield Park in 1811 whilst still revising Pride and Prejudice and she completed it in the Summer of 1813. The publisher Egerton accepted it in the November of that year, and it was published at the end of May 1814.

Jane read the novel to her brother Henry on a carriage ride to London and he liked it very much. He later became ordained and married Eliza, so he may have seen something of himself in the story.

Mansfield Park Reviews

Mansfield Park was not as well received as Pride and Prejudice. After the romantic and headstrong Elizabeth, the heroine Fanny was either thought to be very dull or too pleasant. As there were no official reviews Jane could refer to, she made her own list of feedback.

Jane’s mother had thought Mansfield Park was not as good as Pride and Prejudice and found the heroine Fanny ‘insipid’. Sister Cassandra was ‘fond of Fanny’ and ‘delighted much in Mr Rushworth’s stupidity’.

Miss Bramston commented having finished the first volume, she ‘flattered herself she had got through the worst!‘ and a family friend, Augusta Branstone, had thought Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice were ‘downright nonsense’, but expected to like Mansfield Park more. She preferred it to Jane’s other books, although Jane wrote that she ‘imagined that might be her want of taste – as she does not understand wit!’

There are some interesting facts about the novel, and although Jane seldom included events from family and friends in her novels, there does seem to be some impression of real events in Mansfield Park. And some interesting facts.

1. Jane Austen was a Self-Published Author

After the sparkle of Pride and Prejudice, the story did not impress Egerton and once again Jane had to publish it on commission and pay the printing costs upfront. A first run of 1500 copies were printed and an advert appeared in the Morning Chronicle.

Mansfield Park Title Page (Public Domain)

The title page showed it was ‘By the Author of “Sense and Sensibility” and “Pride and Prejudice”, which was a good endorsement, and the novel sold out quickly.

2. Mansfield Park Turned Out To Be Jane’s Most Profitable Book

The second edition of Mansfield Park came out after the first edition of Emma. As Egerton had declined to publish a second edition, Henry offered it to the publisher John Murray and it was reprinted in 1816.

The second edition also sold out quickly, and Mansfield Park became Jane’s most profitable book making her a profit of £350.

3. Fanny Price leaving home may have parallels with Jane’s brother Edward being adopted

Mansfield Park is a story about a young Fanny Price who at 10 years old is sent away from her family to live with relatives at Mansfield Park in Northampton. Some speculate that the story was inspired by Jane’s brother Edward who was adopted as a teenager and left to live at Godmersham Park in Kent. Jane was only 8 years old at the time, and his siblings must have missed him greatly.

4. Another Loving Brother and Topaz Cross

Jane’s brother Charles Austen bought Jane and Cassandra topaz crosses with his Navy winnings, and although Jane rarely wrote of actual events in her novels, she must have been so proud that she wrote this event into Mansfield Park.

In Mansfield Park it is Fanny’s brother William who is in the Navy and buys Fanny a topaz cross to share his good fortune with his sister. Then Edmund, Fanny’s cousin gives Fanny a gold chain on which to wear the cross.

Replica of Jane Austen’s Topaz Cross from the Jane Austen Centre Bath

5. The Abolition of Slavery in 1807

Jane was aware of current affairs from the newspapers and letters from her brothers. The planned changes in slavery at the time would have affected many of the families that Jane knew who operated in the West Indies.

Parliament were debating the use of slaves by the British in the West Indies and abolished their use by passing the Slave Trade Act of 1807.

Jane has Mr Bertram called away to his plantations in the West Indies when there is difficulty with its management, and makes Mr Bertram a member of Parliament which meant that he would have debated and passed this Bill.

6. Enter Henry and Mary Crawford

Mansfield Park is enlightened by two wonderful characters called Henry and Mary Crawford who come to Mansfield from London and shake up the household.

The character of Mary is thought to have been inspired by Jane’s cousin Eliza, who impressed Jane from a young age when she came to stay at Steventon. Eliza was flirtatious, exotic and fun. Jane had nursed Eliza through a long illness until her death in April 1813, and Mansfield Park was completed in the summer of that same year.

Jane describes Mary Crawford as having a lively dark eye, clear brown complexion, and general prettiness.. a sweet pretty girl.

Mansfield-Park-Movie — Mary and Tom Crawford from the film Mansfield Park 2007 (Public Domain)

7. A Wonderful Play – Lovers Vows

In Mr Bertrams absence, the characters decide to put on a popular play called Lovers Vows (just as Jane and her siblings put on plays at Steventon). The story is about intimate relationships outside outside marriage and illegitimate birth. Consequently, when Mr Bertram returns from his West Indies trip and finds the children at play, he throws it on the fire.

*Lovers’ Vows*, 1796 edition. The controversial play is rehearsed at Mansfield Park during Sir Thomas Bertram’s absence. (Public Domain)

8. A Most Perfect Clergyman, Edmund

Edmund was one of Jane’s fondest characters. She wrote the story when clergymen were much improved and admired, and as Jane was a religious person and devoted to God, she gave Edmund many devout qualities. It is often thought that if Jane would have married one of her characters – it would be Edmund!

As To The Ending..

Jane’s niece Louisa remembers Jane and Cassandra discussing the ending of the novel. Cassandra wanted Mary to marry Edmund and Fanny to marry Henry, where Jane argued that Mary would have tired of Edmund and his church duties and Fanny would have been unhappy with Henry and his fickle nature.

What do you think?

The Love of Jane Austen’s Life – Tom Lefroy

January 5, 2023

At length the day is come on which I am to flirt my last with Tom Lefroy, and when you receive this it will be over. My tears flow as I write at the melancholy idea.
Jane Austen letter to Cassandra Austen

Thomas Lefroy has long been thought of as the real life inspiration for Pride and Prejudice’s Mr Darcy.

Jane and Tom met in 1795 when they were both 20 years old at a dance hosted by Jane’s friend Madam Lefroy. After graduating from Dublin’s Trinity College in 1795, Tom moved to London to study law at Lincoln’s Inn. It was during this time that he visited his Uncle and Aunt for a few weeks in December of that same year.

Thomas Lefroy on display at Jane Austen House Museum

Cassandra was away visiting Edward at Kent, and fortunately the letters that Jane wrote to Cassandra survive. You can feel Jane’s happiness at falling in love with Tom, and then her disappointment when it is over. It is thought that Jane’s lack of wealth played a part, as Tom had no fortune at that time as he was also the son of a clergyman.

Jane started writing First Impressions in October 1796 a year later, and finished it around August of the following year. It would later become Jane’s most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice.

To Cassandra Austen: written from Steventon: Saturday, January 9th 1796:

In the first place I hope you will live twenty-three years longer. Mr. Tom Lefroy’s birthday was yesterday, so that you are very near of an age

You scold me so much in the nice long letter which I have this moment received from you, that I am almost afraid to tell you how my Irish friend and I behaved. Imagine to yourself everything most profligate and shocking in the way of dancing and sitting down together. I can expose myself however, only once more, because he leaves the country soon after next Friday, on which day we are to have a dance at Ashe after all. He is a very gentlemanlike, good-looking, pleasant young man, I assure you. But as to our having ever met, except at the three last balls, I cannot say much; for he is so excessively laughed at about me at Ashe, that he is ashamed of coming to Steventon, and ran away when we called on Mrs. Lefroy a few days ago…

We had a visit yesterday morning from Mr. Benjamin Portal, whose eyes are as handsome as ever. Everybody is extremely anxious for your return, but as you cannot come home by the Ashe ball, I am glad that I have not fed them with false hopes. James danced with Alithea, and cut up the turkey last night with great perseverance. You say nothing of the silk stockings; I flatter myself, therefore, that Charles has not purchased any, as I cannot very well afford to pay for them; all my money is spent in buying white gloves and pink persian. I wish Charles had been at Manydown, because he would have given you some description of my friend, and I think you must be impatient to hear something about him…

After I had written the above, we received a visit from Mr. Tom Lefroy and his cousin George. The latter is really very well-behaved now; and as for the other, he has but one fault, which time will, I trust, entirely remove — it is that his morning coat is a great deal too light. He is a very great admirer of Tom Jones, and therefore wears the same coloured clothes, I imagine, which he did when he was wounded.

Jane follows her first letter with another a week later..

To Cassandra Austen: written from Steventon: Thursday ,January 16, 1796:

Friday. — At length the day is come on which I am to flirt my last with Tom Lefroy, and when you receive this it will be over. My tears flow as I write at the melancholy idea. Wm. Chute called here yesterday. I wonder what he means by being so civil. There is a report that Tom is going to be married to a Lichfield lass. John Lyford and his sister bring Edward home today, dine with us, and we shall all go together to Ashe. I understand that we are to draw for partners. I shall be extremely impatient to hear from you again, that I may know how Eliza is, and when you are to return.

Tom married Mary Paul in 1799 who was the sister of a college friend and wealthy in her own right. The couple moved to Dublin and had eight children. Tom became a successful lawyer, eventually becoming the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, the most senior judge in the Court of Queen’s Bench. He held this position until he was 90 when, by one account, he was still reading his newspaper without spectacles.

Shortly before he died, aged 93, Tom confessed to his nephew that he had once loved Jane Austen, though quickly added that it was ‘a boyish kind of love’.

Jane Austen in Love Exhibition

The letter that Jane wrote to Cassandra about her flirtation with Tom is on display at the Jane Austen House Museum as part of an exhibition called Jane Austen in Love.

Alongside Jane’s letter is a striking portrait of Tom as Jane would have known him. You can gaze at a handsome young man with deep eyes that hold your gaze intently.

See Jane Austen in Love at Jane Austen House Museum until March 2023.

10 Things About Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

August 1, 2022

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice

This is the opening line of Pride and Prejudice, the most successful novel written by Jane Austen.

Jane started writing First Impressions in October 1796 and finished it around August of the following year. She was then twenty-one years old. The Austen family enjoyed it so much, that in November 1797, Jane’s father offered it to the publisher Cadell in London who declined it ‘sight unseen’.

Fourteen years later in 1811, Jane began revising it and it was ‘lop’t and crop’t’ and finally published by Egerton on 28 January 1813. Jane wrote of her excitement in a letter to Cassandra, ‘my own darling Child has arrived from London’. Jane was not publicly known as the author and it was simply titled By the Author of “Sense and Sensibility”.

The novel sold so well a second edition was printed in the Autumn of the same year, and a third in 1817. The reading public adored Elizabeth Bennet and it was a huge success.

To date, over 20 million copies have been sold worldwide.

The Novel

Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters who must marry well in order to ensure their financial security. The news that wealthy bachelor Charles Bingley has rented Netherfield Park causes a great stir in the village of Longbourn. They all meet at the Netherfield Ball, and whilst Mr Bingley is charming and affable, his friend Fitzwilliam Darcy is cold and aloof, and Elizabeth immediately dislikes him. A romance forms between her sister Jane and Charles but is cut short, and when Elizabeth hears that Darcy intervened she dislikes him more than ever.

Surrounding our lead characters are the Reverend, Mr Collins, and his wealthy benefactor Lady Catherine De Bourgh. Charles sister Caroline Bingley sets her own sights on Darcy, and the Bennet sisters Aunt and Uncle, Mrs and Mr Gardiner takes Elizabeth to see Darcy’s own pile in Derbyshire.

All this misunderstanding is complicated by a proposal, a runaway bride and broken hearts, until finally true love triumphs.

Ten Things You May Not Know About Pride and Prejudice

1. Pride and Prejudice had started life as a short story called First Impressions.

Jane had written this early draft when she was twenty-one, at around 1796 or 1797 after staying at Godmersham Park with her (now) wealthy brother and his wife.

2. Jane was never known as the author of Pride of Prejudice outside her close family.

Jane called Pride and Prejudice her ‘own darling child’ and spoke of Elizabeth Bennet, ‘as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print’. The novel was published on 28 January 1813. All of Jane’s novels were published anonymously, including this novel which was titled By the Author of “Sense and Sensibility”.

3. Jane was not entirely happy with the novel.

Immediately after publication, Jane wrote to Cassandra,

Upon the whole.. I am satisfied enough. The work is rather too light, and bright, and sparkling; it wants shade; it wants to be stretched out here and there with a long chapter of sense , it it could be had; if not, of solemn specious nonsense, about something unconnected with the story; an essay on writing, a critique on Walter Scott or the history of Buonaparte, or anything that would form a contrast and bring the reader with increased delight to the playfulness and general epigrammatism of the general style.

4. Jane made little money from Pride and Prejudice although it was a great success.

Jane had published her first novel Sense and Sensibility on commission (the self-publishing of her day) and made a small profit. This was where the author had to give an advance and carry any losses. Jane may not have had the funds for an advance or wanted to take any risks, so sold the copyright of Pride and Prejudice to the publisher Egerton for £110.

She had asked for £150 as she states in a letter, although had to agree to his terms thinking it was better published than not. It actually made Egerton the tidy sum of £450. It is sad to think that Jane made the least money from this novel although it was her most successful.

5. Jane took the title from a passage in Fanny Burney’s Cecelia

Jane was a great fan of Fanny Burney and enjoyed her novel Cecelia the most, which was first published on 21 June 1782 when Jane was almost 7 years old! Cecelia is a young woman who will inherit a fortune if she finds a husband to take her surname. It is a romance, though contains the message that money does not bring happiness.

Jane took the title from a quote near the end of the novel that reads, ‘The whole of this unfortunate business,’ said Dr Lyster, ‘has been the result of pride and prejudice’.

6. Jane’s Mr Darcy is super rich

Similar to the central theme of Cecelia, money is one of the central themes to Jane’s novel. Mr Bingley has a fortune of £5,000 a year, which made him extremely wealthy at that time. Investments were made in Government bonds that paid 4-5%, so we can assume that Mr Bingley’s inheritance is around 100 thousand pounds.

If this is the case, then Mr Darcy’s fortune doubled that at £10,000 a year, which makes him a modern day multi-millionaire and then some. No wonder Mrs Bennet cries with joy, ‘I can think of nothing else! Ten thousand a year and very likely more! ’Tis as good as a Lord!’

To reaffirm this wealth and superiority, Jane cleverly chose the name ‘Fitzwilliam Darcy’ for her hero. Readers would have been familiar with the wealthy Fitzwilliam family whose property was twice the size of Buckingham Palace. The would have also known the ’Darcy’ name in the form of ‘D’Arcy’ meaning ‘of Arcy’ in French. It was brought over by the Normans when William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066. This lineage was very wealthy and had what we would term old money.

7. There are no peacocks featured in the novel

The famous Peacock edition is linked to Jane’s novel Pride and Prejudice, although Peacocks are never mentioned in this, or any of her novels. As well as having a wonderful peacock cover designed by Hugh Thomson, the 1894 edition is famous for its introduction by George Saintsbury who first uses the term ‘Janite’.

8. Pride and Prejudice is one of the most adapted novels of all time

The first Film adaptation was made in 1940 by MGM Studios in America using a screenplay written by Aldous Huxley and Jane Murfin. It starred Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson who was forced to wear Victorian dresses, even although Cedric Gibbons had spent two years in England buying authentic props.

For Television, the BBC has adapted Jane’s novel five times, although the 1995 version with Colin Firth has been the most popular. Written by Andrew Davies (of recent Sanditon fame) it sold 100,000 video box sets whilst on air, and 10 million people watched the final episode. People are amazed to discover that the lake scene where Darcy takes a dip before striding away in his clinging wet shirt and bumping into his future bride is not in the book.

There have also been many other TV and Film adaptations, using Jane’s central theme of class, money, marriage, and misunderstandings. These include Bridge Jones Diary; Unleashing Mr Darcy; Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe; The Lizzie Bennet Diaries; Pride and Prejudice and Zombies; amongst many others.

9. Tourism was a major activity during this period

Elizabeth reconciles with Darcy whilst on a tour with her aunt and uncle. Previously, the wealthy would embark on a Grand Tour of Europe which became dangerous whilst England was at war with France. This meant more people visited attractions in England, as guide books were introduced and inns became places to stay for leisure. Elizabeth and her family visit stately homes, nature spots, castles, and surprisingly the factories of Birmingham which were seen as a novelty at the time.

10. Although Mr Collins is a clergyman, he does not carry out any church duties

Mr Collins is a comic character who is dancing at balls, eating, horse riding, gardening, and looking out the window for Miss De Bourgh’s phaeton. Essentially doing everything but his church duties. She portrays him as pompous, narrow-minded, and silly, and Jane often pokes fun at him. She does redeem him, however, by having him read aloud Fordyce’s Sermons, a book that Jane herself was fond of.

When Jane started writing down opinions of her novel, she noted that ‘Mrs Wroughton thought the authoress wrong, in such times as these, to draw such clergymen as Mr Collins and Mr Elton‘. After the war with France it was thought the church brought stability. Jane had also noted a comment from Reverend Sherer. He was the vicar of the parish of Godmersham, and Jane liked his sermons although he had told her he was “displeased” by her “pictures of clergymen”. This may have been why Jane’s next book, Mansfield Park, gave us the perfect clergyman in Edmund Bertram.

A Costume of Sport Exhibition

June 16, 2022

Exhibition Review

A Costume of Sport

“Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy! ..Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud. I am absolutely certain.- Pride and Prejudice

Chawton House Library
28 April to 4 September 2022

Did Jane Austen play sport? It looks like she did. She mentions playing cricket with her nephews, and was an expert with the cup and ball (if that could be classed as sport?!) and played games with her many nieces and nephews.

A Costume of Sport considers the typical physical exercises enjoyed by women in the Regency period, and what they wore whilst doing it, from cricket and riding to sea bathing using horse-drawn machines.You can also see the typical sporting pursuits that the gentry and the family held in the grounds of the house over the centuries.

I love visiting the ‘Great House’ as Jane called it. Walking up the long drive, you can see the small window above the door where Jane would sit and watch the visitors arriving. The large wooden door opens into a hallway that takes you into the Great Hall. Climbing the old wooden stairs at the far side, you can find the exhibition rooms on the top floor.

BATHING IN SANDITON

In the entrance to A Costume of Sport, your eyes are immediately drawn to the red gown in the corner. Miss Charlotte Heywood wore this bathing dress and matching cap in the UK TV series of Sanditon.

Charlotte Heywood and her Bathing Costume Worn in Sanditon (Photograph Authors Own)

Sam Perry who was inspired by the fashion plate called “Sea Bathing in Scarborough” made it, which you can see in the adjoining cabinet. The photograph next to it shows Charlotte laughing whilst wearing the dress and swimming in the freezing water!

Rose Williams as Charlotte Heywood Swimming in Sanditon (Photograph Authors Own)

The boards on either side of the room tell you about Regency women Riding, Bathing, Walking, playing Cricket and a variety of other sports. Quotes around the room are from Jane’s novel Northanger Abbey which she wrote in her teens which has Catherine rolling down grassy hills.

Other quotes are from Jane’s novel Pride and Prejudice where Elizabeth walks across the fields to see her sister, “Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!.. Yes, and her petticoat, … six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain and the gown which had been let down to hide it, not doing its office.”

Sport at Chawton House

We know that Jane’s brothers and nephews enjoyed hunting with their friends, and the second room of the exhibition is themed “Sport at Chawton House”.

There is an old framed family tree drawn by hand and you can use the magnifying glass to follow the lines of the Knight and Austen family. The open books date from the 19th century and contain paintings of both women and men at the hunts and playing sport alongside the old cricket bats used by the family.

In one of the cabinets on the far side you can see an oval ladies pill box decorated with both women and men playing cricket which is especially lovely.

The old pattens on display are what ladies wore to keep the mud off their shoes. Although these did not belong to Jane, they look like the ones that she wore in the winter. (Pattens are like flat pieces of wood in a shoe shape with a strap over to hold them onto your feet).

Patten Shoes to Protect Regency Shoes from Mud (Photograph Authors Own)

Women in the Arts

Going through to the Oak Room themed “Women in the Arts” you can see a selection of large impressive paintings of talented female writers and artists.

I love this room as it has the little alcove where Jane would sit and watch people and carriages pass by and who would be coming up the drive. There is a wonderful painting in this room of Lady Catherine who really was quite stunning.

Regency Clothing (Photograph Authors Own)

The Long Gallery

The last part of Costume of Sport exhibition is in the Long Gallery. The cabinets in are opened and show novels that date from 1744 through to 1976 and in-between. I particularly like the novel Cecilia by Fanny Burney that Jane loved to read that is shown here in five volumes.

Chawton-House-Library-Books — The Long Gallery Where Jane Austen Walked to Exercise at Chawton House Library (Photograph Authors Own)

Overall, this is a really well pulled together exhibition who show us that women did participate in sport and outdoor pursuits, and enjoyed doing so. The information boards tell you all about each topic at that period in history with the relevant items on display underneath.

The history found here in the exhibition is uplifting, and some of the items are rarely found on display and quite exquisite. I think you will love it.

Okay, I’m off downstairs now for some sumptuous cake and tea, and to buy some goodies from the shop. Now where is that quill necklace..?!

Jane-Austen-Necklace-at-Chawton-House-Library — Jane Austen Quill Necklace from Chawton House Library Shop (Photograph Authors Own)

The exhibition runs from 28 April to 4 September 2022 and is FREE with your entry ticket (valid for 12 months) which you can buy from Chawton House Library WEBSITE

On 23 June there is a Curator Tour taking place as part of Regency Week which you can BOOK HERE

For more Jane Austen see our EVENTS page.

Regency