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Jane Austen’s Ode to Mourning Clothes

April 16, 2011 by Vic

Fashionable mourning dresses, Ladies Museum, 1805

According to Jane Austen chronicler and scholar, David Nokes, when Martha Lloyd’s mother died on April 16, 1805, Jane Austen showed few signs of grief or emotion over that woman’s earthly departure. Instead, Jane wrote a jaunty verse to an uncivil (and imaginary) dressmaker. I surmise that these verses were meant more to cheer Martha up than to bring Martha’s mood down by reminding her of her loss. Mrs Austen, who was known for her droll verses, wrote a mythical reply by the dressmaker. At this time the Austen women were still reeling from Rev. Austen’s death in January and their own change in financial circumstances, having moved to more modest lodgings and becoming accustomed to a drastically reduced style of life. They would soon invite Martha to live with them in Bath. (Martha would remain with the Austen women through their move to Southampton in 1809.) After Jane’s death in 1817, Martha joined Cassandra in Chawton to help look after Mrs. Austen.

The poem that Jane wrote gives us a glimpse into how mourning clothes were made to order quickly. In this for-instance, the dressmaker, Miss Green, was slow to respond.

Lines sent to an uncivil Dress maker

Miss Lloyd has now sent to Miss Green,
As, on opening the box, may be seen,
Some yards of a Black Ploughman’s Gauze,
To be made up directly, because
Miss Lloyd must in mourning appear –
For the death of a Relative dear –
Miss Lloyd must expect to receive
This license to mourn & to grieve,
Complete, er’e the end of the week –
It is better to write than to speak – Jane Austen

Mrs. Austen’s reply as Miss Green

I’ve often made clothes
For those who write prose,
But ’tis the first time
I’ve had orders in rhyme – .
Depend on’t, fair Maid,
You shall be obeyed;
Your garment of black
Shall sit close to your back,
And in every part
I’ll exert all my art;
It shall be the neatest,
And eke the completest
That ever was seen –
Or my name is not Green! – Mrs. Cassandra Austen

  • The Best Friend: Martha Lloyd, JASA
  • Regency Mourning

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Posted in 19th Century England, Fashions, jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Regency Etiquette, Regency Life, Regency style, Regency World | Tagged 19th century mourning fashions, Cassandra Austen, David Nokes, Jane Austen Poetry, Jane Austen's mother, Martha Lloyd, Mrs Cassandra Austen, Regency mourning fashions | 5 Comments

5 Responses

  1. on April 16, 2011 at 16:24 Jean | Delightful Repast

    I only learned from you, Vic, earlier today that our Jane’s mum was a writer of verse! I’ve learned so many interesting things from you! Your blogs are nothing short of amazing!


  2. on April 16, 2011 at 16:38 Vic

    :) I can’t wait for our joint post to be published next week! Thanks for stopping by, Jean.


  3. on April 16, 2011 at 17:55 Jennifer Petkus

    Jane’s mother gets treated so many ways. Some documentaries and books would have you thinking Jane gets her cleverness from her mother as well as her father; other treatments make you think she’s the very model of Mrs. Bennet. I like the fact that they are colluding in this way, putting a brave face on their own mourning and that of Martha.


  4. on April 16, 2011 at 23:07 Karen Field

    Quite interesting! Their styles differed just in those 2 samples. They were both fun to read. I would imagine that they were trying to distract Martha. Had Martha’s father already died? Would she have been naturally worried about what was going to happen to her? Where she was going to live?


  5. on April 19, 2011 at 20:54 Nicola

    Must have been wonderful to be part of a large, witty and literary family. Great post.



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