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This Jane Austen blog brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, social customs, and other 19th C. historical details related to this topic.

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« Phaeton in 1804: A delightful description
The Miraculous Rescue of Miner John Evans in 1819 »

Jane Austen’s Nephew Edward Learns she is an Author

September 21, 2012 by Vic

Lady writing at her desk, 1813, Ackermann fashion plate, morning dress.

It is a truth universally known that during her lifetime, Jane Austen published her novels as “a lady.”  While some in the family knew about her writing success – her brother Henry and sister Cassandra swiftly come to mind – many did not, including the cousins. When a genteel woman like Jane was described as being at “work”, the phrase meant needlework and sewing clothes for the poor basket. A lady simply did not sully her hands by toiling at a trade. Jane did not want it bandied about that she was the author of Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, but her proud siblings, Henry in particular, couldn’t restrain themselves and bragged about their talented sister.  The word got out and the least well-kept secret was the name of the lady who wrote those delightful novels.

James Edward Austen, the son of Jane’s eldest brother James, and a favorite nephew of hers, discovered at school in 1813 that his favorite aunt was the author of two novels he had enjoyed immensely. The 11-12 year-old was so delighted with the news that he penned an enthusiastic poem about his discovery and sent it to her:

To Miss J. Austen

No words can express, my dear Aunt, my surprise
Or make you conceive how I opened my eyes,
Like a pig Butcher Pile has just struck with his knife,
When I heard for the very first time in my life
That I had the honour to have a relation
Whose works were dispersed throughout the whole of the nation.

I assure you, however, I’m terribly glad;
Oh dear! just to think (and the thought drives me mad)
That you made the Middletons, Dashwoods, and all,
And that you (not young Ferrars) found out that a ball
May be given in cottages never so small.
And though Mr. Collins, so grateful for all,
Will Lady de Bourgh his dear Patroness call,
‘Tis to your ingenuity he really owed
His living, his wife, and his humble abode.

James Edward Austen as a young man.

When Edward Austen-Leigh, as he became later known in life, was 72, he penned his now famous Memoirs of Jane Austen,  leaving a legacy of the memories that he and his cousins retained a half century after her death. Had Edward not embarked on this quest, his memories (he was 16 when Jane died), and those of Caroline Austen and Fanny Knatchbull, might not have been captured in print. While his book preserved those fading memories, they also “sanitized” his aunt Jane’s reputation, erasing much of her sharp tongue and wit and replacing it with sweetness of character:

The grave closed over my aunt fifty-two years ago; and during that long period no idea of writing her life had been entertained by any of her family. Her nearest relatives, far from making provision for such a purpose, had actually destroyed many of the letters and papers by which it might have been facilitated. They were influenced, I believe, partly by an extreme dislike to publishing private details, and partly by never having assumed that the world would take so strong and abiding an interest in her works as to claim her name as public property. It was therefore necessary for me to draw upon recollections rather than on written documents for my materials; while the subject itself supplied me with nothing striking or prominent with which to arrest the attention of the reader…

Edward Austen-Leigh at the time he wrote Memoirs of Jane Austen

The motive which at last induced me to make the attempt [to write this memoir] is exactly expressed in the passage prefixed to these pages. I thought that I saw something to be done: knew of no one who could do it but myself, and so was driven to the enterprise. I am glad that I have been able to finish my work. As a family record it can scarcely fail to be interesting to those relatives who must ever set a high value on their connection with Jane Austen, and to them I especially dedicate it; but as I have been asked to do so, I also submit it to the censure of the public, with all its faults both of deficiency and redundancy. I know that its value in their eyes must depend, not on any merits of its own, but on the degree of estimation in which my aunt’s works may still be held; and indeed I shall esteem it one of the strongest testimonies ever borne to her talents, if for her sake an interest can be taken in so poor a sketch as I have been able to draw.

Bray Vicarage:
Sept. 7, 1869.

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Posted in jane austen, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen's enduring popularity, Jane Austen's life, Jane Austen's World, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility | Tagged A Memoir of Jane Austen, J.Edward Austen-Leigh | 12 Comments

12 Responses

  1. on September 21, 2012 at 21:48 cathyallen

    That was very interesting. I believe I have never seen the drawings or the poem before! Thank you, Vic.


  2. on September 21, 2012 at 23:02 Kirk Companion

    Wonderful post! Thanks for interesting poem! I recently “enjoyed” ..”Memoirs of Jane Austen”. It was an edition with Caroline Austen’s short book too. Caroline Austen seemed very interesting. One of the best parts of the recent book about Jane Austen’s Knight nieces(May, Lou& Cass: Jane Austen’s Nieces in Ireland), was Caroline Austen’s shots at the Knight line of the family…lol.


  3. on September 22, 2012 at 06:22 Ceri

    What a lovely poem!


  4. on September 22, 2012 at 23:27 suzan

    Loved the poem as well.


  5. on September 23, 2012 at 08:33 Tony Grant

    I liked this post and the one before about the Phaeton.. We must have a couple of pints of beer together in the Juniper Berry one day, Vic (The pub on the site of Janes house in Castle Square) The site of the mock 18th century castle where the Marquis of Lansdown lived is now a block of flats but the foundations of the original medieval castle where Henry V held court before going to France to engage the French at Agincourt are still visible.. The block of flats are built above the medieval foundations on massive concrete and steal pillars.


  6. on September 24, 2012 at 17:43 ellaquinnauthor

    How fun to have a poem from a boy. Thanks so much for your post.


  7. on September 27, 2012 at 23:57 LordBeariOfBow

    Does not the drawing of Mr Edward Austen-Leigh bear a remarkable resemblance to Mr Benjamin Whitrow who played Mr Bennet in the BBC ’95 production of Pride & Prejudice?


    • on September 28, 2012 at 00:20 Vic

      Oh, yes! Great observation.


  8. on October 1, 2012 at 03:13 Dante

    Reblogged this on Notes From a Bibliophile Wannabe and commented:
    I recently discovered this wonderful blog on everything Jane Austen. This post is particularly interesting!


  9. on October 1, 2012 at 04:40 501pendules

    je viens de faire une découverte grâce à vous
    quelle joie de lire votre blog et de parler de Jane
    dans les moindres détails
    un vrai bonheur
    edith


  10. on October 5, 2012 at 02:33 Jazmin

    A recent article about Jane Austen:

    http://www.abebooks.com/books/authors/jane-austen.shtml


    • on October 5, 2012 at 02:38 Jazmin

      ’10 Fascinating Facts About Jane Austen… In Costume!:’

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwegegHVqxQ



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