A Young Girl Reading, or The Reader (French: La Liseuse), is an 18th-century oil painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Image @Wikipedia
Happy New Year, gentle readers. I hope to write more for my blog in 2014. Thank you for your loyal readership. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your comments and thoughts.
In winter weather, what can be a better way to pass the time than to curl up under a blanket with a good book? I’d like to recommend two books for you to purchase with the gift money you (hopefully) received this holiday season. Both books are necessary additions in the libraries of confirmed Janeites and Jane Austen lovers, or so it is my belief. (Note: Contest closed. Congratulations Janice Jacobson!)
Sense and Sensibility: An Annoted Edition edited by Patricia Meyer Spacks.
The first is the 4th installment of an incomparable anthology series of Jane Austen’s novels. Sense and Sensibility: An Annoted Edition is published by The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press and edited by noted scholar Patricia Meyer Spacks. This lush book could easy be confused for a coffee table book – the cover is so beautiful and the color images inside are of the highest quality, but the annotations are anything but superficial. Dr. Spacks’ research adds dimension to Jane Austen’s words and to an era that is long gone, and whose customs have become foreign to our modern understanding. Her observations include a comparison of characters within the novel – “Miss Steele is as acquisitive in a small way as the John Dashwoods are in a grander fashion”. She also draws a similarity between two novels, nothing that Willoughby is similar to Henry Crawford in that both men have fallen in love with the women they targeted for a light flirtation and amusement.
In her introduction, Dr. Spacks elaborates on the 18th century definition of sensibility, which was understood to be derived from the nervous system. Hence, fragile nerves, irritability, hysteria, tremors, fainting spells, and sickness at heart were closely associated with the term (as with Marianne Dashwood’s and Mrs. Bennet’s histrionics). Spacks’s introduction also delineates how Austen conceived of the book and how Elinor and Marianne cannot easily be pigeon-holed into the two separate categories. As they grow in understanding, both women possess elements of the other’s characteristic. As most of us know, Jane Austen wrote the first draft (known as Elinor and Marianne) by the time she was 20 years old. The book, written first in epistolary form, did not assume the third person narrative until 1811. Perhaps this is the reason why a number of passages in the book seem to lack detail or were uneven.
Publicity materials for this annotated edition explain that:
In her notes, Spacks elucidates language and allusions that have become obscure (What are Nabobs? When is rent day?), draws comparisons to Austen’s other work and to that of her precursors, and gives an idea of how other critics have seen the novel. In her introduction and annotations, she explores Austen’s sympathy with both Elinor and Marianne, the degree to which the sisters share “sense” and “sensibility,” and how they must learn from each other. Both manage to achieve security and a degree of happiness by the novel’s end. Austen’s romance, however, reveals darker overtones, and Spacks does not leave unexamined the issue of the social and psychological restrictions of women in Austen’s era.
One get the strong sense that Spacks prefers Willoughby as a hero over Edward, whose character is rather tepid and static. Colonel Brandon’s mature patience doesn’t fare much better in some of the annotations, which also include extensive descriptions of manners, mores, and historical facts. Mundane customs are described, such as the games of whist and cassino.
Home, hearth, and space play important roles in this novel.The country side affects Edward more than Willoughby, who regards the land merely as a place in which to hunt. Edward will eventually live off the land, and happily so. Ennui, or inertia, is also evident in the novel’s characters. Spacks quotes the scholar, Isobel Armstrong, who observed that “a long, patient but sapping wait is the fate of many in this novel; Edward, Elinor, Colonel Brandon, even the unsympathetic Steeles.” Perhaps this is the reason why so few of us think of Edward as a strong hero. His character lacks decisive action. When he does make a decision, as with his unfortunate choice of fiancee, he seems stuck and unable to make a move when encountering a road block. The conniving Lucy spends considerable time waiting for Edward and hoping that Mrs. Ferrars will come around to accepting her. Most of her machinations (that of seducing Robert Ferrars) occur off the novel’s pages and we hear about her success in marrying Robert only through word of mouth.
My one complaint about this edition is that the annotations seem spare compared to Pride and Prejudice, the first annotated book edited by Dr. Spacks. To be fair, Sense and Sensibility is not as highly ranked on most reader’s lists as Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, or Emma. It is the earliest of Jane Austen’s published novels, which may explain why the number of annotations seem to be fewer in this book. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this edition, which costs $35, a bargain considering the the number of colored illustrations and information contained therein.
Northanger Abbey is the next novel to be annotated. It will come out in spring of 2014. I cannot wait for it to be published.
Jane Austen’s England by Roy and Lesley Adkins
Jane Austen’s England by Roy and Lesley Adkins
The next book on my recommended buy list is Jane Austen’s England by Roy and Lesley Adkins. Actually, I should amend my ranking, for both books are equal in my estimation. The publisher sent an uncorrected proof of Jane Austen’s England when I was in the throes of taking care of my parents this past summer and fall, and so I read the book piecemeal, hoping to find the time to give it the review it deserved. My copy is earmarked and underlined. I have read many passages twice. Roy and Lesley Adkins have accomplished a remarkable job of research and writing that informs as well as entertains. I realize that many of you have read a number of histories associated with Jane Austen’s age and some of you will find the information repetitive. In addition, you can easily find many of the sources used for this book on the Internet or for purchase.
This book is divided into topics that follow the lives of Jane Austen and her characters. While the historic territory that the Adkins go over is not unique, their presentation is organized in such a way that all we need to do is to turn to Breeding or Toddler to Teenager to Wealth and Work and Medicine Men to find out more about the daily habits of the Austens, Jane’s characters, or the socio-economic conditions of those who lived during the Regency era. The Adkins do not subject us to mere romantic assumptions, but relate the harsh reality of life for the majority of people living during that age. The chapter on Filth minces few nice words. This was an era when outhouses abutted to sculleries, cholera was spread through contaminated water, and cesspits drained into watercourses. Men and women were known to urinate and defecate in streets. While our dear Jane did not write about these indelicacies, she must have witnessed such actions and known of many more contemporary customs that would turn our heads today. In her novels, she ignored the harsh realities of war and famine, common occurrences in her day, and assumed that her readers would seamlessly fill in the details of daily life while she concentrated on her character studies.
Topics in Jane Austen’s England include kidnapped children, superstitions and folk wisdom, the use of Almanacs (useful for planning evening parties during a full moon), boundary stones, funeral customs, tax burdens of the rich and poor, Frost Fairs, animal fighting, animal abuse, hunting, cricket, horse races, regattas, amateur theatricals, London theatres with their noisy audiences, the cost of music tickets (two weeks wages for a servant), ballad sellers, public houses, taking snuff, state lotteries, the cessation of the Grand Tour during the Napoleonic Wars, the danger and challenges of travel and transportation, boot scrapers, toll roads, toll booths, turnpikes, surveying, mapping England, medicine, apothecaries, the royal navy, and more. Whew!
Even though I finished the book late last month, I struggle to remember all the fascinating details that this 300+ page book contains.
For a New Year’s gift, I am holding a book giveaway of a hard back copy of Jane Austen’s England until midnight, January 7, 2014. All you need to do is leave a comment about an interesting fact you know about Regency life or Jane Austen’s era. Participants are confined to the U.S. and Canada. (So sorry!) Winners will be chosen by a random number generator. You may enter as often as you like, provided that you share another interesting bit of information about Jane Austen’s England each time you make a comment.
- Learn more about the book on the Adkins authors’ site: Jane Austen’s England
Happy New Year, all. Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Jane Austen's World 
During the Regency period, the main mode of transportation was the horse and carriage.
All property within a marriage legally belonged to the husband only during the Regency period.
Many beauty products during the Regency period were lethal; they contained poisonous substances like lead and mercury!
I loved Jane Austen’s England: thanks for the excellent review. I would love to win a copy! So here’s an odd fact:
People sometimes cleaned their teeth with with sticks of marshmallow-root, with charcoal and salt and lemon juice. Also, a paste made of coral.
I love that there was no envelopes in janes day. You just write the address on the paper you sent.
Tea leaves was so expensive that they locked up their tea!
The Price Regent (or “Prinney” to his friends, followers, and sycophants) was ill-equipped to rule. He had no interest in commercial or economic structure, foreign policy, domestic issues, or governmental procedure, but the man could rock velvet pantaloons and thanks to his pal Beau Brummell, set trends with the intricacies of the knots and drapes in his cravats. Given that England was immersed in the Napoleonic Wars his interests proved to be somewhat…frivolous.
But to the man’s credit, Brenda, he was quite a patron of the arts. And at least he stayed out of the way and let people like Nelson and Wellington win the war for him!
Very very true. As far as the arts went, it was a Golden Age.
Also: “morning” in Jane Austen’s time referred not to that time between daybreak and noon, as we would think of it, but any time before dinner, a meal that had been gradually migrating to later in the day, from noon or 1 p.m. to as late as 6 or 7 p.m. The fashionable and urban led the way in later dinners. Lunch was not recognized as a proper meal until later in the 19th century.
During this era gas was a new system for lighting but it was barely known anywhere outside London.
meikleblog at gmail dot com
Bloodletting was seen as a cure for practically everything.
The waltz was at first considered a scandalous dance.
The tradition of wearing white when getting married began during regency era. (1813) It was not until Queen Victoria wore white that it became more common.
Ladies would wear caps even indoors, and keep the cap on under the bonnet when leaving the home.
A bulter wore a black cravat instead of a white one so he wouldn’t be mistaken for a gentleman . . or so I’ve read.
My mistake,that should have been “butler”, not “bulter”. So here is another fact – children worked as young as 5 years old. Children were employed as chimney sweeps and would be starved so they could fit into the chimneys.
In addition to white, popular shades of Regency era clothing and notions included: Coquelicot, Jonquil, Primrose, Evening Primrose, Pomona Green, Puce, Emerald, and Cerulean. (http://hibiscus-sinensis.com/regency/colors.htm)
The complex of buildings at Chawton Cottage, where Miss Austen did her later writing, housed a tavern before Jane and her family moved there.
In terms of manners, a gentleman was always introduced to a lady. Not the other way around!
In Sense and Sensibility, Lucy promises to send a piece of the wedding cake to Elinore and Marianne. A very passive-aggressive action and very much in character with Miss Steele. In that time period, unmarried women placed the usually very thin slice of cake (wrapped in linen) beneath their pillow in hopes of dreaming of their future husband. Impossible though, if you ate the cake. Thus to “have your cake and eat it ,too” would be quite a quandary for most girls.
What would you choose? Sweet dreams or caving into your sweet tooth?
I would dream the dream first, and THEN eat the cake.
Another point of manners: Ladies were always given the “wall” when being escorted by a gentleman. That means the gentleman walked nearest the street, becoming a nice barrier between you and the mud!
In the Regency and Victorian eras, a lady’s fan was not just for practical purposes – a whole language existed in this pretty piece of finery!
Puce was a popular colour during the early 1800’s. The word is derived from a French word meaning “flea.” Not very attractive. :P
Purchases during the Regency Era were mostly made on credit (to be settled later). Cash was used for small purchases, when travelling, or if you were poor.
When the Drury Lane Theater burned down, Richard Brinsley Sheridan was in a nearby pub. The patrons were surprised when he took his chair and drink outside. When asked what he was doing, he replied, “Cannot a man enjoy a drink by his own fire?”
In a carriage, a gentleman takes the seat facing backward. If he is alone in a carriage with a lady, he does not sit next to her unless he is her husband, brother, father, or son. He alights from the carriage first so that he may hand her down. He takes care not to step on her dress.
Air pollution in Georgian London was very real and prevalent. As a result, it was possible at that time to purchase from one’s apothecary bottled sea air, as it was felt to be so healthy.
It was customary to throw away the old (and by now in tatters) household rags on New Years Eve and start with a fresh set on New Years Day.
The Regency era is called so as the Prince Regent ruled during this period during King George III’s illness, from the years 1811-1820. In 1820, the Prince Regent became King George IV upon the death of his father.
Of course, when referencing the Regency era, I think a much larger frame of time is inferred, more from the mid- late 18th to possibly the mid 19th century.
In Austen’s time (and probably for hundreds of years prior) a city was defined as having a univerisity and/or a cathedral; a town has a church and a market; a village has a church but no market; and a hamlet has neither a church nor a market. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most people in England lived in villages. http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village
In 1978 I had a course on Austen and a character had puce gloves, which we learned was “flea” color, basically a purple brown like a blood sated flea! Yuck.
The Regency period is wonderfully rich in so many facts I had a hard time to choose but the one which popped in my head concerned the little ‘shower’ cap female servants used to wear, called in fact a mob hat (nothing to do with mobsters!).
And now I am still wondering why it is called that!
Thank you for the lovely opportunity, books are a passion in this household!
God bless and Happy New Year!
When going up a flight of stairs a man would go ahead of a woman. When coming down a flight of stairs a man would follow a woman. This way a woman’s ankles would not be visible to the male.
Would like to learn what type of products were used in the outhouses. Corn cobs or husks?
Sounds wonderful!
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I read once that body hair on women was considered to be a good thing. A woman who wasn’t very hairy would glue some more on. I haven’t seen that anywhere else and I find it hard to believe, but maybe…
Elizabeth Phillips, I seem to recall a (young, female) character in War and Peace that Tolstoy described as having a small mustache; that this facial hair was kind of cute and attractive. Does anyone else remember this? True, this was Russia, not England, but still the right era.
In a recipe for ink, one ingredient is urine!
I’d have thought Susan that the main mode of transport during the Regency period was ones own legs, the vast majority being too poor for a horse and cart/carriage. :)
Forgive me just being facetious ;)
Happy new year to all
During the regency period carriage horses routinely had their tails docked, a surgical procedure carried out without painkillers, done because it was considered chic. Everyone knew that animals had no feelings, or, if they did, they weren’t important. Yet in the cover paintings we see on modern historical romances, tails are always shown as nature intended them. We moderns know what a hideously cruel practice this was and we don’t want to see it in our romances.
They also used to trim the tails of horses and use the hairs as stuffing for upholstery and pillows.
Prior to 1752, the calendar year officially began in March, on Lady Day — and in Austen’s period, rents were typically paid on Lady Day and Michelmas (the latter being in September). Happy (new) New Year!
I love how letters were written (sometimes crossing the lines to make everything fit), folded up, and then sealed with wax and stamped. Amazing that without “real” addresses letters still found their way to the correct destinations. I want a wax and stamp kit of my own!
The ‘Grand Tour’ throughout Europe was the privilege of elite men who wanted to cultivate their taste and learning. btw, some of my artwork is 18th/19th century inspired. Visit here: http://christine-corretti.artistwebsites.com
I wouldn’t mind it if you featured the Austenesque pieces here. You could even take a percentage if it sells as a result of being on this site.
Remember those lovely Empire-waist dresses that women wore in Jane’s lifetime? Ladies dampened them to make them more clingy and – heaven forbid – more sexy. Oh dear, did I use that word? It would never have been said, either. More alluring… By the way, the book is wonderful. I had it for a few days from the library but there were so many holds on it I had to return it. Anyone who wins it will love it!!!!
I found this bit of information on the internet: Outerwear garments included the spencer, a long-sleeved jacket that extended only to the raised waistline. Worn by both men and women, it was named for the 2nd Earl Spencer, who, according to one version of the story, cut off the coattails of his jacket after wagering that he could invent a new fashion.
I’ve been curious why some women wore caps and found this information also on the internet: ” Women during the Regency period wore headdresses outdoors as a matter of course. When a woman married, or if she was a spinster in her late twenties, she would also take to wearing a cap indoors.”
It is said that Jane Austen fainted when her mother delivered the news that the Austen’s would be leaving Jane’s beloved Steventon home to live in Bath.
Lets try this again: It is said that Jane Austen fainted when her mother delivered the news that they would be moving from Jane’s beloved Steventon home to live in Bath.
A bark was a three-masted sailing ship. I am sure Jane knew all about them.
A little padded pillow was worn tied at the back and under the gowns just under the yoke to make the dress hang away from the body.
I thought the Regent’s immoral behavior was condemned by all, so was surprised that Marianne Thornton (1797-1887) referred to his legal wife as “wicked Queen Caroline.”
While a governess’s daytime hours were spent educating her charge, her evening hours were also spent with her pupil and frequently included exercise.
The term Abigail for a lady’s maid came from a biblical story in 1Samuel where Abigail provides hospitality to David even though her husband refused to do so.
Thanks for the chance to win this book.
I love the “fashion statement” of the caps worn by well-to-do woman. But even more fascinating is the social expectations attached to the wearing of them. “To put on one’s cap” when unmarried was considered an announcement that one had removed oneself from the Marriage Mart, for whatever reason. Also, the cap itself as
I love the “fashion statement” of the caps worn by well-to-do woman. But even more fascinating is the social expectations attached to the wearing of them. “To put on one’s cap” when unmarried was considered an announcement that one had removed oneself from the Marriage Mart, for whatever reason. Also, the cap itself as a fashion accessory could, as with all clothing, give a clue to the rank of the wearer. in Pride & Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet’s caps were quite pretty while the Bingley sisters’ were ornate, even over-the-top, perhaps hinting at their need to overcompensate for their less than desirable “Trade” connections, on which Bingley’s fortune was built.
gives a fresh meaning to “setting one’s cap” at someone :)
I think it’s interesting how people associated being thin with sickness and bad health. If one were plump you were well and considered beautiful.
They cooked all their fruits and thought it unhealthy to eat them raw.
For the most part, clothing of the era was custom fitted to the wearer using a method of draping the fabric. There were some basic patterns, but not to the variety of today. The wearer really had a great deal of choice in the manner or mode of embellishment, and clothing, at least for the upper class, was truly an outward expression of personal taste and choice. Very different from today’s off the rack choices.
“The first filmed adaptation of a Jane Austen novel came with Emma in 1937, starring the young Margaret Rutherford as Emma and Charles Laughton as Mr Knightley.” from The Telegraph, Jan. 26, 2008, by Craig Brown
Postage during that period was paid for by the recipient, not sender.
Sugar was quite expensive and was watched over by the housekeeper or cook. When it was needed the cone-shaped lump of sugar was shaved or pounded for the required amount.
Landauam, the medication prescribed to Jane when she was ill and to many patients with medical complaints, was a highly addictive substance and given out quite freely in that time.
Miniatures of the day were frequently painted on card stock. If one wanted to have a miniature of someone one shouldn’t have a miniature of, one might have a miniature of only one eye.
One of the most dangerous activities open to (married and/or unmarried) women was childbirth.
A climbing boy was a lad that climbed the chimney to clean it.
It seems that (much) used damp tea leaves were employed to clean carpets.
The Prince Regent’s wife was known as ‘wicked Queen Caroline’ because she too was notorious for some scandalous affairs.
Muslin was a much finer fabric than the muslin we use in quilts today, more like lawn or batiste.
The Prince Regent sang and played the cello.
They didn’t take baths. Blegh.
In Regency times weddings were mostly private affairs.
It was considered vulgar for a man to refer to a young woman by her first name. In a society where virginity was a young woman’s currency in the Marriage Mart, a man’s use of a young woman’s first name implied an indecorous degree of familiarity between them. First names were only used among immediate family. Married couples, like Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, referred to each other by their married names, even within their own homes.
Following the death of the man of the house during this period, the wife and children could, and often were, made to leave their home by the heir to the property (usually another male in the family).
Hi Vic, I would love to enter your contest for the book. I love anything to do with fiber and knitting and came across some interesting facts recently. In Jane Austen’s day it was all the fad to make netted evening bags to give as gifts. Little beaded pin cushions were also made to give as tokens of affection between friends. And, on many fashionable men’s garments handmade buttons called “Deathhead” buttons were made using wooden button frames and silk. They were beautiful and bright. Many colors and weaving techniques were used. Beatrix Potter actually used some of these buttons in her illustrations for the “Tailor of Glouster”. They were highly sought after and popular in Jane’s day.
Excited about this! A fact about Regency life is, women’s dress style was Grecian inspired which was in vogue then.
Beethoven is my favorite composer from Jane Austen’s time period, and his inclusion seems appropriate as they shared a birthday. (She was born on his 5th birthday.) Jane Austen’s personal music notebooks contained some folk songs that were arranged by Beethoven.
Today is Twelfth Night, the end of the Christmas season. In Jane Austen’s time, it was usually celebrated with a grand fancy ball, a masque or fancy dress.
One of the most popular styles in art & architecture in Jane Austen’s time was the neo-classical style, which was based on Greek and Roman antiquity. The excavation of Pompeii, and the tradition of the Grand Tour led to the interest which inspired this trend.
I purchased JANE AUSTEN’S ENGLAND yesterday; I can’t recommend it enough.
I’ve been been an Austen fan since I was nine. At age eighteen, I became enamored with the British Regency. It’s a fascination that holds true even now, two years later.
As a result—I adore your blog! It’s full of information and personality. I look forward to each and every post. I hope you and your family are doing well. Your father is in my thoughts and prayers. Happy New Year!
—Kayla
A friend just mentioned something to me a few days ago that I had not realized. Women’s fortunes were noted as a total amount (e.g.Georgianna Darcy’s 30,000 pounds) vs. a man’s worth was noted as a per year amount (e.g. Darcy’s 10,000 pounds and Bingley’s 5,000 pounds). A woman’s fortune became her husband’s upon marriage, so it was kind of a lump sum prize. the man was usually assured of an ongoing income in his own right, so annual income was noted.
I just found your blog, and after reading everyone’s comments am so thrilled by all I learned, and intimidated at the same time that I cannot think of anything to share except I could really use the book.
Because many had lost teeth or had bad teeth, when they laughed they ocvered their mouths.
The recipient had to pay the postage on letters received!
Between 1734 and 1817 George Adams and his sons George Adams, Jr. and Dudley Adams made and sold mathematical instruments and wrote scientific papers. They produced superb globes of earth and sky which contained enough information to provide a geographical and astronomical education. One student who gained her astronomy expertise in this way was Frances Rolleston (1781-1864) who later wrote “Mazzaroth: The Consellations.”
Great contest idea!
During Jane Austen’s era, a proper gentleman would not know how to play the pianoforte.
Not sure whether I’m too late… it’s not midnight yet here on the West Coast. ;-) Men’s underclothes could be referred to as ‘small clothes’ in Regency England.
Contest closed. The winner is Janice Jacobson. Congratulations!
Thank you all for these fantastic comments. I learned so much!
Vic, you’ve given me some books to add to my wish list. I really do appreciate having a trusted expert in all things Jane to look to before buying.