Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Jane Austen’s World’ Category

Tonbridge Church of St Peter and St Paul: Home Parish of Jane Austen’s Father

Posted in Jane Austen's World on July 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Brenda S. Cox

“Our dear Father has closed his virtuous & happy life, in a death almost as free from suffering as his Children could have wished. . . . We have lost an excellent Father. . . . His tenderness as a Father, who can do justice to? . . . the Corpse . . . preserves the sweet, benevolent smile which always distinguished him.”—Jane Austen to her brother Frank, Jan. 21 and 22, 1805.

George Austen, known for his “bright & hopeful disposition,” “mildness and gentleness of temper,” and “steadiness of principle” (religious principle). (Le Faye, Family Record, 4.)

Jane Austen was very attached to her father, George Austen. He was born, grew up, went to school, and worked for a time in Tonbridge. In April we “visited” the Horsmonden church, where George’s ancestors lived and died. Tonbridge, Horsmonden, and Godmersham are all in the county of Kent, southeast of London. (Hampshire, where Jane Austen mostly lived, is southwest of London.)

Tonbridge Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

George Austen grew up worshiping at the Tonbridge Parish Church. The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, two followers of Jesus who spread the gospel during New Testament times.

Tonbridge Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, where George Austen worshiped when he was growing up. He also served there for a time after graduating from Oxford.

Tonbridge church tower. Built in the thirteenth century, top section added in the fifteenth century. In 1774, eight new bells were added to the tower, transported by barge from London.

Chancel of the Tonbridge church. The chancel is the area around the main altar of a church. It is usually centered in front of the nave. However, in this church, the chancel is set to the left of the center. During Christ’s crucifixion on the cross, His head fell to one side, at an angle. The architect represented that in the layout of the church.

Nave of the Tonbridge church, looking toward the entrance. The nave is the central area of a church, where the congregation sits for worship services. The vaulted arches draw the eyes up toward heaven, to help worshipers focus on God. (From the church website.)

George Austen’s Family

Jane’s great-grandfather John Austen IV of Horsmonden married Elizabeth Weller from Tonbridge in 1693. When John died eleven years later, Elizabeth, a strong and capable woman, paid her husband’s debts by selling her furniture and renting out her house. She got a job as housekeeper to a schoolmaster in Sevenoaks. This enabled her to send five of her sons to grammar school for free, opening doors for them to work in various professions. She is buried in the Tonbridge church.

Chapel in the Tonbridge church with a memorial to an Elizabeth Weller who donated to the church and died in 1677. She was related to Elizabeth Weller Austen, Jane’s resilient great-grandmother.

John and Elizabeth’s son Francis Austen (Francis II, 1698-1791) became a prosperous attorney in Sevenoaks and married twice, both wealthy women. Jane visited her great-uncle Francis in 1788 when she was twelve.

Memorials in the Tonbridge church to Jane Austen’s grandfather William Austen and her father’s cousin Henry Austen.  The darker one reads, “Also William Austen, Surgeon, died 1737  Aged 36.”

Francis’s brother William Austen (1701-1737) became a surgeon and settled in Tonbridge, where he is buried in the north aisle of the church. He was Jane Austen’s grandfather. He and his first wife had four children: a baby who died in infancy, Philadelphia (mother of Jane’s cousin Eliza), George, and Leonora. William Austen married again but neglected to alter his will. When he died, his home and possessions went to his second wife, who did not care for his children. Other relatives took them in.

In the foyer of the Tonbridge church, various original items related to Jane Austen’s family and the church are displayed. Visitors can see the marriage register listing George Austen’s parents; the birth register listing George Austen; a prayer book and Bible from the time; letters from Austen relatives, and more.

Tonbridge School

In this Tonbridge School register from 1742, George Austen is listed in the 8th form, and his cousin Henry Austen is listed in the first form. [For American readers: a “form” is similar to a “grade.” However, these are reversed, as Henry Austen is the eldest and in the final class (#1), while George is in the youngest class, at age 11.]

George Austen (1731-1805), Jane’s father, lived with his aunt Betty Hooper while he attended Tonbridge School from 1741-1747. The school was founded in 1553, and in 1663 a special gallery had to be added to the church to accommodate all the boys coming to worship there. George’s Uncle Francis paid for him to go to Tonbridge School.

Francis also paid for George’s cousin Henry (1726-1807) to attend. Henry was the son of Francis’s younger brother Thomas, an apothecary living in Tonbridge. (Sorry this is complicated; names were repeated over and over again in families!) Both Henry and George became clergymen.

Memorials at Tonbridge church to the Austens, to headmaster James Cawthorn who helped and encouraged George Austen, and to George Hooper, son of George’s Aunt Betty whom he lived with while going to school.

The headmaster at Tonbridge School was James Cawthorn who helped George get a scholarship to Oxford, reserved for “a poor scholar of Tunbridge parish and school.” This also provided a fellowship after he graduated, and a second scholarship to help maintain him as a fellow. Cawthorne employed him at the Tonbridge School as “Second Master,” or “Usher,” providing him with a home and a respected position.

(Tonbridge School is still thriving. It is now a large elite institution, with about 800 students. British people call it a public school while Americans would call a private school. When George Austen attended, it was a small local school, with 40-90 students.)

Other Connections

George Austen later resigned this post at Tonbridge School and returned to Oxford as Assistant Chaplain and Proctor. He was known as “the handsome proctor.” When he married Cassandra Leigh, he lost his fellowship (not available to married clergy) but gained the rectory at Steventon, where Jane was born and grew up.

Memorial at Tonbridge church to Vicesimus Knox, also buried there. A later headmaster of Tonbridge School, Knox compiled Elegant Extracts in Prose, a book that George Austen recommended to his son Frank. Jane owned a copy, and it is mentioned in Emma.

In this listing of Vicars of Tonbridge, Philip Papillon is listed for 1804-1812. He later became rector of Chawton.

Austen mentions Rev. Papillon, rector of Chawton, in several letters. Jane’s brother Henry had wanted that living, and their brother Edward offered Papillon £1200 to give it up. However, Papillon refused the money and moved into the Chawton rectory in 1802, rebuilding it “at too much expense.”

Jane jokes in 1809, when her relatives were speculating about her marrying the new single rector:

“I am very much obliged to Mrs. Knight for such a proof of the interest she takes in me, and she may depend upon it that I will marry Mr. Papillon, whatever may be his reluctance or my own. I owe her much more than such a trifling sacrifice.”

Papillon, by the way, owned a copy of Sense and Sensibility.

(Confused about rectors and vicars? A rector got all the tithes, a vicar only got part of the tithes. Each parish traditionally had either a rector or a vicar. Chawton had rectors, Tonbridge had vicars. See “Rectors and Vicars in Jane Austen.” The modern Anglican church uses the terms differently.)

Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells

Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells are separate towns, about five miles apart. “Ton” is a Saxon word for “ten,” and it has been speculated that ten Saxon families settled near a bridge and the town was called Tonbridge. It was close to Canterbury, the first place in Kent to have a Christian church (in the sixth century).

The Tonbrige church likely stands on the site of an early Saxon preaching place. A Norman castle was built in the town in the eleventh century and the church was built soon after. (George’s cousin, Revd. Henry Austen, married Mary Hooker, whose family owned the castle.)

In the 1700s, the church was a central part of the town. The town fire engine was kept on the church porch from 1747. These two fire hooks remain—they were fastened to horses and used to pull burning thatch from roofs.

Royal Tunbridge Wells was built much later, in the 1600s. A well was discovered there with water believed to have healing properties. It became a spa town, then a resort town visited by wealthy people. In 1909, the name “Royal” was added by King Edward VII. It is still a prosperous town that attracts tourists.

Tonbridge Church Today

Tonbridge memorials
Tonbridge banner - 1
Tonbridge missions - 1
Tonbridge magazine - 1

 

Tonbridge Parish Church is a vibrant, thriving, evangelical church. About 150 people attend their Sunday morning services, a smaller group in the evenings. They also host weddings, concerts, and community events.

They offer meetings on Sundays and weekdays for families, children, adults, and seniors, as well as home groups meeting at various times. The Tonbridge church also runs courses for those looking into the Christian faith. They are connected with three nearby congregations (St. Andrew, St. Philip, and St. Saviour).

The Tonbridge church is a fascinating mixture of old and new. They seamlessly integrate memorials of the past with modern worship and outreach, including a professional-looking magazine.

They welcome visitors!

All photos in this post ©Brenda S. Cox, 2026.

Brenda S. Cox is the author of Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England. She also blogs at Faith, Science, Joy, and Jane Austen.

More on Tonbridge Church

For a literary walk of Tonbridge showing highlights related to Jane Austen and her family, see Jane Austen & Tonbridge: A Circular Walk. (An audio version is mentioned but does not seem to be currently available.)

This history of Tonbridge parish includes a clear summary of church history in England.

Jane Austen’s Family and Tonbridge by Margaret Wilson

Jane Austen and Tonbridge is a concise booklet available from the church; main source for this post.

Monuments at the Tonbridge church

Architecture and Archaeology of Tonbridge church

Other Austen Family Churches

Adlestrop and the Leigh Family

Ashe and the Lefroy Family

Chawton

Deane

Godmersham

Goodnestone

Great Bookham and Austen’s Godfather, Rev. Samuel Cooke

Hamstall Ridware and Austen’s First Cousin, Edward Cooper

Horsmonden

St. Paul’s Covent Garden (with links to other churches mentioned in Austen’s writings)

St. Swithin’s Walcot (Bath)

Steventon

Stoneleigh Abbey Chapel and Mansfield Park

More Austen Family Churches

Winchester Cathedral and Jane Austen

St. Andrew’s Colyton, Devon

St. Peter’s Hurstbourne Tarrant (the Lloyds’ church)

JASNA Austen Family Churches

Read Full Post »

Elizabeth Bennet’s Travels (Part 4): The Peak, “Lambton,” and Bakewell

Posted in Derbyshire, Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Austen's World, Pride and Prejudice, Pride and Prejudice 1995, Pride and Prejudice 2005, Regency Travel, Travel on July 6, 2026| 1 Comment »

As we round out our tour of Elizabeth Bennet’s travels, let’s take a closer look at the Peak District, the fictional town of Lambton, and the real-life town of Bakewell. Over the past few months, we’ve visited Derbyshire, Matlock, and Dovedale and Chatsworth House, as well as Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth, and Birmingham, the route Elizabeth and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner took on their journey to Derbyshire.

Though Austen never visited most of these destinations for herself, she heard about them from friends and family and read about them in popular guidebooks of the time. Many of the wealthy aristocratic set visited these sites during the Napoleonic Wars, as an alternative to traveling through Europe. The rugged landscapes provided a feast for the Romantic imagination and ample scenes for painters and poets to capture.

Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet, PP film adaptation, 1995.

The Peak District

In PP, we read this description of their travel plans in Derbyshire, where Mrs. Gardiner lived earlier in her life: “About ten or a dozen years ago, before her marriage, [Mrs. Gardiner] had spent a considerable time in that very part of Derbyshire . . . “

In that county (Derbyshire) there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three weeks; and to Mrs. Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The town where she had formerly passed some years of her life, and where they were now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of her curiosity as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale, or the Peak.

The Peak District would surely have afforded Elizabeth and the Gardiners many scenic drives and walks during the three weeks they spent in Derbyshire. During Austen’s time, the Peak District offered travelers an incredible landscape experience filled with rugged hills, deep dales, and wide-reaching views that unfolded in layers, as far as the eye could see. The sense of grandeur in that region captivated the imagination of all who visited.

In the 2005 PP film, Elizabeth Bennet (played by Keira Knightley) stands on Stanage Edge in the Peak District to survey the landscape. This iconic shot became so popular that the spot is now known as “Keira Knightley’s Rock” and is a famous hiking destination often visited by Austen fans.

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, PP film adaptation, 2005.

Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet, PP film adaptation, 1995.

Lambton

After seeing the “principle wonders of the country” around Derbyshire, Elizabeth and the Gardiners focus on one small area where Mrs. Gardiner lived previously, in the (fictional) small town of Lambton, which is described as a “small market-town.” Austen provides these further details:

A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern. To the little town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner’s former residence, and where she had lately learned that some acquaintance still remained, they bent their steps, after having seen all the principal wonders of the country.

We don’t know much about Mrs. Gardiner’s Lambton from the novel. Some believe that Bakewell, which is situated near Chatsworth and was the start of tours during the Regency Era, may have been Austen’s inspiration for Mrs. Gardiner’s small town because it fits the novel’s geography and social function quite well. It’s a compact market town on the route between the scenic Peak District and nearby grand houses, and it’s just the kind of place where Elizabeth and the Gardiners could have stayed while touring Derbyshire. However, Austen also mentions Bakewell in PP, which leads most scholars to believe that while Lambton may have been something like Bakewell, Austen did not intend it to be Bakewell.

In the following passage, we learn that Elizabeth and the Gardiners had recently visited Bakewell:

Mr. Darcy took [Mrs. Gardiner’s] place by [Elizabeth], and they walked on together. After a short silence the lady first spoke. She wished him to know that she had been assured of his absence before she came to the place, and accordingly began by observing, that his arrival had been very unexpected—“for your housekeeper,” she added, “informed us that you would certainly not be here till to-morrow; and, indeed, before we left Bakewell, we understood that you were not immediately expected in the country.” He acknowledged the truth of it all; and said that business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling. “They will join me early to-morrow,” he continued, “and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you,—Mr. Bingley and his sisters.”

When Mr. Darcy brings his sister (and Mr. Bingley) to visit Elizabeth at the inn in Lambton, it’s quite extraordinary. We are to understand that Lambton was not a place where Darcy and his sister might normally visit, so it says an awful lot that Mr. Darcy brings Miss Darcy there to introduce her to Elizabeth.

Bakewell

Though Lambton was not, perhaps, meant to be Bakewell, Austen does mention Bakewell. Let us explore Bakewell so that we know what it was like during the Regency Era and what it might have been like to visit.

In Jane Austen’s day, Bakewell was a small market town with an older medieval center, a parish church, a five-arched stone bridge (dating back to the 14th century) that stretched over the River Wye, and a busy market (established in 1254). Bakewell was an important stop in the Peak District. Travelers passing through would have found a coaching stop with old stone buildings, narrow streets, and a bustling market.

Today, Bakewell is the “largest settlement and only town within the boundaries of the Peak District National Park. At the 2011 census, the population of the civil parish was 3,949” (Wikipedia). According to Bakewell.co.uk, Bakewell is the capital town of the Peak District, known for its rich heritage and tradition, and the famous Bakewell tart, “a dessert made with almond paste and puff pastry, is a must-try.” If you have time, look up Bakewell; I’d love to visit one day.

“River Wye, Bakewell Bridge, Derbyshire.” Wikimedia Commons.

Mapping Derbyshire

For those of you who love the minor details in Austen’s novels, I found this information intriguing: “within five miles of Lambton, Elizabeth found, from her aunt, that Pemberley was situated. It was not in their direct road; nor more than a mile or two out of it. In talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner expressed an inclination to see the place again.”

Many have wondered if Chatsworth House was a possible inspiration for Pemberley, and on the map today, Chatsworth is about 4-5 miles from Bakewell, depending on the route you take. If Austen had looked at a guidebook or map, or talked with friends who had visited the area, it’s possible that she chose to situate her fictional village (which may have been similar to Bakewell) and Darcy’s fictional estate (which is believed to be similar to Chatsworth) on her fictional map in such a way as to make it seem believable for her contemporary readers.

If you’d like to see a map, the Republic of Pemberley has a detailed map (below), and I’ve added a red arrow for Bakewell. You can see Chatsworth just above and to the right. I highly recommend looking at the maps of Derbyshire that the Republic of Pemberley provides. Each map is filled with interesting sites, as well as information about those sites during Austen’s day.

“Bakewell, Derbyshire.” The Republic of Pemberley. Accessed 25 June 2026.

Travel Dreams

I have had the opportunity to visit many of the “Austen” sites in England, but I have yet been to Derbyshire. This series has certainly given me even more reason to try to get there one day. If you’ve ever been, please share about your favorite sites in the comments below. If I can make it happen one day, I’d love to tour each site and walk in Elizabeth Bennet’s fictional footsteps.

Rachel Dodge teaches writing classes, speaks at libraries, teas, and conferences, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling, award-winning author of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional, The Little Women Devotional, The Secret Garden Devotional, and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. She has narrated numerous book titles, including the Praying with Jane Audiobook with actress Amanda Root. A true kindred spirit at heart, Rachel loves books, bonnets, and ballgowns. Visit her online at www.RachelDodge.com.

Read Full Post »

Is Mr. Collins Autistic?

Posted in Book review, Jane Austen's World on June 29, 2026| 16 Comments »

Book Review by Brenda S. Cox of So Odd a Mixture: Along the Autistic Spectrum in Pride and Prejudice

It’s not often that I read something that invites me to look at one of my favorite books, Pride and Prejudice, in a totally new way. Recently, after a presentation I gave on “Mr. Collins: Jane Austen’s Most Memorable Clergyman” (which you can watch here), a participant asked if I had considered the idea of Collins being on the autistic spectrum. I hadn’t.

She recommended the book So Odd a Mixture: Along the Autistic Spectrum in Pride and Prejudice, by Phyllis Ferguson Bottomer. Of course I love to learn from other Janeites, so I bought the book for my Kindle. I found it fascinating. I can’t say I agree with everything the author says. But the book was full of quotes from Pride and Prejudice, and I read it as eagerly as if I were reading the novel again, since I was looking at it from a different point of view.

So Odd a Mixture: Along the Autistic Spectrum in Pride and Prejudice, by Phyllis Ferguson Bottomer, explores the possibility of eight characters in Pride and Prejudice having characteristics of autism.

Autism and Austen

Phyllis Bottomer is a speech language pathologist who has worked with students with mild or level 1 autism. She also loves Jane Austen. Watching a Pride and Prejudice adaptation, she was suddenly struck by the similarity between a character’s statement and a statement by Dr. Temple Grandin. Grandin describes her own experience as a woman with autism in Thinking in Pictures. This led Bottomer to reconsider Pride and Prejudice’s characters, comparing them with various sources on autism. She found many similarities.

Early in the book, the author gives us a helpful background chapter on “Autistic Spectrum Disorders for Janeites.” A chapter follows on Jane Austen for the autism specialists who may be reading.

Temple Grandin’s book Thinking in Pictures gives a first-person account of life with autism.

The title of So Odd a Mixture comes from Austen’s description of Mr. Bennet as “so odd a mixture of quick parts [abilities], sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice.” Bottomer suggests that Mr. Bennet and other characters in Pride and Prejudice are on the autistic spectrum. She includes Mr. Collins, Mary Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Mrs. Bennet, Anne De Bourgh, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, and last, but certainly not least, Fitzwilliam Darcy. This seems a high number for a disorder affecting less than 5% of the population, according to the website Autism Speaks. However, autism does tend to run in families, according to that same website.

While Bottomer discusses each one extensively in their own chapter, I will just give a few of her reasons for classifying these characters as “on the spectrum.”

Mr. Collins

I find her arguments about Mr. Collins the most convincing. Bottomer cites Collins’s awkwardness in social situations, his unawareness of social cues, his preparing compliments ahead of time (approaching social tasks with “slow conscious calculation”), his limited emotional depth, and his “obliviousness” as characteristics of those with ASD.

Collins reads Fordyce’s Sermons aloud to the family, although he knows that young ladies don’t like such books. This shows that, like many on the spectrum, he has difficulty applying social knowledge to specific situations. Bottomer compares Mr. Collins’s dislike of novels to Temple Grandin’s. She strongly prefers nonfiction to “novels with complicated interpersonal relationships,” which are more challenging for autistic people to understand. (A more recent study has shown this is not true of all autistic people. Autistic children, like neurotypical children, tend to prefer fiction over nonfiction.)

Bottomer analyzes Collins’s unsympathetic letter to the Bennets about Lydia’s elopement. She concludes that Mr. Collins will be a poor clergyman, unable to give emotional support to the people of his parish. This is likely true, since Collins is proud and judgmental. However, Austen presents Mr. Collins more as someone from a disadvantaged background, with a miserly, illiterate (meaning not well-educated) father, who is trying to operate in spheres of society he did not grow up in. He may also be neurodivergent, we don’t know for sure.

Like some (but not all!) people on the spectrum, Mr. Collins prefers nonfiction to novels.

Mary and Lydia Bennet

I was surprised to see both Mary and Lydia included here, as they are so opposite in personality.

Bottomer diagnoses Mary as having “mild to moderate autism.” Mary is intellectual, preferring to deal with ideas rather than feelings. She is unaware of how those around her react to her, as evidenced by her singing at the Netherfield Ball and not understanding Elizabeth’s signals to her to stop. The author considers Mary’s admiration of Mr. Collins to be “a case of like minds being attracted to each other.” She quotes a study* which found that women with mild autism were usually in relationships with mildly autistic men. Men on the spectrum, on the other hand, gravitated toward relationships with neurotypical women, as Mr. Collins does. So, as many readers have concluded, Mary might have been a good match for Mr. Collins. (*Maxine Aston, Aspergers in Love, 2003)

Lydia, according to the author, also has “poorly developed social skills.” She interrupts Mr. Collins, dominates conversations regardless of others’ lack of interest (as Mr. Collins does), and fails to modulate the volume of her voice appropriately. Her conversation and actions are often inappropriate for the situation. This, of course, could be because she is an impetuous, undisciplined teenager. Bottomer thinks Lydia has both Asperger’s and ADHD. Apparently, autistic children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to predators, as “they cannot always figure out when they are being lied to or used.” This makes Lydia unable to recognize Wickham’s deceptions.

Mr. and Mrs. Bennet

While Austen mentions Mr. Bennet’s “sarcastic humour,” Bottomer suggests reading Mr. Bennet’s words as literal comments rather than wit. Mrs. Bennet talks about “a single man of large fortune” benefiting her daughters, while Mr. Bennet asks “How so? How can it affect them?” Surely, he must have known the answer. Bottomer writes, “Difficulty with drawing inferences and ‘reading between the lines’ is common among the majority of those on the spectrum.” Here it does seem as if he is being witty, however.

Throughout the novel, Mr. Bennet shows a lack of empathy for his wife and daughters. He has been irresponsible in raising them. Bottomer makes the excellent point that Mr. Bennet knew about the entail, and he should have provided for his wife and daughters in at least one of three ways, perhaps all three. He could have set aside money for them, at least starting when Lydia was born fifteen years previously. He could have given them good educations so they could support themselves as governesses if needed. And he could have brought them to London to connect them with suitable men to marry. But he has done none of these things, absorbed only in himself. They could literally be homeless and destitute when he dies. Even knowing this, he never takes seriously their need to find husbands.

Is he just a totally self-absorbed, selfish man? Is Mrs. Bennet’s silliness (though she is more realistic than he is) the cause of his ill-treatment of her? As Bottomer points out, we do not accept “she asked for it” as an excuse for physical abuse, and it should not justify emotional abuse either. Is the truth instead that Mr. Bennet is unable to empathize, unable to understand and respond to the complex emotions of others? Bottomer characterizes him as “severely impaired,” unable to protect his daughters and care for his wife.

Mrs. Bennet, while not highly educated, recognizes her husband’s emotional abuse. (“How can you abuse your own children in such a way?” she asks him. And, “You have no compassion on my poor nerves.”) Due to her husband’s neglect of his family, Mrs. Bennet is anxious, which exacerbates characteristics of autism. Bottomer says, “Although Mrs. Bennet shows some autistic spectrum traits, particularly difficulty with both voice modulation and empathy, as well as a tendency to focus on minor details, these are comparatively mild.” Unlike her husband, she enjoys social interactions, but she often does not pick up on social cues.

Does autism help keep Mr. and Mrs. Bennet from connecting with each other?

Darcy and His Family

You can guess from this why Bottomer classifies Anne De Bourgh and her mother Lady Catherine as on the spectrum. Darcy is more interesting.

Bottomer writes, “In my opinion it is not pride but subtle autism that is the major reason for Darcy’s frequent silences, awkward behaviour at social events and the monologue that he, like Mr. Collins, delivers the first time he proposes to Elizabeth.” She explains many of Darcy’s actions as the results of mild autism. Positively, he is able to recognize his social errors and work to improve them. This is a long and intriguing chapter which I will not attempt to summarize here.

Austen identifies Darcy’s main difficulty as pride. Certainly he is proud and has to repent of that and change. I’m willing to consider that he may also have mild neurodivergent traits that he and Elizabeth have to learn to work with.

How Did Austen Know?

In the conclusion section, the author first speculates on what kind of “happily ever after” these characters might have experienced—the Bennets, the Wickhams, the Collinses, and of course the Darcys. JAFF writers, take note! She concludes that Elizabeth, who loves “intricate characters,” may enjoy her husband’s complex character.

Then the author addresses the question that bothered me throughout the book. “How Did Austen Know?” Of course these conditions were not diagnosed until long after her lifetime. Bottomer simply says that Austen was “extremely observant.” But observant of whom? Bottomer gives brief quotes from Austen’s letters about people that appeared odd, shy, or quiet. The author speculates that, in Jane’s own family, her cousin Edward Cooper, three of her brothers (including George, who had an unidentified disability), her suitor Harris Bigg-Wither, her Aunt Leigh-Perrot, and even her mother might possibly have been on the spectrum.

Her evidence here seems weak and speculative. As she concludes, “Given that individuals on the autistic spectrum are puzzling enough to understand even when they live and breathe among us, those in the dust of time are impossible for us to decipher.”

Jane Austen may have woven the traits of these “intricate and unique individuals” into the “unforgettable characters” we all know and love. She obviously was not intending to present these characters as “on the spectrum,” an unknown idea at the time. But probably she knew people with at least some degree of the behaviors she gives her characters.

While I can’t judge these diagnoses, I did find it entertaining and interesting to think about the traits of the people in Pride and Prejudice from this particular perspective. And it was helpful to learn more about autism in the process.

A Janeite on the Spectrum

To close, I want to share some comments from a Janeite friend, Frances, who founded the Jane Austen Society of Aotearoa New Zealand and identifies as autistic. (She has not yet read So Odd a Mixture.) She says:

“It’s always difficult to judge characters by modern standards, to attach labels they wouldn’t use, but it can help us understand them better. (I’m guilty of it. In fact, my talk for Virtual Jane Con next month is about whether Charlotte Lucas is aromantic. An even newer term.) Autism has always existed but wasn’t identified until relatively recently, and we’re still gaining new understandings – it’s not just men (hi, look at me :-).”

Would you identify any of the characters in P&P as autistic?

“Yes. It could be argued that Mr. Darcy, Mr. Collins and Mary Bennet are autistic. They all struggle with knowing how to behave in social situations and understanding others. Mary Bennet in the recent adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister is easier to see as autistic.”

Are there any that you relate to because they share some of those characteristics with you?

“I’ve heard many people relate to Mr. Darcy at the Netherfield Ball, not just me. Socialising with a room full of strangers, let alone strangers staring and talking about you, is awful. For a long time I didn’t want to relate to Mary Bennet, but I am very like her (luckily, I’m pretty :-). I spent most of my childhood with my head buried in a book and I still don’t understand the things neurotypical people say.”

 

I would love to hear from you, gentle readers, especially if you consider yourself on the autistic spectrum. Do you see any of the Pride and Prejudice characters as neurodivergent? Does it help you to relate to them? Do you see autistic traits in any Austen characters from the other novels?

 

So Odd a Mixture was published in 2007. Be aware that some terminology in it is outdated. Phyllis Bottomer also has an article in the 2007 volume of Persuasions, for those who have been in JASNA that long; it’s not online, though. Her 2010 Persuasions On-Line article on ASD and John and Isabella Thorpe is available online.

The reviewer, Brenda S. Cox, is the author of Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England. She also blogs at Faith, Science, Joy, and Jane Austen.

Read Full Post »

Cassandra Austen’s Dog (and a tribute to other animals during the Regency era)

Posted in Cassandra Austen (Jane's Sister), Jane Austen and animals, Jane Austen's World on June 19, 2026| 2 Comments »

Inquiring readers, 

While Jane Austen referred to dogs in her novels, no mention was made of one living in the various houses she inhabited even when she settled in her last productive years in Chawton Cottage. After Mrs Austen’s death in 1827, Cassandra, who remained in Chawton Cottage, kept a dog as her companion. It seems the dog had two names: ‘Link’ and/or ‘Scout,’ depending on the source material. I haven’t read a description of the dog itself – whether it’s a purebred or a mongrel, or of the color of its fur or special markings, or how Cassandra acquired the dog. Link/Scout will forever remain in my memory due to this description:

She had a dog called Link, who, family story claims, would accompany a manservant to the farm at the end of the road to fetch milk; on the way back, Link would carry the pail of milk in his mouth. (Jane Austen’s House)

Such details are precious. Constance Hill (writer) and her sister, Ellen (artist), took a pilgrimage from the U.S. to England in order to visit all the places where the Austens lived. Their book with its lovely illustrations was published in 1902. (Jane Austen: Her Homes and Her Friends). When visiting Chawton, the sisters chanced upon an elderly man, who vividly recalled Cassandra and her dog, years after their deaths. It was he who mentioned his memory of Link to the two delighted sisters, whose book became an important resource in the early 20th century for Austen scholars.

While Jane Austen never had her own dog, she mentioned them or referred to them frequently.  Author Eliza Shearer wrote an interesting article entitled Dogs in Jane Austen’s Novels for her blog. I had no idea how often Austen incorporated dogs into her stories to flesh out her characters, such as Willoughby:

In ‘Sense and Sensibility’, Sir John Middleton is incensed when he discovers Willoughby’s true nature, perhaps even more so because he has just given Willoughby a precious present: a puppy by Folly, his favourite hound.

Chalon, Henry Bernard. “Two Pointers in a Landscape.” Wikimedia Commons, 1805.

Shearer goes on to mention that Willoughby’s choice of a rich wife over love was his road to unhappiness. After bidding Marianne goodbye, the only tiny bit of happiness he felt was in breeding hounds. 

An article in Reddit discusses more animal species in Austen’s novels than dogs, although this comment is notable:

“Lady Bertram’s Pug (Mansfield Park): This pug highlights Lady Bertram’s idleness and misplaced priorities, as she fusses over the dog while neglecting her children” (Reddit).

Brock, C. E. “Illustration for ch. 2 of Mansfield Park.” Wikimedia Commons, 1908.

Shannon Winslow featured a cartoon in FaceBook of a cat & dog discussing which of their species Jane liked most. The dog argues that Austen is “Definitely a dog person – she wrote “Scents and Scents ability,” with the cat countering “But she also wrote “Purr-suasion.” Click on this link to see the cartoon of Jane writing in the background as the pets argue. It’s a wonderful cartoon which I’m not sure is in the public domain, therefore the link.

Let’s just say that Jane and Cassandra and their family in general largely understood that animals were for labor – sheep dogs to keep their flocks in order and work in tandem with their shepherds, cats to hunt rats and mice, cows to produce milk and steers for meat, horses for sport and transportation, chickens for eggs and stews, and yelping hounds that led hunting parties for sport to kill foxes. The sights, sounds, and sustenance of animals were part and parcel in the background of their lives.

The last link I offer is to a rather long article I wrote in 2021 about Animals in Jane Austen’s Novels. While detailed, I hope you’ll enjoy it.

 

Read Full Post »

Review: The Other Bennet Sister

Posted in Jane Austen's World, Mary Bennet, Pride and Prejudice, tagged , , on May 25, 2026| 14 Comments »

Review of the book and TV series, by Brenda S. Cox

“Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display. Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached.”—Pride and Prejudice, chapter 6

Mary Bennet

Those of us who love books often feel sorry for Mary Bennet: a bookworm who tries to make her way with second-hand knowledge of the world. We ask, why didn’t Mr. Collins marry Mary? Austen says,

“Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him [Mr. Collins]. She rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was a solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by no means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself by such an example as hers, he might become a very agreeable companion” (P&P, chapter 22).

However, he marries Charlotte Lucas instead, leaving the Bennet daughters still in desperate need of “good” (financially sound) marriages. Pragmatic Charlotte, of course, was probably a good match for him. She could help him better cope with the world and tone down his excesses. Charlotte had plenty of practice dealing with a pompous, foolish (but kind) father.

But what about Mary? Can we imagine a happy ending for her? Here’s the ending Jane Austen gave her:

“Mary was the only daughter who remained at home; and she was necessarily drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennet’s being quite unable to sit alone. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, but she could still moralize over every morning visit; and as she was no longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters’ beauty and her own, it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without much reluctance.”—P&P, chapter 61

In this Hugh Thomson illustration for Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Collins checks out the Bennet sisters, overlooking Mary, who is reading a book on the right.

Then what happens after her father dies and the Collinses take over Longbourn?

Janice Hadlow, author of The Other Bennet Sister, has given Mary her own story. I have now read the book twice and watched the series twice, loving them every time.

The Book: The Other Bennet Sister

The Other Bennet Sister begins,

“It is a sad fact of life that if a young woman is unlucky enough to come into the world without expectations, she had better do all she can to ensure she is born beautiful. To be poor and handsome is misfortune enough; but to be penniless and plain is a hard fate indeed.” (The TV series adds, “or so my mother taught us.”)

Janice Hadlow, in the book, then takes us deeper into the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet’s “beauty had been enough to win him, but, as Mr. Bennet soon understood, it was not enough to make him happy.” However, not being “reflective,” Mrs. Bennet still focuses on beauty as the most important quality of a young woman, and cannot forgive Mary for being “plain.”

We get to know Mary as the overlooked Bennet sister, trying various coping strategies. I love all the background and depth we get as Mary grows up, which understandably is skipped in the TV series.

I enjoyed the different strands and surprises woven together in this novel, all of which seem reasonably consistent with Pride and Prejudice. Mrs. Hill at Longbourn proves Mary’s friend. Mary’s eyeglasses exasperate her mother but provide a potential beau. Mr. Collins teaches Mary some Greek and introduces her to Aristotle’s ideas of happiness. The Gardiners take Mary in, include her, and nurture her.

Wordsworth’s poetry, shared by an attractive gentleman, opens Mary up to the world of feelings, beyond facts. The gentleman tells her, “That is the power of poetry. . . . It allows us to imagine ourselves anew, if we will permit it to do so. It reveals to us the hidden wishes of our hearts.”

Mary finds herself, fights for her happiness, and obtains her “room of one’s own” (a little ‘Easter egg’ reference to Virginia Woolf). And she’s not the only one. Even Caroline Bingley, who contributes some nasty wit here and there, has a little change of heart. And Mr. Collins and Charlotte find some happiness in their marriage. The book and its ending are satisfying for all.

The Other Bennet Sister is well-written, compelling, and shows Mary Bennet and other Pride and Prejudice characters in a plausible new light. I highly recommend it. (Bonus: It’s currently available through Kindle Unlimited.)

The Other Bennet Sister, by Janice Hadlow, tells the story of Mary, the overlooked sister.

The TV series: The Other Bennet Sister

The series of ten episodes of The Other Bennet Sister is also a delight. The blurb on Amazon says, “In this fresh Pride & Prejudice spin, overlooked Mary Bennet leaves Meryton behind to pursue love, independence, and self-worth, proving there is more to her than anyone expected”: a good summary. Even having read the book, I found the series intriguing.

For preview photos, see BBC Media Center part one and part two.

It includes some major changes from the novel. For example, in the novel, Mary is absolutely set against becoming a governess. In the series, that job is her way of achieving independence. (Never mind that Jane Fairfax of Emma considers the job of governess akin to slavery.) Independence, of course, is more of a modern goal for women, but today’s audience will appreciate it.

More of the story happens at Pemberley in the series than in the book. I suppose that’s because it seems a more romantic place than Hunsford or Netherfield. Or perhaps because the book takes Mary to one place after another as she tries to find the right place to settle, and it was easier in the film version to focus more on one place. Other events and situations also differ from the novel (I’m trying not to give you too many spoilers here).

I wasn’t really distracted by the few historical inaccuracies. However, the following aspects of the TV series are not proper etiquette of the time:

  • Mary sometimes (though not always) walks outside with her hair uncovered, no bonnet.
  • She walks around in London unescorted even by a maid, also inappropriate for her gentry background.
  • She is sometimes alone with a gentleman when it seems not quite appropriate.
  • She sometimes introduces herself to people rather than waiting for a correct introduction (which she could easily have obtained).
  • Mr. and Mrs. Collins show up at Pemberley out of the blue, without an invitation, which seems very unlikely.

And, these two oddities:

  • One of Mary’s beaux is a nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, but he never seems to connect with or mention Darcy, who must be his cousin.
  • Someone receives a surprising inheritance. The book does give an explanation which is semi-plausible, but the TV series gives no explanation.

The Actors

Ella Bruccoleri makes a convincing Mary, growing from the analytical, insecure middle daughter into a young lady learning to be comfortable with herself. Her suitors, played by Dónal Finn and Laurie Davidson, are attractive and interesting. Mr. Collins (Ryan Sampson) seemed a bit off to me at first, more twitchy than Mr. Collins in the movies, and more intelligent, but he grew on me as a character.

Mrs. Bennet (Ruth Jones) is an exaggerated version of the Mrs. Bennet in the novel, especially in her negative attitude toward Mary. But the scene where Mary finally stands up to her is satisfying. (Mary’s final confrontation with someone else—a person who has tried to make choices for her—is also beautifully done.) I found the other Bennet daughters hard to distinguish until later on in the series, but the show isn’t really about them. A very pregnant Lydia (Grace Hogg-Robinson) does have some funny moments.

The Other Bennet Sister series came out this year (2026) and is now available on Britbox and through Prime Video. My recommendation? Read the book AND watch the series, if you can. Both are great entertainment and new perspectives on Mary Bennet. Mary may be “an example to us all” in learning to follow both her mind and her heart. Caroline Bingley says that sarcastically, but there is truth in it.

So Odd . . .

One more thought: Phyllis Ferguson Bottomer, in So Odd a Mixture, suggests that Mary Bennet is on the autistic spectrum, and therefore is misunderstood by, and misunderstands, those around her. I am no expert on any of this, but it appears to me that Janice Hadlow in The Other Bennet Sister is instead assuming Mary has been traumatized by early verbal abuse and neglect. Mary chooses to cope in certain ways—somewhat like Fanny Price in Mansfield Park. Once Mary is in a loving, accepting environment, she is able to heal and flourish. (These approaches are not mutually exclusive, I assume.) I will be reviewing So Odd a Mixture for you soon.

 

If you have read The Other Bennet Sister or if you have watched (or are watching) the series, what do you think? Please share your thoughts with other readers!

 

Brenda S. Cox is the author of Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England. She also blogs at Faith, Science, Joy, and Jane Austen.

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »