Marvelous Monday is here! The concept is simple and stress-free. I’m inviting my tea party friends – readers and friends – to post good things in their life on Mondays. Grab a macaroon and a cup of tea and join us. Or a cupcake. Whatever suits your fancy. Let’s dish about positive things!
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One book that I'm really enjoying is 101 Thinks You Didn't Know About Jane Austen. I know quite a bit about one of my favorite authors, but this book delves into deep detail about all aspects of her life that are known. One of 7 children born in Hampshire, England to the Rev. George Austen and his wife, Cassandra. Jane showed promise in her youth of the writer she'd become. Today, we thought we'd mention a shortlist of things you can learn by reading this particular book, and hopefully, you'll buy yourself a copy and enjoy it
Jane, her brothers, and sister were often sent to live with others as part of their education. In May of 1779, The third son of the family, Edward, was 12 years old when a distant cousin and his wife came to visit their parsonage. The Knights were impressed with Edward and asked if he could travel with them. A few years later they adopted him and he became their heir. Interestingly enough, Mrs. Knight would go on to be Jane's main patron.
The Austen family liked to stage plays. Common in that time period in addition to card playing and reading. The eldest son, James, wrote the prologues and epilogues. He became a writer in addition to Jane. He became ordained in the Church of England. In 1789, he wrote and published a weekly magazine The Loiterer. It was distributed in Oxford, London, and other major cities. He also continued to write poetry for his family.
A family member of the Austen's went to the guillotine during the French Revolution. Jane's cousin, Eliza, was married to a French officer who was a captain in Marie Antoinette's guard. He was not a member of the nobility, however, in 1794, he went to the guillotine for trying to assist an imprisoned marquise.
Jane grew up in a parsonage that also served as a school for boys so it gave her unique insight into the thoughts and feelings of the opposite sex which she'd make use of in her writing. In her youth, she wrote stories in the form of letters as part of her juvenalia.
Juvennalia: compositions produced in the artist's or writer's youth
At 14, she wrote Love and Freindship (spelled correctly for the time). It was her version of what was popular of the day a sentimental novel. She wrote it as an admonitory tale. A series of letters from Laura (older lady) to Marianne (daughter of a friend). The story was written to her cousin Eliza. Even in her youth, Jane wrote hilarious stories and without first-hand knowledge of much in the world showed insight into human interactions. This tale was humorously written about grossly immoral and illegal behavior.
At 16, she wrote an “Unfinished Novel in Letters” called Lesley Castle. She often featured characters that were so self-centered that they couldn't acknowledge much outside their immediate selves. Lesley Castle was a comedy about a monomaniacal talker who only thinks of cooking as opposed to any other topic in the world. Obsessive and at times nonsensical. Again, Jane's story shows insight since it includes adultery and child abandonment that go unpunished.
The book is well worth reading. We're only a quarter in and we're hooked. It's fascinating to hear about a favorite author's life – not just in relation to their work. We love to learn about new books, so please comment below what you think about this post and give tips on books if you have them. Have a Marvelous Monday!
Check out our additional post Jane Austen FAQS.
