Jane Austen: A Companion

J A N E AUSTEN A Companion JOSEPHINE ROSS The only best-selling authors in Jane Austen's league in the English language today are Shakespeare and Dickens. In the twenty-first century her boundless appeal continues to grow following the enormously successful T V and film adaptations of Mansfield Park, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Persuasion, and of course, Sense and Sensibility. This illuminating, entertaining, up-to-date companion is the only general guide to Jane Austen, her work, and her world. Josephine Ross explores the literary scene during the time Austen's works first appeared: the books considered classics then, the "horrid novels" and romances, and the grasping publishers. She looks at the architecture and décor of Austen's era that made up "the profusion and elegance of modern taste": Regency houses for instance, Chippendale furniture, "picturesque scenery." On the smaller scale she answers questions that may baffle modern readers of Austen's work. What, for example, was "hartshorn"? H o w did Lizzy Bennet "let down" her gown to hide her muddy petticoat? Ross shows us the fashions, and the subtle ways Jane Austen used clothes to express her characters. Courtship, marriage, adultery, class and "rank," mundane tasks of ordinary life, all appear, as does the wider political and military world—especially the navy, in which her brothers served. This book will add depth to all readers' enjoyment of Jane Austen, whether confirmed addicts or newcomers wanting to know what all the fuss is about. (continued

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Josephine Ross has written books on the British monarchy, history, and on style, including The Monarchy of Britain. She has also worked for Vogue magazine and in television. She is married to the historian James Chambers and lives in London.

Jacket illustrations: Two of Jane Austen's letters on Walter Scott's traveling desk, with Byron's glove (John Murray Archive/photograph by A . A . Barnes); Jane Austen by Cassandra Austen, c. 1 8 1 0 (National Portrait Gallery, London) Design by 875 Design

Biography/Literature

This illuminating, entertaining, up to date c o m p a n i o n is the only general guide to J a n e Austen, her w o r k , and her w o r l d . ]ane Austen: A Companion

will add depth

to the enjoyment of all readers of J a n e Austen, whether confirmed addicts or newcomers wanting to k n o w w h a t all the fuss is about.

Jane Austen's thoughts on— M O R A L I T Y IN LITERATURE: "She certainly disliked any impropriety in other's writings. In 1807 she had returned Mme. de Genlis's popular novel Alpbonsine to the lending library, declaring, 'We were disgusted in twenty pages, as, independent of a bad translation, it has indelicacies which disgrace a pen hitherto so pure.'" THE OPPOSITE SEX: "Her own physical experience with the opposite sex, however, was almost certainly slight. Apart from the kiss which Charles Powlett, a Hampshire neighbor, had apparently wanted to give her, there was an incident in 1 8 0 1 when she found herself alone in a drawing room with a notorious local lecher: 'Nothing could prevail on me to move two steps from the door, on the lock of which I kept one hand constantly fixed.' But even with a man whose attentions she welcomed, modesty, and the need to preserve her reputation, would have ruled out almost any intimacy."

ISBN 0 - 8 1 3 5 - 3 2 9 9 - X

Rutgers University Press N e w Brunswick, N e w Jersey

Jane Austen

By the same author The Winter Queen The Tudors The Monarchs of Britain The Vogue Bedside Book I The Vogue Bedside Book II Beaton in Vogue Royalty in Vogue Society in Vogue

Jane Austen A

COMPANION

Josephine Ross

Rutgers University Press New Brunswick, New Jersey

First published in the United States 2003 by Rutgers University Press, N e w Brunswick, N e w Jersey First published in Great Britain 2002 by John Murray (Publishers) Ltd, 50 Albemarle Street, London W i S 4 B D

Copyright © 2002 Josephine Ross All rights reserved. N o part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Please contact Rutgers University Press, 100 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8099. T h e only exception to this prohibition is "fair use" as defined by U.S. copyright law. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data and British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data are available upon request. I S B N 0-8135-3299-X Printed in Great Britain

Contents

Illustrations Preface Acknowledgements 1. A B r i e f Life

vii ix xi I

2.

' T h e C o m m o n Daily R o u t i n e '

45

3.

' T h e Present Fashions'

70

4.

' T h e Subject o f B o o k s '

98

5.

' O f Lovers and Husbands'

128

6.

' T h e Beauty o f the Place'

158

7.

' T h e Distinction o f R a n k '

188

8.

'Politics and Public Events'

216

Further Reading Index

244 247

Illustrations

(between pages 116 and 117) Jane Austen by her sister Cassandra Steventon Rectory, Hampshire Silhouette o f Cassandra Eliza de Feuillide Goody Two-Shoes Jane Austen's early writing A patchwork quilt by Mrs Austen and her daughters Jane's ivory cup-and-ball game Music from Jane's collection Godmersham Park, Kent Edward Austen-Knight Sydney Gardens, Bath Letter from Jane to Cassandra, 1801 Chawton, Jane's home from 1809 Martha Lloyd photographed in old age Morning dress and full dress for June 1807 'Beau'Brummell ' A fashionable party' in Paris, 1807 Topaz cross bought for Jane by her brother Charles A pattern for 'new and fashionable' embroidery Jane Austen's portable writing-desk Three-volume set of Emma bound for the Prince Regent 23. Cancelled text from Persuasion 24. List o f recipients for presentation copies o f Emma 25. Royalty cheque from John Murray to Jane Austen, 1816 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

vii

Illustrations

(between pages 180 and 181) 26. Mary Wollstonecraft, 1802 27. T h e 'governess trade': advertisement from The Times, 1815 28. T h e Pump R o o m , Bath 29. Carlton House, London 30. T h e Prince Regent's 'spider phaeton' 31. Prince R e g e n t in the uniform o f the 10th Light Dragoons 32. Pavilion and greenhouse for a gothic mansion by Humphrey Repton, 1802 3 3. C o u n t Rumford 34. W e d g w o o d and Byerley s London showroom 35. Saucer with A d a m B u c k decoration 36. Writing-cum-games table and sabre-legged chair, 1807 3 7. Fanny Austen-Knight 38. ' T h e Bottomless Pitt' by Gillray 39. Emperor Napoleon at his coronation, 1804 40. T h e Trial o f Warren Hastings 41. A W e d g w o o d anti-slavery medallion 42. Uniform o f the Oxfordshire Militia 43. Patriotic enamel b o x in support o f Nelson's navy 44. Jane Austen's tombstone T h e author and publishers w o u l d like to thank the following for permission to reproduce illustrations: Plate 1, National Portrait Gallery, London; 2 and 4, Private C o l l e c t i o n (Jane Austen M e m o r i a l Trust); 3 , 1 7 , 2 6 , 2 9 , 32 and 37, Bridgeman A r t Library, L o n d o n / P r i v a t e Collection; 5 and 44, A n g e l o Hornak Library; 6, T h e British Library, L o n d o n (Add. 59874 f.85v-86); 7 and 1 1 , Bridgeman A r t Library, London/Jane Austen's House, C h a w t o n ; 8 , 9 , 1 0 , 1 3 , 1 4 , 1 5 , 1 9 and 42, Jane Austen M e m o r i a l Trust; 12 and 28, Bridgeman A r t Library, L o n d o n / V i c t o r i a A r t Gallery, Bath and N o r t h East Somerset C o u n c i l ; 2 1 , © T h e British Library, London; 22, T h e R o y a l C o l l e c t i o n © 2002 H e r Majesty Q u e e n Elizabeth II; 23, T h e British Library, L o n d o n (Eger.3038 f.i4v);24 and 25,John Murray Archive; 30,Bridgeman Art

Library,

London/Museum

of

London;

31,

Bridgeman

Art

Library,

L o n d o n / F i t z w i l l i a m M u s e u m , University o f Cambridge; 33, Private Collection; 34, Bridgeman A r t Library, L o n d o n / G u i l d h a l l Library, Corporation o f London; 36, Julia B r o w n Collection; 38, Bridgeman A r t Library, L o n d o n / T h e British Library; 39, Bridgeman A r t Library, L o n d o n / L o u v r e , Paris; 40, T h e British Library, L o n d o n (P 2378); 4 1 , Bridgeman A r t Library, London/Wilberforce House, Hull C i t y M u s e u m s and A r t Galleries. Plates 1 6 , 1 8 , 2 0 , 35 and 43 are from the authors collection.

Vlll

Preface

W h e n Northanger Abbey first appeared in 1817, published by John Murray, it contained a prefatory note by Jane Austen, informing her readers that 'this little w o r k ' had, in fact, been written l o n g before. 'Thirteen years have passed since it was finished', the 'Authoress' explained; now, the public were 'entreated to bear in mind' that 'during that period, places, manners, books and opinions have undergone considerable changes'. H e r doubts as to the enduring appeal o f her fiction seemed, initially, to be justified. T h o u g h Northanger Abbey, printed in a 4-volume set w i t h Persuasion, was well received, by 1821 demand had dwindled; and the last unsold copies were remaindered by John Murray, at the bargain price o f 35 iff a set. T h e rest, o f course, is history. Today, Jane Austen is one o f the most famous and popular authors in the English language. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, along w i t h her other four completed novels, are literary classics: filmed and televised, studied in schools and universities - above all, read and enjoyed throughout the world. Yet while her fiction n o w seems timeless, almost t w o c e n ­ turies after her death some aspects o f Jane Austen's w o r l d and w o r k are, inevitably, unfamiliar to many m o d e r n readers. W h a t , for example, was 'hartshorn'? H o w did Lizzy B e n n e t 'let d o w n ' her g o w n to hide her m u d d y petticoat? W h y was it such a breach o f etiquette for M r Collins to introduce himself to M r Darcy? A n d w h i c h R o m a n t i c writers gave ix

Preface Marianne D a s h w o o d her ideas? T o answer questions such as these, and many more, is a prime aim o f this little Companion. It is not a biography; the recent Lives by such authorities as Claire Tomalin, D a v i d N o k e s , Park H o n a n and Carol Shields (among others) have surely rendered further Jane Austen biographies superfluous for some time to come. N o r does it presume to offer a history o f the period. Rather, it is intended to serve as a brief guide to the world o f Jane Austen, as encountered in her letters and novels. Chapter I provides a short account o f her life: subsequent chapters focus on specific topics, from fashion ('The Present Fashions') and literature ( ' T h e Subject o f B o o k s ' ) to the day-to-day concerns o f meal­ times, medicine and travel ('The C o m m o n Daily R o u t i n e ' ) . Each is individually planned, and complete in itself, so that the Companion can be read in any sequence, or as a linked, continuous narrative. If, in the process, it sheds any light on the 'places, manners, b o o k s and opinions' o f Jane Austen s day, it will have served its purpose.

x

Acknowledgements

I have received a great deal o f help and support in the preparation o f this b o o k . In particular, I am indebted to Fiona Sunley, o f Godmersham, for her kind hospitality and expert guidance; and M a r y - B l a n c h e R i d g e for introducing m e to the taste o f the Austens' apple butter and the beauties o f Bath. I am also deeply grateful to Virginia Murray; to Grant Mclntyre, Gail Pirkis and Caroline Westmore at John Murray; and to Ingrid Grimes, w h o copy-edited the manuscript. T h e picture research skills o f Julia B r o w n were invaluable — as was the kind assistance o f the Jane Austen M e m o r i a l Trust, at C h a w t o n . T h e Librarian and staff o f the L o n d o n Library, and the staffs o f the British Library, T h e R o y a l Photographic Society, Bath and Winchester Cathedral Visitor Centre, also provided much-appreciated help. Finally, I should like to thank R o b i n M u i r ; M a r i e - T h é r è s e Caluori; D a v i d R o b e r t s ; m y late parents; and m y husband Jamie, w h o s e patience, encouragement, support and advice were, quite simply, beyond words. This b o o k is for him.

XI

i. Jane Austen: the only authenticated, full-face portrait, by her sister Cassandra, c. 1810

2. Steventon Rectory, Hampshire, Jane Austen's childhood home, by her niece Anna Lefroy

5- Goody Two-Shoes, one of Jane's first books

m

6. T h e comic History of England, by a 'partial, prejudiced and ignorant historian',written when Jane was about 15, and illustrated by Cassandra

g. Music from Jane's collection

io. Godmersham Park, Kent, inherited by Jane's brother Edward, from his adoptive parents the Knights. Here, amidst 'Elegance & Ease & Luxury' Cassandra and Jane often stayed

i l . Edward Austen-Knight

1 2 . Sydney Gardens, Bath. From 1 8 0 1 - 4 the Austens lived at 4 Sydney Place, adjoining these pleasure-gardens

13. Letter from Jane in Bath, 1801, to Cassandra, then staying with the family of her late fiancé, Thomas Fowle

14- 'Our Chawton Home', where Jane Austen lived from 1809 until her death, with her mother, sister and friend Martha Lloyd. Sadly, Jane did not live to see Martha become the second wife of her brother Frank, w h o rose to be Admiral Sir Francis Austen

15. Jane's friend Martha Lloyd photographed in old age

i ô . ' T h e present fashions': morning dress and full dress for June 1807, from the magazine La Belle Assemblée

17- George ('Beau') Brummell — the ultimate dandy, and arbiter of modes and manners

18. ' A fashionable party' in Paris, 1807. The gentleman's haircut has recently been in vogue again

IQ. T h e topaz cross bought in 1801 for Jane by her brother Charles, with naval prize money. It was the inspiration for Fanny Price's 'very-pretty amber cross' in Mansfield Park

20. A pattern for 'new and fashion­ able embroidery' such as Jane and her heroines might have worked, from La Belle Assemblée

2 1 . Jane's own portable writing-desk

22. The 3-volume set of Emma specially bound for the Prince Regent, to w h o m the novel was dedicated

23. A page of cancelled text from Jane Austen's first draft of Persuasion, revised in 1816

24. A n entry in John Murray's ledger, listing those to w h o m presentation copies of Emma should be sent — from the Prince Regent himself, to Anne Sharp, the Godmersham governess w h o m Jane had befriended

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25. A R e g e n c y royalty cheque: a payment of £ 3 8 185 id from John Murray to Jane Austen, 1816

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26. The influential feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft, 1802

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OVERNESS or ENGLISH TEACHER.—A young Lady » of respectable connections and amiable dtspo* û\\ov is feirooa of procuring one of these situations, in wjuch wlary not co much as comfort is her object ; as Governess to young Ladies under 12 years of age, she vrould engage to teach in E n g . lisb, French, geography, music, & c Address, post paid, E . C. % Strand. 9

27.The 'governess trade': advertisement from The Times, 1815

28.The Pump R o o m , Bath

30. Fashionable transport: the Prince Regent's 'spider phaeton', 1790

3 1 . T h e Prince Regent as Prince of Wales, in the uniform of the ioth Light Dragoons

32. Pavilion and greenhouse for a gothic mansion, by Humphrey Repton, 1802. M r Rushworth in Mansfield Park plans to employ M r Repton, when 'improving' his house

33- Count Rumford, inventor of the practical Rumford stove. In Northanger Abbey, the fireplace is 'contracted to a Rumford'

36. From the fashion and interiors magazine, Ackermann's Repository, the latest writing-cum-games table and sabre-legged chair, 1807

37- Fanny Austen-Knight, Jane's adored niece, by her sister Cassandra, 1805

38.'The Bottomless Pitt': the brilliant, ascetic,Tory Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, by Gillray, 1792

39- Britain's arch-enemy, for much of Jane's adult life: the Emperor Napoleon at his Coronation in 1804, by David

40. The trial of Warren Hastings, in Westminster Hall. Hastings, a friend of the Austens, was impeached for misconduct as GovernorGeneral of India, but exonerated. Jane sent him an early copy of Pride and Prejudice, which he admired

4 1 . Anti-slavery medallion, with the slogan, ' A m I not a man, and a brother?' produced by Josiah Wedgwood

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