JANE AUSTEN

My Son had the television on yesterday before he left for work and after his wildlife program ended, he went to work and the TV continued, I went on to watching it. It was a program dedicated to the author Jane Austen. Oh, my it was so good. To live in those days of course was hard if you weren’t rich, but if you were well off, wow, what a life. Jane however, was far from wealthy, but in my opinion, was full of class!  

 

Jane Austen lived with her parents until she was in her mid-twenties and she had 7 siblings. They lived in a rectory because of her father’s job and though it was a large house, it was also home to a boys boarding school. So, a lot of people under one roof.

 

They kept chickens and cows. She wrote from the age of eleven. She wrote satires, poems, plays and stories! Her father bought her a beautiful mahogany desk to write on.

 

She spent a lot of time walking so you would think she would be fit? An yet she died quite young.

 

She played the piano it’s interesting as I grew up a lot of my time was spent in Moscow and the higher-class families spent much time talking about reading, as they did so much of it and, music as they played instruments, normally piano. Just as Jane did. It’s a way I would love all children to be brought up. Just perhaps not so serious as my friends brought up their children in Russia.

 

One of Janes brothers was sold to a childless couple and when he grew up, he ended up receiving £15,000 per year in his occupation that was a fortune in those days even Janes Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice only earned £10,000 per year. Still a fortune. Can you imagine selling your child? What will go through that child’s mind knowing out of eight children, he was the one to be sent away, or were they put on show for the couple to pick? Oh, how dreadful.

 

I think there are only three of Janes manuscripts left.

 

I loved the descriptions of the luxurious plush furnishings in those days, of plush ruby red velvet cushions which popped through the vast banisters of the gallery landing.

 

Jane couldn’t swim. The ostons went on holiday to the beach but had basic ones and where they stayed was the ground floor as in those days, the poor people stayed on the ground floor of buildings and her family were poor. Though Jane was obviously very intelligent and in my opinion, promoted high class, words that are for sure dying in our country, now some may say good, but what has replaced high class is uglier than what was back then.

 

Age 25, in 1801, Jane left home forever as her father had to leave their home as he retired. They moved to Bath. When she first heard she was moving to Bath, she fainted. Where you lived in Bath, reflected your status. But Mr. Oston couldn’t walk the steep hills and they needed greenery as that is what they came from but Bath was noisy and not desirable.

 

4 Sidney places in Bath is where they ended up living. £150 per year is what they paid to live there. A quarter of what the father earned on his retirement. Now days, it’s a holiday home. They had a view of the park. They didn’t live in Bath for long. Jane did get proposed to though she did struggle in finding love. She was considered unattractive. Also, she was Whitty and that wasn’t an attractive feature in those days. The man who proposed to Jane was refused. She refused because she wanted to be an author and if she married she would have to give birth.

 

 Her first novel was sold in 1803 but didn’t get published in her life time.

 

Janes father died in 1805. They ended up living in a very damp house full of mosquitos. Jane ended up living in South Hampton. It was the lowest point in Janes life. it was considered the dirty town. Though you could see dolphins in the sea back then, now it’s built up no sea where it used to be. The house they lived in had a lovely garden with city walls. The castle back then is now a tower block and Janes garden a pub.

 

Jane received a legacy from a little old lady who she met years ago. Also, a piano that was worth £2. My, imagine buying a piano now for that much? But it lets you see just how much money her brother earned.

 

When Edwards wife died, remember the brother who was adopted? He bought his family a property but Jane didn’t want to move there. Why would he do that when he was given away?

 

Jane would wake early to play the piano and then make the tea. She was very good at housework apparently.

 

 She re wrote the novels she wrote earlier. In 1811 she had her book published sense and sense ability. And received £140 and published Pride and prejudice in 1813.   

 

Gosh making her ink in those days was a recipe in itself. You should read what went into the recipe?

 

Mansfield park was another book that was published.

Her other brother Henry went to London to be a banker. Obviously, the book Emma was inspired by London.

 

Jane got her new publisher she was strong and stood her ground. She was offered £450 for the publisher to have the copy right but she refused their offer and decided to what we call now self-publish.

 

 In her life time she earned £600

 

A year after Emma was published, she fell very ill oh it’s so sad. She was only 41. Her sister and sister in law cared for her she died in 1817

Oh, her death was so sad and ladies couldn’t attend funerals in those days. There was her three living brothers and nephew that’s all. But there was a very long procession walking to where she would rest.

 

So, she never married and previously, her name was not even published in her books. But now she is world famous.

 

I always feel so sad when people struggle in life and are not recognised until their death. Appreciate people what you have. Love and care for those who love you. It’s too late when they are gone to the forever garden.