Jane Austen - Queen of feminine novel

Jane Austen - Queen of feminine novel
Pride and Prejudice

On the way to fame Jane Austen had to overcome a lot of difficulties, which included natural modesty, does not allow her to sign their creations, ineradicable provinciality native of Hampshire, and even prejudices of readers to the authors of the female sex. The first attempt of the writer to publish his creation ended in failure: in 1797 the London publisher refused to even get acquainted with the work of Miss Austen, entitled "First Impressions". Six years later, another publisher gained ten pounds manuscript of "Susan", a new work of the writer, that was some progress. However, after reading the novel, the publisher still resolutely refused to publish it. Equally enchanting start of several aspiring literatorshi chastened.

But the material she had the grace - the joy of small rural life around, landed balls, familiar gossip gossips and visits to neighboring villages to friends and relatives. This Jane Austen could porasskazat lot. And when a woman has something to say, it will not stop even short-sighted perseverance best London publishers.

First impressions

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in the village of Steventon, in the north-east Hampshire. Her father, George Austen, was a parish priest, and came from a family doctor. In the eighteenth century this profession was not very respected in any case, even the poor petty nobles from doctors separated a very visible social face. Therefore marriage to Cassandra Lee, whose albeit distant, yet relatives, were representatives of the landed aristocracy, for the poor priest was a step up the social ladder. Jane was the seventh child and second daughter in the family. Her father had quite a decent income (about 600 pounds per year), thanks to the coming (or even living in his house) students, but the rich can call it was impossible. As Mr. Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice", he could not provide for his daughters large dowries. It is without doubt played a role in their lives.

Education academic Jane is difficult to call, but it was enough for a woman of those times when in a nightmare loyal Ruler of Her Majesty could not have dreamed of a lady at the polling station. Jane attended school in Reading, but was clearly too small to make anything significant from this education. But at school she studied her sister Cassandra - and his mother, Jane always said: "If Cassandra were going to cut off her head, Jane would have wanted it." Soon, however, the school outbreak, and girls take home. Since then, Jane and Cassandra were taught mostly at home - and most needed. But the main advantages of educated women in those days were regarded as the ability to play music and draw.

However, lack of education, Jane made up for reading. It is equally loved and serious literature and entertainment pleasure absorbed numerous novels that gained her father (in 1801 his library has more than 500 volumes). Whatever may have been decorous her novels, we should not forget that she was familiar with the works of Fielding and Richardson, whose style and subjects were much more liberated than the works of authors approaching the Victorian era. Among the favorite books of Jane Austen had praised it in "Northanger Abbey" novel "Cecilia" and "Camille" Bernie and "Belinda" Maria Edgeworth. In addition, Jane was fond of the works of Sir Walter Scott and Byron. However, even in the romantic works of venerable authors Jane treated with a pinch of irony. For example, in a letter she wrote that read "Le Corsaire" Byron "nothing better to do, shtop underwear."

The first attempt at writing Jane held in 1787. Writing debut with small humorous parody of modern literature. These studies are very graceful and not without wit, designed to read in a narrow family circle, and, basically, have dedication, addressed to relatives and friends of the family. Lovingly preserved and collected native Jane, these passages later published in the form of three monumental volumes entitled "Youth work".

Inspired by first success, Jane tries himself in the genre of the novel, but the successive failures with publishers quickly undermined her self-confidence. In 1801, her father retires, leaving his parish in the care of his son, and his family moved to Bath. Jane, who at that time turns 26 years, while leaving the literary work and begins to think seriously about the search for the groom.

Sense and Sensibility

On the exterior of Jane Austen preserved many diverse, and often conflicting, information. Representations of it as some kind of an intellectual has not found himself a flat, or a romantic beauty, remaining a spinster in an age when dowry meant more than the appearance, still close to the truth, and far from it. First of all, Jane was not beautiful. Perhaps some of his contemporaries, and she seemed attractive, but our age is unlikely to appreciate the true beauty of its type. Jane was not the creation of a sophisticated air, and the plump brown-haired woman with malovyrazitelnoe features and a magnificent bust. A certain Mrs. Jane Mitford described as "very pretty, silly, windy girl from all the hunters for their husbands," which the Honourable Mrs've seen in my lifetime.

However, it is believed that Jane was not in the best of terms with the author of the above statement, in any case, it is difficult to relate to the description of the Jane, we know from the letters. "It is not pretty - wrote about her cousin Philadelphia. - It is too formal for her age, capricious and unnatural." Even more categorical was one of her friends, Jane, wrote in his diary: "Jane turned into a frozen, silent perpendicular - pattern" happy chastity "and until such time as" Pride and Prejudice "are not open to all, a precious diamond is hidden in this hard case, society does not pay her more attention than poker or fender. " A letter Fanny favorite niece, Jane, where there are indications that the writer did not differ special taste in clothes and had, if not bad, it is extremely provincial manners.

In addition, Jane was neither an intellectual in the modern sense of the word, no bluestocking . She loved entertainment: in his early works, she says a lot of balls and parties, which she attended in Hampshire, as well as travel to London, Bath and Southampton, where she could join the cultural life . Of course, it was impressive erudition, and, like many educated women of their time, Miss Austen knew French and Italian, but restless disposition and lively character did not allow her to go into too boring and serious works . However, her own prose ease and fascinating story owes much to the natural character of gaiety writer . In one of his letters, she said: "I am not able to write any historical novel or epic . Seriously take up such work would make me except that saving my life! And if I can not been seen to laugh at himself and others, I'm sure that by the end of the first chapter, I would have hanged herself in despair " . The writer was more than self-critical: "I think that's no exaggeration, and not sin against the truth when I say that is the most uneducated and unenlightened woman ever who took up the pen" .

Not kept any details about the heart Jane's Addiction. It is known that in the mid-90s she took courtship Thomas Lefroy, an Irish relative of his close friend Anne Lefroy. However, these relationships were doomed to failure: Mr Lefroy was not rich and could not afford to marry a girl without a dowry. Many years later, when Lefroy became Chief Justice of Ireland, he told his nephew that once experienced "love child" to Jane Austen. Mrs. Lefroy (which upset the gap between Thomas and Jane), a year later tried to marry off Jane Reverend Samuel Blekolla, but he is not interested in legible bride.

The most romantic adventure Jane held at Devonshire coast, where people leaving the country in the summer family of Austin. That's where Jane and met with some young man who, according to Cassandra, her sister had for the most tender feelings. Later, Cassandra spoke very highly about the fan, and even claimed that he reciprocated. "They parted, but he promised to be sure to find it again ...." However, the more they have never met - after a while, Jane learned of his sudden death. Perhaps this story is strongly influenced Jane, but she herself is not anyone talking about it. Only a few years after the death of Jane, her sister Cassandra told nieces about this tragic love.

Known and different case. In 1802, Jane and Cassandra were visiting family in the house of Bigg far from Steventon. Harris Bigg-Wheater made a proposal to Jane (not embarrassed by the fact that he was six years younger than her), and Jane agreed. However, the next morning she changed her mind, and they showed up with her sister in Steventon, where his brother demanded that he immediately sent them home in Bath. Perhaps it was not quite polite to Biggie, but Jane has kept self-esteem. Harris Bigg was rich, that did not stop him at the same time be a "huge and clumsy."

Anyway, Jane never married, and his entire stock of maternal love unspent transferred to his many nieces and a few literary creation. For example, "Pride and Prejudice", she was referred to as "his favorite child."