Jane Austen’s Notebook

 Jane Austen’s Notebook

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       May 31, 2025

 

Author  Sophie Collins

Distributor:      Exisle Publishing
ISBN:                 9781923011199
Publisher:         Exilse Publishing
Release Date:   May 2025  

Website:    https://exislepublishing.com/product/jane-austens-notebook/ 

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The life, times and writings of Jane Austen

What a beautiful book Jane Austen’s Notebook is to hold and enjoy with the A5 size of the pages making it easy to read. The chapters cover a vast range from ‘A Clergyman’s daughter, Becoming a Writer, Adulthood, Adventures in Publishing, Illness, death and Legacy.’  The information is widespread and relates to the period when the Austen’s were a family unit, containing many little scraps of information such as Jane was meant to be called Jenny. There are diagrams, sketches and pictures scattered throughout the book.

Family connections were particularly important to the Austen’s. George Austen came from a family who valued education and were lawyers, academics, and churchmen. Jane’s brothers were in the navy, while Henry was in the local militia then became a banker. Edward was adopted into the wealthy Knight family, and it was here that Jane learned about grand establishments. This allowed her descriptions of Pemberley to be so precise.

George Austen decided that the family should move to Bath. This caused great distress to Jane who wanted to know if they could take the bee hives. For many reasons, depression, lack of time and personal space, Jane did not write for several years. In 1816 the first inkling of Jane being unwell was mentioned.

Over her lifetime, Jane wrote many letters which her sister Cassandra destroyed after her death. As Austen’s posthumous success began to grow the early Victorians were more polite, and the family may have wanted to present Jane as a respectable image.

To conclude this wonderful exploration of Jane Austen there is a Bibliography and reference section, followed by a timeline of Jane’s work, and an index.

Jane Austen’s Notebook is an all-encompassing view of an incredibly famous author.

History, Non Fiction