Transcribed from the 1871 Richard Bentley and Son edition by LesBowler.
p. iAMEMOIR OF JANE AUSTEN.
p. iiPREFACE.
The Memoir of my Aunt,Jane Austen, has been received with morefavour than I had ventured to expect. The notices taken of itin the periodical press, as well as letters addressed to me by manywith whom I am not personally acquainted, show that an unabated interestis still taken in every particular that can be told about her. I am thus encouraged not only to offer a Second Edition of the Memoir,but also to enlarge it with some additional matter which I might havescrupled to intrude on the public if they had not thus seemed to callfor it. In the present Edition, the narrative is somewhat enlarged,and a few more letters are added; with a short specimen of her childishstories. The cancelled chapter of ‘Persuasion’ isgiven, in compliance with wishes both publicly and privately expressed. A fragment of a story entitled ‘The Watsons’ is printed;p. iiiand extracts are given from a novel which she had begun a few monthsbefore her death; but the chief addition is a short tale never beforepublished, called ‘Lady Susan.’ {0a} I regret that the little which I have been able to add could not appearin my First Edition; as much of it was either unknown to me, or notat my command, when I first published; and I hope that I may claim someindulgent allowance for the difficulty of recovering little facts andfeelings which had been merged half a century deep in oblivion.
November 17, 1870.
CONTENTS.
Chapter I. Introductory Remarks—Birthof Jane Austen—Her Family Connections—Their Influence onher Writings
Chapter II. Description of Steventon—Life atSteventon—Changes of Habits and Customs in the last Century
Chapter III. Early Compositions—Friends at Ashe—Avery Old Letter—Lines on the Death of Mrs. Lefroy—Observationson Jane Austen’s Letter-writing—Letters
Chapter IV. Removal from Steventon—Residenceat Bath and at Southampton—Settling at Chawton
Chapter V. Description of Jane Austen’sperson, character, and tastes
Chapter VI. Habits of Composition resumed after along interval—First publication—The interest taken by theAuthor in the success of her Works
Chapter VII. Seclusion from the literary world—Noticefrom the Prince Regent—Correspondence with Mr. Clarke—Suggestionsto alter her style of writing
Chapter VIII. Slow growth of her fame—Ill success of firstattempts at publication—Two Reviews of her works contrasted
Chapter IX. Opinions expressed by eminent persons—Opinionsof others of less eminence—Opinion of American readers
Chapter X. Observations on the Novels
Chapter XI. Declining health of Jane Austen—Elasticityof her spirits—Her resignation and humility—Her death