Jane Austen 200

By Emma Darlington

Who was the mysterious Jane Austen? 

A quiet country girl who was fond of retail, romance and dancing?  Or a strong-minded woman of war, empire and business, who chose to remain unmarried, write novels and settle for nothing less than Mr Darcy.

 

Jane Austen penned six novels in her lifetime which were published anonymously and brought her little fame.  Today she is regarded as one of England's most celebrated authors.  Her novels and subsequent film and television adaptations have turned her into a global superstar.

 

Jane Austen died on 18 July 1817 at the relatively young age of 41 and is buried in Winchester Cathedral.  2017 marked the 200th anniversary of her death which inspired an exciting year of exhibitions, events, and artifacts, some held in private hands and not seen for over 40 years.

 

Discover six portraits of Jane Austen displayed together for the first time, her pelisse coat, the letters and poems she wrote, the manuscript of Sanditon she had to abandon, the 'other' ending to Persuasion, as well as her writing slope and the royalty cheque she received for Emma.

 

And in memory of Jane, the launch of a new bank note, Jane's prayers sung for the first time, her music books played, new statues unveiled, and art trails uncovered.

Jane Austen 200 is filled with unseen photographs and accompanying commentary that illuminate Jane's life and take you on a journey 200 years after her death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brite Bird Press
• Release date: Aug 18, 1920
• ISBN: 9781838281137

Book preview

Jane Austen 200

Jane Austen 200

Celebrating Her Life 200 Years After Her Death

Emma Darlington

BriteBird

Jane Austen 200

Celebrating Her Life 200 Years After Her Death

---

Copyright © Emma Darlington 2017, 2020

---

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission from the publisher.

---

No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or company acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the publisher or the author.

---

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

---

ISBN 978 1838281120 Print

ISBN 978 1838281137 eBook

---

Published by Brite Bird Press

www.britebirdpress.com

For all whom we love and value,

for every friend and connection,

we equally pray;

however divided and far asunder,

we know that we are alike before Thee,

and under Thine eye.

Jane Austen Prayer

---

For my family.

Full Page Image

Contents

Author’s Note

1. Introduction

2. Jane Austen’s Family and Friends

3. Chronology

4. The Novels

5. Jane Austen’s Life and Death

18 July 2017 at Winchester

1. Funeral Walk

2. Music Recital

3. Unveiling the New Jane Austen Banknote

4. Choral Evensong

18 July 2017 around England

1. Engraving Jane

2. Jane Austen at King’s College

3. Unveiling Jane

Special Exhibitions

1. Jane Austen Among Family and Friends

2. 41 Objects

3. Educating Jane Austen's England 1775-1817

4. The Mysterious Miss Austen

5. Jane’s Winchester: Malady and Medicine

6. Jane and her Alton Apothecary

7. Fickle Fortunes: Jane Austen and Germaine de Staël

8. Jane Austen by the Sea

9. Sitting with Jane

10. Which Jane Austen? War, Empire and Business

11. The Navy at the Time of Jane Austen: Fighting, Flirting and Fortune

12. Retail and Romance: Jane Goes to the Ball

Special Events

1. Floribunda Jane Austen Rose

2. Discover the World of Jane Austen

3. Jane Austen Festival: Ten Days In Bath

4. Jane Austen Regency Week

5. Rain Jane Trail

6. Reflect in the Memorial Gardens

7. The Stinking Fish of Southampton Festival

8. Jane Austen at Winchester Cathedral

Jane Austen 200 Success

1. Jane Austen Gives Hampshire a £21 Million Boost

Jane Austen Resources

1. Jane Austen 200 Events

2. Jane Austen 200 Website Links

Jane Austen by Rudyard Kipling

Acknowledgements

Also by Emma Darlington

Author’s Note

Starting on the 200 year anniversary of Jane Austen’s death on 18 July 2017, each chapter is written from my own experiences from the events that took place throughout 2017. The contents of this book come from my notes, scribblings, drawings, and photographs from a wonderfully busy year that will never be repeated. Any omissions, errors or fanciful speculation are mine and mine alone. The photographs shown in the book have been taken by the author with permission, though in many exhibitions they were restricted so others have been generous in sharing theirs as indicated in the acknowledgements. I refer to Jane Austen by her first name as there are too many Austens to mention. Both Jane’s mother and sister were called Cassandra, so for clarity I have simply said mother or sister. I have also retained the irregular spellings in Jane’s letters and writings. She would often mix up ‘ie’ with ‘ei’, and write neice, beleive, Freindship, and so on. To save writing paper she would often use ‘&’ instead of ‘and’ and was fond of dashes. I have also kept the dates in the day and month format as they were written so you may find them interchanged throughout. Saint Swithin is also known as Saint Swithun. To respect the wishes of the Austen family and in line with the biography published in 1912, James Edward Austen Leigh written by his daughter Mary Austen Leigh, the Austen family names contain no hyphens (just as the Leigh Perrots had no hyphen, neither had the Bigg Withers). For accuracy, I have used some of the descriptions from the materials that promoted Jane Austen 200 activities. In reference to the Georgian era, it is a period in British history from 1714 to 1830-37 named after Kings George I, George II, George III and George IV. The Regency era is a sub-period defined by George IV as Prince of Wales, when he ruled during the illness of his father George III which lasted from 1811-20. So although Jane’s published novels were written in the Regency era, she lived her life in the Georgian era. Finally, I have left out the words probably, perhaps and maybe when referring to Jane’s life, as many historians have pointed out to me that we do not know for sure what Jane did, said, or went. I suggest that I am like many other Jane Austen fans around the world who like to imagine her world full of dancing, walking, shopping, writing, music, family, friends, & love.

Introduction

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

This is one of the best known and most loved Jane Austen quotes. It is the opening line from her most successful novel Pride and Prejudice, which has sold over 20 million copies since its publication in 1800. Unlike other authors that have disappeared from view, her popularity has increased with television and film productions making her a global superstar.

Jane Austen died in the summer of 1817 at the tender age of 41, and spent the last months of her life at Winchester where she is buried in the Cathedral. She had led a full, though some would say quiet life.

So who was the mysterious Jane Austen? A quiet country girl who was fond of retail and romance and dancing at balls? Or a strong-minded woman who knew about war, empire and business, who chose the freedom to write and refused to settle for anything less than her own Mr Darcy?

2017 was an exciting year for Jane Austen fans. The planning had started more than a year before, and whispered discussions had talked about her treasures appearing. Some of which had not been seen for over forty years, if at all, and would be brought together for the first time since Jane had laid eyes on them over 200 years ago.

The bicentennial of Jane Austen’s death on 18 July 1817 was going to inspire a year of celebrations, and Hampshire would lead the way. A pair of ladies shoes became synonymous with the project, as Jane Austen 200 was born.

Ladies Dainty Shoes Hampshire

I have been researching Jane Austen’s life for a number of years, and as part of my studies speak to many Jane Austen followers that visit Hampshire. I am often asked about her possessions, what her Pelisse coat looks like, what she looked like, and what original pieces she wrote have survived. Most of my knowledge comes from what I saw first hand during 2017, as Jane’s descendants and private collectors loaned their items for us to see.

Living so close to Chawton Cottage, I have spent many days at Chawton House, prayed at St Nicholas Church, and often walk into the town of Alton, just as Jane did. I have explored the Hampshire villages and countryside, and sometimes go further afield to Steventon, Winchester and Bath.

On 18 July 2017, the anniversary of Jane’s death, I walked the same route as Jane’s funeral party had walked 200 years ago. In Winchester Cathedral, I listened to Jane’s music being played and placed flowers on her grave. Along with Jane’s family, I sung her hymns and said her prayers at the Choral Evensong held in her memory.

I am one of the first people to hold a newly printed Jane Austen £10 banknotes, and see Jane’s six portraits together for the first, and possibly last time. I read Jane’s original chapter from her novel Persuasion, the cancelled chapter, and the original manuscript of Sanditon, the novel Jane abandoned before she died. I read her letters, poems, and plays, and the three Juvenilia notebooks brought together for the first time.

I was amazed with Jane’s Pelisse coat, with its bronze silk pattern of oak leaves, and how petite she was. I read Jane’s faded handwriting in the Steventon Marriage Register she wrote in as a child, as she jokingly married herself to the local boys. I opened the diary belong to Jane’s sister-in-law Mary to see her note of Jane’s death. And sadly thought of Jane’s fondest niece receiving a lock of her aunt Jane’s hair from Cassandra, so beautifully set in a mourning brooch.

I wanted to write a book to share my experiences with you of such a unique year. It was wonderful to see the many treasures relating to Jane’s life and those of her family, and I felt truly blessed to be part of it. I would like to thank Jane’s family, private collectors, charities and museums for sharing them with us. For generously sharing their time with me, and inviting me to see and experience the many treasures associated with Jane Austen. I am truly grateful.

As Reverend Catherine Ogle said, ‘I cannot imagine an event like this has been done before in our history.’

Jane wrote this little poem as a child, & I think it represents her perfectly.

Love, they say, is like a Rose;

I'm sure 'tis like the wind that blows,

For not a human creature knows

How it comes or where it goes.

Miss Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s Family and Friends

Jane Austen’s immediate family

---

Reverend George Austen (1731-1805) is Jane’s father. He married Cassandra Leigh at Walcott Church, Bath in 1764.

---

Cassandra Austen (1739-1827) is Jane’s mother. A sociable, witty woman, she met George Austen at Oxford University and married ‘the handsome proctor’ in 1764.

---

James Austen (1765-1819) succeeded his father as Rector of Steventon. Jane looked up to him as he was a successful author who published a weekly periodical called The Loiterer. James married Anne Mathew in 1792, and Jane’s most beloved niece Jane Anna Elizabeth arrived a year later. Anne died in 1795 after a short illness when James was 30 years old. He later married Mary Lloyd, sister to Martha, in 1797 and had two more children, James Edward and Caroline.

---

George Austen (1766-1838) suffered from fits and lived away from the family home.

---

Edward Austen (1767-1852) was known as ‘Neddy’ within the family. He was adopted by a wealthy cousin of his father, Thomas Knight, and inherited estates at Godmersham, Kent and Chawton, Hampshire. He was also High Sheriff of Kent in 1801. He married Elizabeth Bridges on Boxing Day 1791 at a double wedding with her sister, and had eleven children.

---

Henry Thomas Austen (1771-1850) was the first child born at Steventon and Jane’s closest brother. Henry was charming and optimistic, and as the entrepreneur of the family became a solider, a banker and finally a priest. He married his cousin Eliza in 1797 who died in 1813. He married his second wife Eleanor Jackson in 1820, who was the niece of Reverend Papillon of Chawton.

---

Cassandra Elizabeth Austen (1773-1845) was Jane’s only sister to whom she was very close. In Jane’s Juvenilia she describes her as ‘a Pheonix. Your taste is refine, your sentiments are noble, & your Virtues innumerable.’ Cassandra was engaged to Tom Fowle in 1795 when she was 22 years old. He died in St Domingo in 1797 and was buried at sea. Practical and sensible, she was often called upon to care for her many nieces and nephews.

---

Francis William (Frank) Austen (1774-1865) entered the Navy at the age of 12. He was nicknamed ‘Fly’ and often got into trouble. He had eleven children with his first wife Mary Gibson. After her death, he married Martha Lloyd. He had a successful Navy career and aged 89 was made Admiral of the Fleet and rewarded with a Knighthood for services to King and Country.

---

Jane Austen (1775-1817) was simply a most famous author.

---

Charles John Austen (1779-1852) was the baby of the family who followed his brother into the Navy at age 12. He married Frances Palmer who lived with him aboard his ships, and after her death he married her sister Harriet Palmer. He had eight children, four with each wife, and named one of his daughters Jane after his sister. Though not as successful as Frank, he became a Rear Admiral and died on active duty in his early seventies. He is buried at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka.

Jane Austen’s wider family and friends

---

Frances Catherine Austen Knight was born in 1793 when Jane was 17 years old. She was Edward’s first born child, and would often write to her aunt Jane for advice. Jane thought of Fanny as another sister, and wrote to her in 1816, ‘You are worth your weight in gold, or even in the new silver coinage.’ Three years after Jane’s death, she married Sir Edward Knatchbull who had six children, and they had nine more. She died in 1882 at the age of 89.

---

Jane Anna Elizabeth Austen was born in 1793 and was the first born child of James. Anna was two years old when her mother died, and lived at Steventon Rectory for months at a time. She married Benjamin Lefroy, the son of Jane’s friend Madam Lefroy, who died at a young age. They had six daughters and one son. She lived for a time at Wyards Farm in Alton, so Jane saw her often.

---

James Edward Austen Leigh was the son of James by his second wife Mary. Edward was Jane’s fondest nephew, and she wrote one of her last letters to him shortly before her death. He became a clergyman like his father and married Emma Smith, the niece of Mrs Chute of The Vyne. Edward published Jane’s Memoirs and wrote that ‘Aunt Jane was the delight of all her nephews and nieces… We valued her as one always being kind, sympathising and amusing.’

---

Catherine, Kitty and Alethea Bigg were childhood friends of Jane and Cassandra from Manydown. Catherine and Alethea lived in The Close at Winchester when Jane was ill, and visited her often in the last months of her life.

---

Tom Fowle came from Kintbury, Berkshire and was a pupil of George Austen at Steventon. He became a clergyman and was engaged to Cassandra when he accompanied Lord Craven’s to the West Indies. He died of fever at San Domingo in 1797.

---

Elizabeth Hancock was Jane’s exotic cousin Eliza, known as ‘Betsy’ as a child. Born in Calcutta, she was god-daughter of Warren Hastings who gave her £10,000 in trust. She named her son Hastings in appreciation. Eliza married Jean-François Capot de Feuillide who became a French count. After he was guillotined in the French Revolution in 1794, she returned to England. She later married Jane’s brother Henry.

---

Philadelphia Hancock was Eliza’s mother and George Austen’s sister. She married Tysoe Saul Hancock, a surgeon, in India, and returned to England via France after his death.

---

Martha Lloyd was a family friend of the Austen family from their Steventon days, and lived with the Austen ladies after her mother died. After Jane’s death, she became the second wife to Jane’s brother James.

---

Mary Lloyd was Martha’s sister, who became the second wife to Jane’s brother Francis. She helped Cassandra nurse Jane in the weeks before her death, and noted Jane’s death in her diary.

Chronology

Jane Austen 16 December 1775 - 18 July 1817

---

1764 - On April 26, Reverend George Austen married Cassandra Leigh at Walcot Church, Bath. They move to Deane, and have three children. James, George and Edward.

---

1768 - The family move to Steventon and five more children join the family, Henry, Cassandra, Francis, Jane, and Charles.

---

1773 - 23 March George Austen becomes Rector of Deane as well as Steventon.

---

1775 - 16 December Jane Austen is born at Steventon.

---

1783 - Edward Austen is adopted by Thomas Knight, a wealthy cousin of George Austen and goes to live at Godmersham, Kent. Jane joins Cassandra and their cousin Jane at school in Oxford, then Southampton. Jane catches a fever and almost dies.

---

1785 - Jane attends the Abbey school in Reading.

---

1786 - Francis Austen attends the Royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth aged 12.

---

1787 - Between now and 1793 Jane writes Juvenilia, a compilation of sketches and stories which she later copied into Volume the First, Volume the Second and Volume the Third.

---

1791 - Charles Austen joins his brother at the Royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth, also aged 12. Edward Austen marries Elizabeth Bridges on 27 December and they move to Rowling, Kent.

---

1792 - James Austen marries Anne Mathew on 27 March.

Cassandra is engaged to Reverend Tom Fowle.

---

1793 - Edward Austen's first child Frances Catherine Austen Knight is born at Rowling, Kent. James Austen's first child Jane Anna Elizabeth is born at Deane. Henry Austen becomes a lieutenant in the Oxfordshire Militia.

---

1794 - Jane writes the novella Lady Susan. Jane’s cousin Eliza’s husband Jean-François Capot de Feuillide is guillotined in France.

---

1795 -