Synopses & Reviews
When James Edward Austen-Leigh's Memoir of his famous aunt was published in 1870, far from satisfying public curiosity about Jane Austen as the family had intended, it simply raised a series of new questions, particularly about Jane Austen's unpublished work, which had been mentioned only in passing. Austen Leigh was persuaded to issue a much-expanded second edition in 1871. Here he included for the first time the complete texts of Jane Austen's novel in letters, Lady Susan, and the fragmentary novel The Watsons, as well as a brief summary of her last unfinished work, later known as Sanditon. At the same time he took the opportunity to revise the biographical sections of the Memoir partly to include new information that had come to light since the first edition, so that all in all the second edition has a significance for Austen scholars quite separate from the first.
Synopsis
Much expanded version of the 1870 Memoir, including first publication of Lady Susan and The Watsons.
Synopsis
This much-expanded second edition of James Edward Austen-Leigh's Memoir of his famous aunt contains for the first time the texts of Lady Susan, and the fragmentary The Watsons, as well as a brief summary of Jane Austen's last unfinished work, Sanditon, and revised biographical details.
Table of Contents
Preface; 1. Introductory Remarks; 2. Descriptions of Steventon; 3. Early compositions; 4. Removal from Steventon; 5. Description of Jane Austen's person, character, and tastes; 6. Habits of composition; 7. Seclusion from the literary world; 8. Slow growth of her fame; 9. Opinions expressed by eminent persons; 10. Observations on the novels; 11. Declining health of Jane Austen; 12. The cancelled chapter of Persuasion; 13. The last work; 14. Postscript; 15. Lady Susan; 16. The Watsons.