Jane Austen did not have a deserved recognition in life, literary speaking, but her works, after her death, have become great novels of the classic literature almost a must-read. We must remember that this prolific writer had to write his novels anonymously, novels such as «Meaning and sensitivity", «Pride and prejudice" y «Emma », to name just three. As was the case with George Orwell, in the article written a few days ago that you can read here, Jane Austen She also wrote numerous letters, most notably to her best friend and sister, Cassandra Austen. Most of them were destroyed but there are still around two hundred. Among all of them we have selected this one that I will translate below, a letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra:
steventon
Thursday, November 20, 1800.
My dear Cassandra,
Your letter took me quite a bit by surprise this morning; which has been very welcome, however, and I am very grateful to you for it. I think I had too much wine last night in Hurstbourne; I don't know what else could be causing my shaking hand now. Therefore, please forgive me for any errors in the writing of this letter.
Your desire to hear about my Sunday, perhaps, will be difficult to understand, because one is prone to think much more about these kinds of things in the morning after they happen, than when they are happening.
It was a nice afternoon. Charles found her remarkably so, but I cannot say why, unless the absence of Miss Terry, towards whom his conscience reproaches him with now being perfectly indifferent, was a relief to him. There were only twelve dances, of which I danced nine, the rest I could not dance for lack of a companion. We started at ten, had dinner at one, and went to Deane before five. There were no more than fifty people in the room; very few families, in fact, on our side of the county, and not many more from the others. My companions were the two young Johns, Hooper and Holder, and the very prodigious Mr. Mathew, with whom I danced last.
There were very few beauties, and as expected, none very handsome. Miss Iremonger did not look well, and Mr Blount was the only one much admired. She appeared exactly as she did in September, with the same broad face, wrapped in diamonds, white shoes, a husband in pink, and a fat neck. The two Miss Coxes were there: I struck up a conversation with the common girl, who danced at Enham eight years ago; the other is refined, a good girl with a good future, Catalina Bigg. I looked at Mr. Thomas Champneys and thought of poor Rosalie. I looked at her daughter and she seemed like a weird animal with a white collar. Mrs. Warren, forces me to think, a very fine young woman, who pains me very much. He managed to get rid of a part of his son's dance and danced with great activity. Her husband is quite ugly, even uglier than his cousin Juan; but he doesn't seem that old. The Maitland ladies are both beautiful, much like Anne, with brown skin, large dark eyes, and a good nose. The general has gout, and Mrs. Maitland has jaundice. Miss Debary, Susan and Sally, dressed in black, short in stature, made their appearance, and I was standing in front of them as much as their bad breath allowed me.
Maria told me that I looked very good. I put on my aunt's dress and scarf and my hair was at least neat, which was all my ambition.
We had a very nice day on Monday at Ashe, we sat fourteen at dinner in the study, in the dining room it was not usual since the storms brought down its fireplace. Mrs. Bramston spoke for a long time, which Mr. Bramston and Mr. Secretary seemed almost equally to enjoy. There was a whist and a casino table, and six outsiders. Rice and Lucy made love, Mat. Robinson fell asleep, James and Mrs. Augusta alternately read the Dr. Finnis pamphlet at the cow-pox, and he took turns in my company.
The three Digweeds arrived on Tuesday and we played in a pool at the trade. James Digweed left Hampshire today. I think it must be in love for you, for your anxiety about going to the Faversham balls, and for your absence. Isn't it a brave idea? It never occurred to me before, but I dare say it did.
Goodbye; Charles sends her his best love and Edward his worst. If you think the distinction is inappropriate, you can make it yourself. He will write to you when he returns to his ship, and in the meantime I wish him to regard me as
his affectionate sister, JA.
Short Biography of Jane Austen: Life and Literature
Jane Austen Born in Steventon on December 16, 1775. He grew up in a wealthy family of the agrarian bourgeoisie and lived in fullness the time known as The Regency. Almost all his works were written under a pseudonym and his great literary support was Sir Walter Scott who gave a boost to his work thanks to his favorable review of his novel «Emma.
Some of his books have been brought to the big screen, the most named and well-known case being Pride and Prejudice.
In almost all his books he talks about love, which is quite illogical when Jane Austen never restrained marriage nor did he want it. That is why it is a somewhat utopian love, based above all on someone else's observation.
Published novels
- "Sense and Sensibility" (1811)
- "Pride and Prejudice" (1813)
- "Mansfield Park" (1814)
- "Emma" (1815)
- "Northanger Abbey" (1818), posthumous work.
- "Persuasion" (1818), posthumous work.
Jane Austen died July 18, 1817 in Winchester. On grave It is in the north transept of the nave of the Winchester castle, which receives numerous daily visits because the remains of the writer are buried there.
Famous quotes by Jane Austen
- “Vanity and pride are different things, although the words are often used synonymously. A person can be proud without being vain. Pride is more related to our opinion of ourselves: vanity, with what we would like others to think of us.
- "Selfishness must always be forgiven, because there is no hope of a cure."
- "The lack of generosity of his relatives leads him to wonder to find friendship elsewhere."
- "I believe that in every individual there is a certain tendency to a certain evil, to an innate defect, that not even the best education can overcome."
- "I am only willing to act in the manner most consistent, in my opinion, with my future happiness, regardless of what you or anyone else equally alien to me thinks."
- “Normally we all start with a slight preference, and that can be simply because, without reason; but there are very few who have so much heart as to fall in love without having been stimulated ».
- "But as long as people allow themselves to be carried away by their imaginations to form wrong judgments about our behavior and qualify it based on mere appearances, our happiness will always be at the mercy of chance."
- "How soon reasons arise to approve what we like!"