Scan barcode
bak8382's review against another edition
5.0
I decided to re-read [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1651510251p2/1265.jpg] over 2023, and I began with this book of her letters that I happen to own. Her letters feel like a conversation, and her topics are all over the place. It was fun to discover the context of different quotes of hers, and how many of her famous quotes are from her letters.
itsdanixx's review against another edition
4.0
Some of Jane Austen’s personal correspondences... interesting reading, she writes letters just as well as she writes novels.
captainjemima's review against another edition
The Selected Letters of Jane Austen are indeed charming and a joy to read. The reason I abandoned this book is because it is VERY long... There are 161 letters, all of which come with explanatory notes, so it's like reading an in-depth novel. Most of the allusions in the letters, you wouldn't get without reading the explanatory notes.
I love Jane Austen's works, and I felt that this book gave an interesting insight into her life and relationship with Cassandra, her sister, but at the same time I felt I could never really know Jane Austen because the letters she received in reply were never recovered. There was always this element of "Oh well, you know me!" between her sister and herself, which puts the reader on the outside, because we could never know her.
I love Jane Austen's works, and I felt that this book gave an interesting insight into her life and relationship with Cassandra, her sister, but at the same time I felt I could never really know Jane Austen because the letters she received in reply were never recovered. There was always this element of "Oh well, you know me!" between her sister and herself, which puts the reader on the outside, because we could never know her.
ndjrpgs's review against another edition
2.0
Well what to say these are everyday letters sent from Jane Austen to Cassandra or other people and like domestic life usually is this was mostly a dull read. Probably with context it would have been more interesting. But one gets glimpses into the wit and intelligence of Jane Austen. As well into her reading taste or what plays she attended (Macbeth, Tartuffe,..). And of course everything related to the creation of her books or the selling/earning aspect of it was fascinating. (P. & P is sold., 1812, 125)
Some favourite passages:
26. To Martha Lloyd. Wednesday 12 Nov. [1800]
I come to you to be talked to, not to read or hear reading. I can do that at home (38)
52. To Cassandra Austen. Monday 20 June [1808]
Mr. Waller is dead I see; I cannot greive about it, nor perhaps can his Widow very much. (84)
I am quite ashamed - but you have certainly more little events than we have. Mr. Lyford supplies you with a great deal of interesting Matter (Matter Intellectual, not physical) (85)
76. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 29 Jan. [1813]
I do not write for such dull elves
As have not a great deal of ingenuity themselves.
(132, parody of Marmion)
91. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 6 Nov. [1813]
Having half an hour before breakfast (very snug, in my own room, lovely morng, excellent fire, fancy me) I will give you some account of the last two days (147)
By the bye, as I must leave off being young, I find many Douceurs in being a sort of Chaperon for I am put on the Sofa near the Fire & can drink as much wine as I like. (148)
Jane Austen July 2019: Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels.
Some favourite passages:
26. To Martha Lloyd. Wednesday 12 Nov. [1800]
I come to you to be talked to, not to read or hear reading. I can do that at home (38)
52. To Cassandra Austen. Monday 20 June [1808]
Mr. Waller is dead I see; I cannot greive about it, nor perhaps can his Widow very much. (84)
I am quite ashamed - but you have certainly more little events than we have. Mr. Lyford supplies you with a great deal of interesting Matter (Matter Intellectual, not physical) (85)
76. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 29 Jan. [1813]
I do not write for such dull elves
As have not a great deal of ingenuity themselves.
(132, parody of Marmion)
91. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 6 Nov. [1813]
Having half an hour before breakfast (very snug, in my own room, lovely morng, excellent fire, fancy me) I will give you some account of the last two days (147)
By the bye, as I must leave off being young, I find many Douceurs in being a sort of Chaperon for I am put on the Sofa near the Fire & can drink as much wine as I like. (148)
Jane Austen July 2019: Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels.
ampersunder's review against another edition
4.0
‰ЫПWhat fine weather this is! Not very becoming perhaps early in the morning, but very pleasant out of doors at noon, and very wholesome ‰ЫУ at least everyone fancies so, and imagination is everything.‰Ыќ
‰ЫПI have now attained the true art of letter-writing, which we are always told, is to express on paper exactly what one would say to the same person by word of mouth; I have been talking to you almost as fast as I could the whole of this letter.‰Ыќ
‰ЫПI have now attained the true art of letter-writing, which we are always told, is to express on paper exactly what one would say to the same person by word of mouth; I have been talking to you almost as fast as I could the whole of this letter.‰Ыќ
shakespeareandspice's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t specifically read this edition but a collection of Austen’s letters from the public domain. Quite enjoyed reading them even though I felt like a bit of an interloper. The letters are about the everyday average things (such as discussing Mansfield Park with her brother or sharing the news of the death of her father). Truly humanizes the woman behind the novel.
alyce6d980's review
4.0
Having read the majority of Jane Austen's novels in the last few months, I've found myself a little obsessed with her. I think she's such an amazing character, with sassy wit, a feminist mind and a sharp tongue which all make her so accessible despite the 200 years separating us.
When I spotted this book of letters in the library where I work, I picked it up without hesitation. The opportunity to get inside the mind of a genius was irresistible.
Jane herself acknowledges that her letters are full of 'little matters', but that didn't put me off. I didn't mind reading the minor occurrences that happened in her life, because it painted a picture of a version of England that I'm never going to be lucky enough to experience. There will be no long stimulating walks in the country or rides in horse-drawn carriages for me, and it really blows my mind to consider just how vastly everything has changed in what is a relatively brief period of time.
However, I struggled at points with the vast array of characters that Jane wrote about, and because a lot of them shared names it was hard to keep all of them in order. If I'd been studying the letters rather than reading them for enjoyment, I probably would have referred to the glossary in the back of the book more regularly, but it's hard to appreciate them when you're breaking your flow by flipping to the back of the book every couple of pages!
When I spotted this book of letters in the library where I work, I picked it up without hesitation. The opportunity to get inside the mind of a genius was irresistible.
Jane herself acknowledges that her letters are full of 'little matters', but that didn't put me off. I didn't mind reading the minor occurrences that happened in her life, because it painted a picture of a version of England that I'm never going to be lucky enough to experience. There will be no long stimulating walks in the country or rides in horse-drawn carriages for me, and it really blows my mind to consider just how vastly everything has changed in what is a relatively brief period of time.
However, I struggled at points with the vast array of characters that Jane wrote about, and because a lot of them shared names it was hard to keep all of them in order. If I'd been studying the letters rather than reading them for enjoyment, I probably would have referred to the glossary in the back of the book more regularly, but it's hard to appreciate them when you're breaking your flow by flipping to the back of the book every couple of pages!
ehmannky's review
5.0
Okay, this is a read mostly for the Austen fanatic. But I loved it. Austen was so funny and kind with her family, even when she was talking about the most mundane parts of her life.it was fascinating to see her life through these surviving fragments. The moments she talks about her novels, even though they’re almost always in passing. What I found most endearing were the letters towards the end when she was giving her nieces feedback on their writing. It was just such a quiet power to see a woman who honestly didn’t live to see her true literary memory quietly shape a few women who came after her. It’s just so sweet and makes me love her all the more.
More...