This week (December 12-18) in English literary history – Robert
Browning died (December 12, 1889); Aphra Behn was baptized (December 14, 1640);
George Orwell finished Road to Wigan Pier
(December 15, 1936); Roald Dahl married Liccy Crosland (December 15, 1983);
Jane Austen was born (December 16, 1775); Wilhelm Grimm died (December 16,
1859); Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole
Christmas first aired on CBS (December 18, 1966).
Highlighted story of the week -
On December 16, 1775, English novelist Jane Austen was
born, the seventh of eight children of a clergyman in a country village in
Hampshire, England. Jane was very close to her older sister, Cassandra, who
remained her faithful editor and critic throughout her life. The girls had five
years of formal schooling, then studied with their father. Jane read
voraciously and began writing stories as early as age 12, completing a novella
at age 14. Austen's quiet, happy world was disrupted when her parents suddenly
decided to retire to Bath in 1801. Jane hated the resort town and found herself
without the time or peace and quiet required to write. Instead, she amused
herself by making close observations of ridiculous society manners. After her
father's death in 1805, Jane, her mother, and sister lived with one of her
brothers until 1808, when another brother provided them a permanent home at
Chawton Cottage, in Hampshire.
Jane concealed her writing from most of her
acquaintances, slipping her writing paper under a blotter when someone entered
the room. Though she avoided society, she was charming, intelligent, and funny,
and had several admirers. She actually accepted the marriage proposal of a
well-off friend of her family's, but the next day withdrew her acceptance,
having decided she could only marry for love. She published several more novels
before her death, including Pride and
Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park
(1814), and Emma (1815). She died in
Winchester on July 18, 1817 at age 42, of what may have been Addison's disease
and was buried at Winchester Cathedral. Nearly 200 years after her death, Austen
is one of a handful of authors to have found enduring popularity with both
academic and popular readers.
Check back every
Friday for a new installment of “This Week in English Literary History.”
Michael Thomas Barry is the author of six nonfiction
books that include the award winning Literary
Legends of the British Isles and America’s
Literary Legends. Visit Michael’s website www.michaelthomasbarry.com for
more information. His books can be purchased from Amazon through the following link:
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