A to Z of Authors from my Bookshelf - Jane Austen

Second in my series of A to Z of authors from my bookshelf is another A - and of course it's Jane Austen. I talk about her life, her books, and why we love her works so much.
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[@soraya.teacher]

Always a pleasure to hear about Jane Austen ❤ "Lady Susan" is also worth a read.

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Got to love Jane Austen. Such great books. Gentle English Comedy. Best wishes.

[@estherfekech5279]

Thank you so much for this video! I must say I really enjoy the A to Z videos! I always learn things that I did not know before! I love Jane Austen! It is actually time for me to re-read her books! It's been a while since I last read them! Hello to Tilly as well!😀

[@inlaterdays]

Thank you for this! I love Jane Austen. My favorite is Persuasion.

[@deblawrence8341]

What a wonderful video, recapping all of Jane's novels! Emma was my introduction to her as well, and that book, and character, has always held a special place with me. 🥰

[@lisanelson3415]

What a treat really enjoyed this thankyou 😊

[@user-iz6cc6lz3j-Vickie]

I am related to Jane through my 10 times great grandfather Frances Austen on my dad’s side. I haven’t read any of her books since I was in high school many years ago. I have them I need to pick them up and read them. I so enjoy sweet Tilly.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

As a professional genealogist (my 'bread and butter' occupation), as well as a Jane Austen fan, I find that really interesting! I would love to have found a well known writer in my family tree.

[@starlasell5698]

Another wonderful video. I love Jane Austen novels! 📚❤️

[@madelineh8064]

Thanks so much for this vid, lovely recap of a great lady, my favorite Jane ❤

[@JacquelineCaron]

Enjoyed this video very much. I am enjoying re-reading all of her main novels - and have a great appreciation for her writing!

[@ericashufani607]

Thank you for super video. I'm going to have to dig in and read those Jane Austen books I haven't read yet.

[@marionbuck4086]

Thank you so much for this lovely video about Jane Austen, Rosamunde. I‘m currently re-reading Emma and I’m loving it. You mentioned not having read any biographies of hers. How about Lucy Worsley‘s Jane Austen at Home. I enjoyed it very much. Ar the beginning of the video I was indeed wondering where Tilly was. 😄

[@user-xs3bm8wg5c]

Your videos could never be too long Rosamunde! This was excellent. Thanks, and happy to see Tilly again!

[@paulijooste3010]

Such a TREAT ❤ I adore this series and now going to dig out my Jane Austins - your brilliant chat has fired up the need to read them all again. Lots of Love to you and Tillie - do love this channel ❤❤❤

[@rachkassir3187]

i have never read any of Jane Austen novels thinking they were intellectual but you have opened up my mind as you describe her as a keen observer of people with their flaws. Wonderful and thank you.

[@marionbuck4086]

Emma is lovely to start with 😍

[@milisuarez-al-nashy4314]

SO interesting, thank you for taking such care with all the details. I have just lost my mum, so this is a wonderful distraction. Love Austen 🤗

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

So sorry to hear that. I lost mine a few months ago, and it's a difficult time. So glad to have helped in some small way! All the best 🤗

[@mtngrl5859]

I love Austen. My only challenge with the 2005 P&P is how poor the Bennett family were portrayed in the film, they looked in terms of their home quite scruffy. Mr. Bennett had a yearly income of 2,000 pounds per year, so that was a solid income back then. Yes, not in the league of Mr. Darcy but still a good income. My favorite book is Persuasion, I am a fan of second chances and the constancy of love that Capt Wentworth & Anne Elliot had for each other.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Interesting. Yes, £2,000 a year was a good income - but it was the lower end of the landed gentry - and I think with five daughters to try and marry off, and no sons, the family would have to bear in mind the cost of dowries so they would have had to have kept a tight reign on spending. I think that slight scruffiness was possibly well researched and more accurate than other portrayals. An interesting topic of debate though!

[@mtngrl5859]

@@booksfrommybookshelf Thanks for your reply! I've read a great deal about incomes in the Regency period. When JA father retired, he had about 500 pounds a year to live on, that was a modest but sufficient income for a "gentleman" to get by on. A middle class income was about 300 pounds per year. When Lady Emma Hamilton was left an income of 800 pounds per year, that was sufficient to live a genteel life. On this salary she could rent a suitable home & have several servants. Unfortunately, due to her elevated status & her penchant for gambling and fashionable society, she couldn't life within her pension. We see in S&S that the Dashwood sisters have a discussion on what is a suitable salary. The sensible Eleanor believes one can live easily on 800-1000 pounds per year. While Marianne believes its closer to 1500-2000 pounds per year since she feels one has to have a coach etc, a higher way of living. If we look at the Architect George Nash who designed the glorious Carlton House, his stipend for being Court Architect was 600 pounds per year, so that was considered a suitable salary to live in London & maintain a residence there. George lV was not noted for being frugal, so I expect that was a desirable income. Now back to the Bennett household, I think their income and their lack of savings shows their lack of frugality. Their children's education was haphazard at best, so the daughter's were not prepared for reduced circumstances. None of the Bennett girls could have been a governess if they had to, they didn't have the educational background for this. Mr. Bennett, even as a gentleman, could have increased his land holdings over the years & made income off tenants which would have given his daughter's dowries for husbands. He's too indolent for that. Finally when we look at income in JA books, we are looking at a rarified group of people. The average man servant made around 100 pounds per year and the average ladies maid was paid 50 pounds per year. Of course, they had room and board and clothing and supplies were provided. So, labor was cheap. When we look at incomes whether they be Mr. Darcy's or Bingleys or the Bennetts, with respect to property owners like the Bennett's or Darcy, the wealthy paid almost no taxes. In addition, they raised nearly all the food they consumed on their estate. So, when we see 2000 pounds per year that didn't mean they had a mortgage, taxes, or food to pay for. If they had a party that would be an extra expense but I'm talking about day to day life.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

@@mtngrl5859 Thanks for this detailed explanation. Very interesting.

[@lavernehodge3320]

I really enjoyed this. Pride and Prejudice has a great cover. I haven't read Northanger Abbey. I enjoyed the piece that you read from Janes letters. I had to chuckle. She was a bit sassy, wasn't she? Looking forward to more videos. A big Hello to sweet Tillie.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

I have a feeling she would have quite liked to be called sassy!

[@user-rd8bu6ii6l]

I adore your videos❤

[@cathrussell2426]

I can highly recommend Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin, I learnt a lot from that. A very enjoyable video!

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you for that. I've read her book about Charles Dickens' mistress, Nelly Ternan, which was really good - so that sounds like a good choice!

[@cassandra3399]

Thank you so much. It was so interesting! I wondered which Jane Austen book is your favorite? I guess Emma. 😊❤

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

It's difficult to set a preference - but yes, I think Emma and Pride and Prejudice are my two favourites!

[@jonpendragon2066]

You talk about the 1995 version and you ignore crispin bonham carter 😞😞😞

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Sorry! All of that cast were brilliant. Bonham Carter was lovely as Bingley!

[@linbourne8731]

Have to admit I'm not a fan of Jane Austen, right from the time 50 years ago when we did Pride & Prejudice for O level and 'picked the bones off it' . Have always found them a bit predictable and so often containing a meddling women or another annoying character. Perhaps it's because I'm not into the romantic novel and see them as the chic lit of the time.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks for adding a different point of view! Always welcome. Funnily enough, I'm not very much into romantic novels either. It is the wit and observation of the often ridiculous social niceties and characters of the time that I love. Definitely not chic lit in my view - I think Jane herself would have despised that style - hence Northanger Abbey, which was a satire on the overly sentimental and romanticized 'Gothic' novel of the period (which may well have been the chic lit of the time). Here's a challenge. Try reading one of her other books for enjoyment without the need for picking the bones off it, and let me know how you get on! 🙂

[@linbourne8731]

@@booksfrommybookshelf will do. Always think that 'having' to read a book at school puts people off some of the classics. That's probably why I always resist joining a book club as have visions of having to read the chosen book when my time could be better spent reading something I enjoy. I know it's supposed to open you mind to other genres you might otherwise ignore but it's not for me.😊

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

@@linbourne8731 I feel the same way about book clubs - I like to choose my own books!