What do Jane Austen's letters tell us?

[@spreadbookjoy]

I’ve often wondered about whether I would like to read Austen’s letters as I’m not sure they would hold my attention but as historical documents I’m sure they reveal a lot. Your observations are very helpful, and I found it particularly interesting to hear the comparisons that were made between her letters and Miss Bates and Jane Fairfax.

[@adayofsmallthings]

They do not hold my attention very well lol I can only read about two in one sitting. Very slow progress this month. But yes I’m sure they’re treasures to scholars. Yes that essay is a bit academic but fascinating! Thanks for watching :)

[@marinamcgovern6497]

That's a very good idea to read the two texts side-by-side. Letters between sisters must leave a lot known that doesn't have to be said so a biography must help to fill in the gaps as to what was happening at the time. I'm struck by how much hand-writing she must have done: imagine writing Pride and Prejudice by hand and then sitting down to write letters. No wonder her hand ached, plus it would have been so time-consuming. We take so much for granted with computers and email.

[@adayofsmallthings]

Yes it worked quite well :) you’re right! All that writing, plus all the sewing as well I’m sure - no wonder her hand ached!

[@novelideea]

Letters are difficult for me when there is only one person in the collection and not the letter on the other end. Such a great idea to read it in conjunction with her biography! A biography I read about Edna Saint Vincent Millay and that was my main qualm with how the author built the story of her life. Everything revolved around her letters (which admittedly were more informative than Jane's but were still answering questions we had never heard asked because we were only getting the one angle) with little snippets of interjections from a friend who was still living at the time. I read "In the Garden with Jane Austen" about the Chawton House gardens and it was pieced together from letters also, but it was interspersed with photos and information about the flowers/plants and we had letters from her brother and sister and a family friend included in the piecing together. I thought it was so good!

[@adayofsmallthings]

Yes they are difficult, but quite fun too :) That sounds so interesting! I remember she wrote in one letter to Cassandra something like ‘I don’t want to say your mulberry trees are dead, but they are not alive’ lol I think that was in Chawton Cottage garden, is that right?

[@novelideea]

@@adayofsmallthings yes! I think Jane decided to try something else In that spot because mulberry wasn’t thriving! 😊

[@adayofsmallthings]

@@novelideea such a fun new angle to look at it!

[@amyofhearthridge]

I noticed her snarky humor. 😂♥️ “Playful tone” is a good way of describing it. 😄 I’ve read that part in Camilla about the ladder! 😂

[@adayofsmallthings]

👍😁

[@gl4621]

Oh I really love your vlogs! They are sooooo informative. I learn so much in each of your vlogs! You present information in such a well organized manner and I love your keen observations and thoughts on literature. I am slowly going thru all of your vlogs and savoring each one!

[@adayofsmallthings]

I'm so glad you enjoy them and find them informative :) the videos are not all equally good, please don't be disappointed when you get to earlier ones - I'm slightly embarrassed about those! Happy reading and watching :)

[@gl4621]

Don't be so hard on yourself! "Enjoy process!" Quote from my 91 year old father who grew up stealing away to libraries in South Korea to keep warm. There he described steamy libraries where he sought refuge. What a romantic scene! Only now in our older years have I discovered his love of great literature. He often speaks of reading many different authors. Now I find myself in the same footsteps. Having read War and Peace, Anna Karenina, First Love, Father's and Sons and a few Russian Short Stories. Carolyn Marie Reads, Emmie and Benjamin McEvoy and now you have had a huge impact in inspiring reading great literature. Don't get me wrong I also read other quick reads in Fiction but I always end up going back to my classics. Once again love your vlogs!

[@adayofsmallthings]

@@gl4621 wow what stories! yes I love libraries as well, they are comforting and romantic places indeed. I love reading Russian classics too. I've been listening to three Chekhov's plays this month. I watch all those BookTubers as well! I'm flattered. Thanks so much for the encouragement. Happy reading!

[@drc4168]

Beautiful and brilliant. Jane would love you! :)

[@adayofsmallthings]

Haha that’s really kind thank you! I’m not sure but I hope she would :D

[@SpringboardThought]

Very interesting! I am reading Possession right now and it goes into some particulars of letter writing that dovetails nicely into this. And I also just finished my second Austen: Pride and Prejudice only a couple weeks ago!

[@adayofsmallthings]

Oh nice, what is Possession about? Have you talked about it in your video yet? What do you think about Pride and Prejudice?

[@SpringboardThought]

@@adayofsmallthings possession is by A. s. Byatt and won the Booker in 1990 or ‘91. And it’s about a literary scholar combing a fictitious poets letters (a stocking horse for Browning, apparently) that have yet to be examined by anyone. He discovers ties to a female poet of the time and a mystery unfolds. Byatt is really adept at creating correspondence and poetry and new character voices to further the narrative. I’m very much enjoying it so far and haven’t talked about it on my channel yet. It’s a buddy read and we’re taking it slow, around 2 chapters a day. I loved it! Initially it took a bit to get into the voice, but I found after I’d slept on it my brain had adjusted and I was able to get it and enjoy it. The only complaint is that it’s obviously a progenitor of that kind of story, which means it wasn’t suuuper unpredictable. But Austen did do a great job of sewing doubt. Loved the characters and the dialogue. Basically everything haha!

[@adayofsmallthings]

@@SpringboardThought Sounds very intriguing. I never read Byatt before - need to check out the work and the author! haha glad you liked Pride and Prejudice - yes the girls all got the men they wanted in the end lol

[@tymanung6382]

1) Jane Austen s letters were like 1st drafts, BUT 2) Her novels were results of many rewrites, often over several years of several drafts / 1 novel.

[@adayofsmallthings]

Good point!

[@sterlingreads547]

This was wonderful!

[@adayofsmallthings]

Thank you :)

[@TheBookishLand]

What an informative and interesting video! It's such a wonderful idea to read these books side by side, and I learnt so much from your discussion! I haven't read Jane Austen for a while but Pride and Prejudice was the first full length English book I finished in English LOL, and I loved her books translated into Chinese a lot growing up. Thanks for the video!

[@adayofsmallthings]

Thank you, I’m glad you find it useful! Oh nice, yes she’s quite famous worldview. I still like Pride and Prejudice the best after reading all of them :)

[@amyofhearthridge]

I have the “complete” letters, I got them for my birthday this year from my daughter! I didn’t finish them, just dipping into them here and there. ♥️ This was interesting and helpful!

[@adayofsmallthings]

That’s a lovely birthday present. Dipping is great. Reading them cover to cover was a bit intense to be honest! Glad you find it interesting :)

[@charmainesaliba5546]

This was really interesting.

[@adayofsmallthings]

Thank you :) I’m glad you find it interesting