“I must confess that I think her {Elizabeth Bennet} as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least I do not know." ~ Jane Austen
Mansfield Park (1814)
Emma (1815)
Northanger Abbey (1818)
Persuasion (1818).
Austen's Juvenalia (i.e. Love and Freindship, The Three Sisters, The History of England, ect...), Lady Susan, & two incomplete novels, The Watsons and Sanditon.
Books
"Marianne would have thought herself very inexcusable had she been able to sleep at all the first night after parting from Willoughby. She would have been ashamed to look her family in the face the next morning, had she not risen from her bed in more need of repose than when she lay down in it. But the feelings which made such composure a disgrace, left her in no danger of incurring it. She was awake the whole night, and she wept the greatest part of it. She got up with a headache, was unable to talk, and unwilling to take any nourishment; giving pain every moment to her mother and sisters, and forbidding all attempt at consolation from either. Her sensibility was potent enough!"
"Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired every remarkable spot and point of view. They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road, with some abruptness, wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;—and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!"
"To Henry Crawford they gave a different feeling. He longed to have been at sea, and seen and done and suffered as much. His heart was warmed, his fancy fired, and he felt the highest respect for a lad who, before he was twenty, had gone through such bodily hardships, and given such proofs of mind. The glory of heroism, of usefulness, of exertion, of endurance, made his own habits of selfish indulgence appear in shameful contrast; and he wished he had been a William Price, distinguishing himself and working his way to fortune and consequence with so much self-respect and happy ardour, instead of what he was!"
"You are extremely kind," replied Miss Bates, highly gratified; "you who are such a judge, and write so beautifully yourself. I am sure there is nobody's praise that could give us so much pleasure as Miss Woodhouse's. My mother does not hear; she is a little deaf you know. Ma'am," addressing her, "do you hear what Miss Woodhouse is so obliging to say about Jane's handwriting?"
"I read {history} a little as a duty, but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all--it is very tiresome: and yet I often think it odd that it should be so dull, for a great deal of it must be invention."
"She had only time, however, to move closer to the table where he had been writing, when footsteps were heard returning; the door opened; it was himself. He begged their pardon, but he had forgotten his gloves, and instantly crossing the room to the writing table, and standing with his back to Mrs. Musgrove, he drew out a letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes of glowing entreaty fixed on her for a moment, and hastily collecting his gloves, was again out of the room, almost before Mrs. Musgrove was aware of his being in it--the work of an instant!"
Heroes
There are so many fantastic websites devoted to Jane Austen & her writings; Here are a few that I have found to be very useful & interesting:
About me: This page is obviously dedicated to the works of my favorite author, Jane Austen. I could not for a moment attempt to imitate her likeness or her talents (it would be a very poor imitation indeed!), and I am content to being only a great admirer of her works and wanted to begin a page solely to celebrate them.
Jane Austen was born in December 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, England to the Reverend George Austen and his wife, Cassandra; and she became sister to, Cassandra Elizabeth (who remained her closest friend throughout her life), and also became sister to five elder brothers - James, George (who did not live at home due to being mentally challenged or perhaps deaf), Edward, Henry, & Francis. Another brother, Charles, was born in 1779.
Most of her life & early adulthood was spent in Steventon, except for a few short periods away for her education. She began writing during her childhood and often shared her stories with her family. On a few occasions, they were even acted out in home theatricals by her siblings and other relatives. Not many outside of her family, however, read these stories at the time, just as many outside of her own circle did not know later on that she was the author of her popular novels.
Although there was certainly later editing, it is believed that Northanger Abbey, Sense & Sensibility, and Pride & Prejudice were all written in Steventon.
In 1801, her family moved to Bath where they remained until her father's death in 1805. Following her time in Bath (which she, like Anne Elliot, wasn't very fond of), she moved to Southampton. She lived in that city until 1809 when she, Cassandra, and their mother moved to a cottage on her brother Edward's Chawton estate.
Jane Austen began writing in earnest again upon her return to the countryside. It was at Chawton that she continued to edit her previously written works, and it is also there that she began writing her three remaining novels - Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion.
In early 1817, she began writing another novel, Sanditon, but, sadly, was unable to finish it due to an illness (possibly Addison's disease). She died in July of the same year and was buried at Winchester Cathedral. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published after her death.
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Who I'd like to meet: Any devoted fans of Jane Austen are more than welcomed here since this page is primarily for you. I would, of course, be delighted if Austen herself and any of her wonderful creations wanted to befriend the site as well.
Some images from the various film adaptations (Note - There are many adaptations, but I have chosen only to include the ones I have personally viewed in the following slideshows):
Thank you kindly for visiting this page. If you have any questions, comments, or simply wish to chat about Austen's novels or any other classic literary work, feel free to drop me a line. Thank you again. Sincerely,
~ A.L.B.
Good Morning my dear friend, I'm coming by to bring you some warm Sunday wishes, I hope you have a most pleasant day...And a wonderful week to come. God bless Love and Hugs ms millie
I hope you are having a wonderful morning my friend...I also wish that your day goes well...and you are doing good...Have a very bery blessed rest of the week...Love and hugs ms millie
