What do you think?
Rate this book
Volume the First by Jane Austen: In Her Own Hand
Facsimile of teen-age Jane Austen's brilliant first manuscript is now available.
Forever immortalized as the author of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen actually produced her first “book” as a teenager, Volume the First. Taking its name from the inscription on the cover, this brilliant little collection includes the stories, playlets, verses, and moral fragments she wrote likely from ages twelve to eighteen. The volume was produced for the enjoyment of her family and close friends—entertaining it was and is!
Now it is available for all of us to see.
As a young author, Jane Austen delighted in language, employing it with great humor and surprising skill. She was adept at parodying the popular stories of her day and entertained her readers with outrageous plotlines and characters. Kathryn Sutherland’s introduction places Austen’s earliest works in context and explains how she mimicked even the style and manner in which this contemporary popular fiction was presented and arranged on the page. The work of a young adult, Volume the First nevertheless reveals the development of the unmistakable voice and style that would mark her as one of the most popular authors of all time. None of her six famous novels survives in manuscript. This is a unique opportunity to own a likeness of Jane Austen’s hand in the form of a complete manuscript facsimile.
Forever immortalized as the author of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen actually produced her first “book” as a teenager, Volume the First. Taking its name from the inscription on the cover, this brilliant little collection includes the stories, playlets, verses, and moral fragments she wrote likely from ages twelve to eighteen. The volume was produced for the enjoyment of her family and close friends—entertaining it was and is!
Now it is available for all of us to see.
As a young author, Jane Austen delighted in language, employing it with great humor and surprising skill. She was adept at parodying the popular stories of her day and entertained her readers with outrageous plotlines and characters. Kathryn Sutherland’s introduction places Austen’s earliest works in context and explains how she mimicked even the style and manner in which this contemporary popular fiction was presented and arranged on the page. The work of a young adult, Volume the First nevertheless reveals the development of the unmistakable voice and style that would mark her as one of the most popular authors of all time. None of her six famous novels survives in manuscript. This is a unique opportunity to own a likeness of Jane Austen’s hand in the form of a complete manuscript facsimile.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1787
25 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Jane Austen
3,582 books74.9k followersJane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.
The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.
The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 9, 2013
Absolutely why I love Jane Austen. Even in her early works, she portrayed ridiculous aspects of life in her time (in strict sense the stories apply to the modern days as well) under the veil of most serious wordings. A fun read. Not to mention the complete novel of 12 chapters, and The Mystery.
July 22, 2023
Odd, outrageous, witty and absurd... my favourite of the juvenilia in volume 1 was "The Three Sisters" which reminded me a bit of a mash up of Lady Susan and the Mr Collins proposals.
April 23, 2025
These are just pieces and parts that Jane Austen wrote when young but they show the budding genius that would come. You even see things in here that would get reused in her wonderful novels later on.
January 5, 2026
Genuinley this is one of the funniest books I've ever read. I was so worried I would be trudging through the three Juvenilias (I'm reading every Jane Austen work in order) but this is so funny. It's a bunch of short stories and plays and poems, most of which are dedicated to her family members. I love when you can see a taste of humanity in something so old because you can see she's making fun of her family, quite overtly too. This has some of the funniest quotes ever I am so excited for the next two. Personal fav quotes:
"She then proceeded to a pastry-cook's, where she devoured six ices, refused to pay for them, knocked down the pastry cook, and walked away." (this quote was an entire chapter)
"...Shall I tell him the secret?...No, he'll certainly blab it..."
"'Damme, Elfrida, you may be married tomorrow but I won't.'"
It's just full of stuff like that its so unexpectedly funny. To be genuine for a sec, it's also super cool to see where later Jane Austen stuff would come from. You can certainly get a taste for her later characters in these silly vignettes of life and stories of woeful romance.
"She then proceeded to a pastry-cook's, where she devoured six ices, refused to pay for them, knocked down the pastry cook, and walked away." (this quote was an entire chapter)
"...Shall I tell him the secret?...No, he'll certainly blab it..."
"'Damme, Elfrida, you may be married tomorrow but I won't.'"
It's just full of stuff like that its so unexpectedly funny. To be genuine for a sec, it's also super cool to see where later Jane Austen stuff would come from. You can certainly get a taste for her later characters in these silly vignettes of life and stories of woeful romance.
August 27, 2021
JUVENILIA Volume 1
FREDERIC AND ELFRIDA (1787-1793)
JACK AND ALICE (1787-1793)
EDGAR AND EMMA (1787-1793)
HENRY AND ELIZA (1787-1793)
THE ADVENTURES OF MR. HARLEY (1787-1793)
SIR WILLIAM MOUNTAGUE (1787-1793)
MEMOIRS OF MR. CLIFFORD (1787-1793)
THE BEAUTIFUL CASSANDRA (1787-1793)
AMELIA WEBSTER (1787-1793)
THE VISIT (1797-1793)
THE MYSTERY (1787-1793)
THE THREE SISTERS (1787-1793)
DETACHED PIECES (1787-1793)
............
............
JUVENILIA Volume 1- Novel
............
............
Frederic & Elfrida
............
Jane Austen wrote these bits to amuse her family, and quite amusing they certainly are, from chuckle to hilarious through the collection termed juvenilia.
............
"Dedication
"To Miss Lloyd
"My Dear Martha
"As a small testimony of the gratitude I feel for your late generosity to me in finishing my muslin cloak, I beg leave to offer you this little production of your sincere friend.
"The Author
............
"The uncle of Elfrida was the father of Frederic; in other words, they were first cousins by the father's side."
Not always correct; the first part might be about Elfrieda's mother's brother, or an uncle by marriage, in which the latter case they wouldn't be related at all.
"They were exceedingly handsome and so much alike, that it was not everyone who knew them apart. Nay, even their most intimate friends had nothing to distinguish them by, but the shape of the face, the colour of the eye, the length of the nose, and the difference of the complexion."
Didn't people dress very differently those days, across gender gap? Or was cross dressing common?
............
"On being shown into an elegant dressing room, ornamented with festoons of artificial flowers, they were struck with the engaging exterior and beautiful outside of Jezalinda, the eldest of the young ladies; but e'er they had been many minutes seated, the wit and charms which shone resplendent in the conversation of the amiable Rebecca enchanted them so much, that they all with one accord jumped up and exclaimed:
""Lovely and too charming fair one, not withstanding your forbidding squint, your greasy tresses and your swelling back, which are more frightful than imagination can paint or pen describe, I cannot refrain from expressing my raptures, at the engaging qualities of your mind, which so amply atone for the horror with which your first appearance must ever inspire the unwary visitor."
""Your sentiments so nobly expressed on the different excellencies of Indian and English muslins, and the judicious preference you give the former, have excited in me an admiration of which I can alone give an adequate idea, by assuring you it is nearly equal to what I feel for myself.""
How did "that they all with one accord jumped up and exclaimed" quite so much?
"From this period, the intimacy between the families of Fitzroy, Drummond, and Falknor daily increased, till at length it grew to such a pitch, that they did not scruple to kick one another out of the window on the slightest provocation."
"From this period, the intimacy between the families of Fitzroy, Drummond, and Falknor daily increased, till at length it grew to such a pitch, that they did not scruple to kick one another out of the window on the slightest provocation.
"During this happy state of harmony, the eldest Miss Fitzroy ran off with the coachman and the amiable Rebecca was asked in marriage by Captain Roger of Buckinghamshire.
"Mrs. Fitzroy did not approve of the match on account of the tender years of the young couple, Rebecca being but thirty six and Captain Roger little more than sixty three. To remedy this objection, it was agreed that they should wait a little while till they were a good deal older."
............
"Scarcely were they seated as usual, in the most affectionate manner in one chair, than the door suddenly opened and an aged gentleman with a sallow face and old pink coat, partly by intention and partly thro' weakness was at the feet of the lovely Charlotte, declaring his attachment to her and beseeching her pity in the most moving manner.
"Not being able to resolve to make anyone miserable, she consented to become his wife; where upon the gentleman left the room and all was quiet.
"Their quiet however continued but a short time, for on a second opening of the door a young and handsome gentleman with a new blue coat entered and entreated from the lovely Charlotte, permission to pay to her his addresses.
"There was a something in the appearance of the second stranger, that influenced Charlotte in his favour, to the full as much as the appearance of the first: she could not account for it, but so it was.
"Having therefore, agreeable to that and the natural turn of her mind to make everyone happy, promised to become his wife the next morning, he took his leave and the two ladies sat down to supper on a young leveret, a brace of partridges, a leash of pheasants and a dozen of pigeons.
"It was not till the next morning that Charlotte recollected the double engagement she had entered into; but when she did, the reflection of her past folly operated so strongly on her mind, that she resolved to be guilty of a greater, and to that end threw herself into a deep stream which ran thro her aunt's pleasure grounds in Portland Place.
"She floated to Crankhumdunberry where she was picked up and buried; the following epitaph, composed by Frederic, Elfrida, and Rebecca, was placed on her tomb."
............
............
August 17, 2021.
............
............
JUVENILIA Volume 1- Novel
............
............
Jack & Alice, by Jane Austen?
............
............
"Dedication
"Jack and Alice
"A Novel Is respectfully inscribed to Francis William Austen Esq.
"Midshipman on board His Majesty's Ship The Perseverance
"By his obedient humble servant
"The Author
............
Austen continues being amusing, from chuckling to hilarious.
............
"Mr. and Mrs. Jones were both rather tall and very passionate, but were in other respects good tempered, well-behaved people. Charles Adams was an amiable, accomplished, and bewitching young man; of so dazzling a beauty that none but eagles could look him in the face.
"Miss Simpson was pleasing in her person, in her manners, and in her disposition; an unbounded ambition was her only fault. Her second sister Sukey was envious, spiteful, and malicious. Her person was short, fat and disagreeable. Cecilia (the youngest) was perfectly handsome, but too affected to be pleasing.
"In Lady Williams every virtue met. She was a widow with a handsome Jointure and the remains of a very handsome face. Tho' benevolent and candid, she was generous and sincere; tho' pious and good, she was religious and amiable, and tho elegant and agreeable, she was polished and entertaining.
"The Johnsons were a family of love, and though a little addicted to the bottle and the dice, had many good qualities.
"Such was the party assembled in the elegant drawing room of Johnson Court, amongst which the pleasing figure of a sultana was the most remarkable of the female masks. Of the males, a mask representing the sun was the most universally admired. The beams that darted from his eyes were like those of that glorious luminary, tho' infinitely superior. So strong were they that no one dared venture within half a mile of them; he had therefore the best part of the room to himself, its size not amounting to more than three quarters of a mile in length and half a one in breadth. The gentleman at last finding the fierceness of his beams to be very inconvenient to the concourse, by obliging them to crowd together in one corner of the room, half shut his eyes, by which means the company discovered him to be Charles Adams in his plain green coat, without any
mask at all."
............
"For three months did the masquerade afford ample subject for conversation to the inhabitants of Pammydiddle; but no character at it was so fully expatiated on as Charles Adams. The singularity of his appearance, the beams which darted from his eyes, the brightness of his wit, and the whole tout ensemble of his person had subdued the hearts of so many of the young ladies, that of the six present at the masquerade but five had returned uncaptivated. Alice Johnson was the unhappy sixth whose heart had not been able to withstand the power of his charms. But as it may appear strange to my readers, that so much worth and excellence as he possessed should have conquered only hers, it will be necessary to inform them that the Miss Simpsons were defended from his power by ambition, envy, and self-admiration.
"Every wish of Caroline was centred in a titled husband; whilst in Sukey such superior excellence could only raise her envy not her love, and Cecilia was too tenderly attached to herself to be pleased with anyone besides. ... "
"One evening, Alice finding herself somewhat heated by wine (no very uncommon case) determined to seek a relief for her disordered head and love-sick heart in the conversation of the intelligent Lady Williams.
"She found her ladyship at home, as was in general the case, for she was not fond of going out, and like the great Sir Charles Grandison scorned to deny herself when at home, as she looked on that fashionable method of shutting out disagreeable visitors, as little less than downright bigamy."
............
" ... Preserve yourself from a first love and you need not fear a second.""
............
"“For” (said she) “he has often and often declared to me that his wife, whoever she might be, must possess youth, beauty, birth, wit, merit, and money. I have many a time” (she continued) “endeavoured to reason him out of his resolution and to convince him of the improbability of his ever meeting with such a lady; but my arguments have had no effect, and he continues as firm in his determination as ever.” You may imagine, Ladies, my distress on hearing this; for I was fearful that tho' possessed of youth, beauty, wit and merit, and tho' the probable heiress of my aunt's house and business, he might think me deficient in rank, and in being so, unworthy of his hand."
""However I was determined to make a bold push and therefore wrote him a very kind letter, offering him with great tenderness my hand and heart. To this I received an angry and peremptory refusal, but thinking it might be rather the effect of his modesty than anything else, I pressed him again on the subject. But he never answered any more of my letters and very soon afterwards left the country. As soon as I heard of his departure, I wrote to him here, informing him that I should shortly do myself the honour of waiting on him at Pammydiddle, to which I received no answer; therefore, choosing to take silence for consent, I left Wales, unknown to my aunt, and arrived here after a tedious journey this morning. On enquiring for his house, I was directed thro' this wood, to the one you there see. With a heart elated by the expected happiness of beholding him, I entered it, and had proceeded thus far in my progress thro' it, when I found myself suddenly seized by the leg and on examining the cause of it, found that I was caught in one of the steel traps so common in gentlemen's grounds."
""Ah!” cried Lady Williams, “how fortunate we are to meet with you; since we might otherwise perhaps have shared the like misfortune —"
""It is indeed happy for you, Ladies, that I should have been a short time before you. I screamed, as you may easily imagine, till the woods resounded again and till one of the inhuman wretch's servants came to my assistance and released me from my dreadful prison, but not before one of my legs was entirely broken.""
"Lady Williams now interposed, and observed that the young lady's leg ought to be set without farther delay. After examining the fracture, therefore, she immediately began and performed the operation with great skill, which was the more wonderful on account of her having never performed such a one before. Lucy then arose from the ground, and finding that she could walk with the greatest ease, accompanied them to Lady Williams's house at her ladyship's particular request."
"It may now be proper to return to the hero of this novel, the brother of Alice, of whom I believe I have scarcely ever had occasion to speak; which may perhaps be partly owing to his unfortunate propensity to liquor, which so completely deprived him of the use of those faculties nature had endowed him with, that he never did anything worth mentioning. His death happened a short time after Lucy's departure and was the natural consequence of this pernicious practice. By his decease, his sister became the sole inheritress of a very large fortune, which as it gave her fresh hopes of rendering herself acceptable as a wife to Charles Adams, could not fail of being most pleasing to her — and as the effect was joyful, the cause could scarcely be lamented."
""Sir, I may perhaps be expected to appear pleased at and grateful for the offer you have made me: but let me tell you that I consider it as an affront. I look upon myself to be, Sir, a perfect beauty — where would you see a finer figure or a more charming face. Then, Sir, I imagine my manners and address to be of the most polished kind; there is a certain elegance, a peculiar sweetness in them that I never saw equalled and cannot describe. Partiality aside, I am certainly more accomplished in every language, every science, every art and everything than any other person in Europe. My temper is even, my virtues innumerable, myself unparalleled. Since such, Sir, is my character, what do you mean by wishing me to marry your daughter? Let me give you a short sketch of yourself and of her. I look upon you, Sir, to be a very good sort of man in the main; a drunken old dog to be sure, but that's nothing to me. Your daughter Sir, is neither sufficiently beautiful, sufficiently amiable, sufficiently witty, nor sufficiently rich for me. — I expect nothing more in my wife than my wife will find in me — perfection. These, Sir, are my sentiments and I honour myself for having such. One friend I have, and glory in having but one. She is at present preparing my dinner, but if you choose to see her, she shall come and she will inform you that these have ever been my sentiments."
"Mr. Johnson was satisfied: and expressing himself to be much obliged to Mr. Adams for the characters he had favoured him with of himself and his daughter, took his leave.
"The unfortunate Alice, on receiving from her father the sad account of the ill success his visit had been attended with, could scarcely support the disappointment. — She flew to her bottle and it was soon forgot."
............
"What might have been the effect of her ladyship's advice, had it ever been received by Lucy, is uncertain, as it reached Bath a few hours after she had breathed her last. She fell a sacrifice to the envy and malice of Sukey, who jealous of her superior charms, took her by poison from an admiring world at the age of seventeen."
"His Grace's affliction may likewise be easily accounted for, since he lost one for whom he had experienced, during the last ten days, a tender affection and sincere regard. He mourned her loss with unshaken constancy for the next fortnight, at the end of which time, he gratified the ambition of Caroline Simpson by raising her to the rank of a duchess. ... —The beautiful but affected Cecilia was too sensible of her own superior charms, not to imagine that if Caroline could engage a duke, she might without censure aspire to the affections of some prince — and knowing that those of her native country were chiefly engaged, she left England and I have since heard is at present the favourite Sultana of the great Mogul. —
"In the meantime, the inhabitants of Pammydiddle were in a state of the greatest astonishment and wonder, a report being circulated of the intended marriage of Charles Adams. The Lady's name was still a secret. Mr. and Mrs. Jones imagined it to be Miss Johnson; but she knew better; all her fears were centred in his cook, when to the astonishment of everyone, he was publicly united to Lady Williams —."
............
August 17, 2021 - August 18, 2021.
............
............
Edgar and Emma
............
............
Here we see a glimpse more of the Austen we know, peeping through the outrageously hilarious Juvenilia in general which are pieces written, while she was younger, mostly to amuse her family.
............
"'I cannot imagine,' said Sir Godfrey to his lady, 'why we continue in such deplorable lodgings as these, in a paltry market-town, while we have three good houses of our own situated in some of the finest parts of England, and perfectly ready to receive us!'
"'I'm sure, Sir Godfrey,' replied Lady Marlow, 'it has been much against my inclination that we have stayed here so long; or why we should ever have come at all indeed, has been to me a wonder, as none of our houses have been in the least want of repair.'"
"As, after a few more speeches on both sides, they could not determine which was the most to blame, they prudently laid aside the debate, and having packed up their clothes and paid their rent, they set out the next morning with their two daughters for their seat in Sussex."
............
"The news of their arrival being quickly spread throughout the country, brought them in a few days visits of congratulation from every family in it.
"Amongst the rest came the inhabitants of Willmot Lodge a beautiful villa not far from Marlhurst. Mr Willmot was the representative of a very ancient family and possessed besides his paternal estate, a considerable share in a lead mine and a ticket in the lottery. His lady was an agreeable woman. Their children were too numerous to be particularly described; it is sufficient to say that in general they were virtuously inclined and not given to any wicked ways. Their family being too large to accompany them in every visit, they took nine with them alternately. When their coach stopped at Sir Godfrey's door, the Miss Marlow's hearts throbbed in the eager expectation of once more beholding a family so dear to them. Emma the youngest (who was more particularly interested in their arrival, being attached to their eldest son) continued at her dressing-room window in anxious hopes of seeing young Edgar descend from the carriage."
............
"Emma had continued in the parlour some time before she could summon up sufficient courage to ask Mrs Willmot after the rest of her family; and when she did, it was in so low, so faltering a voice that no one knew she spoke. ....
FREDERIC AND ELFRIDA (1787-1793)
JACK AND ALICE (1787-1793)
EDGAR AND EMMA (1787-1793)
HENRY AND ELIZA (1787-1793)
THE ADVENTURES OF MR. HARLEY (1787-1793)
SIR WILLIAM MOUNTAGUE (1787-1793)
MEMOIRS OF MR. CLIFFORD (1787-1793)
THE BEAUTIFUL CASSANDRA (1787-1793)
AMELIA WEBSTER (1787-1793)
THE VISIT (1797-1793)
THE MYSTERY (1787-1793)
THE THREE SISTERS (1787-1793)
DETACHED PIECES (1787-1793)
............
............
JUVENILIA Volume 1- Novel
............
............
Frederic & Elfrida
............
Jane Austen wrote these bits to amuse her family, and quite amusing they certainly are, from chuckle to hilarious through the collection termed juvenilia.
............
"Dedication
"To Miss Lloyd
"My Dear Martha
"As a small testimony of the gratitude I feel for your late generosity to me in finishing my muslin cloak, I beg leave to offer you this little production of your sincere friend.
"The Author
............
"The uncle of Elfrida was the father of Frederic; in other words, they were first cousins by the father's side."
Not always correct; the first part might be about Elfrieda's mother's brother, or an uncle by marriage, in which the latter case they wouldn't be related at all.
"They were exceedingly handsome and so much alike, that it was not everyone who knew them apart. Nay, even their most intimate friends had nothing to distinguish them by, but the shape of the face, the colour of the eye, the length of the nose, and the difference of the complexion."
Didn't people dress very differently those days, across gender gap? Or was cross dressing common?
............
"On being shown into an elegant dressing room, ornamented with festoons of artificial flowers, they were struck with the engaging exterior and beautiful outside of Jezalinda, the eldest of the young ladies; but e'er they had been many minutes seated, the wit and charms which shone resplendent in the conversation of the amiable Rebecca enchanted them so much, that they all with one accord jumped up and exclaimed:
""Lovely and too charming fair one, not withstanding your forbidding squint, your greasy tresses and your swelling back, which are more frightful than imagination can paint or pen describe, I cannot refrain from expressing my raptures, at the engaging qualities of your mind, which so amply atone for the horror with which your first appearance must ever inspire the unwary visitor."
""Your sentiments so nobly expressed on the different excellencies of Indian and English muslins, and the judicious preference you give the former, have excited in me an admiration of which I can alone give an adequate idea, by assuring you it is nearly equal to what I feel for myself.""
How did "that they all with one accord jumped up and exclaimed" quite so much?
"From this period, the intimacy between the families of Fitzroy, Drummond, and Falknor daily increased, till at length it grew to such a pitch, that they did not scruple to kick one another out of the window on the slightest provocation."
"From this period, the intimacy between the families of Fitzroy, Drummond, and Falknor daily increased, till at length it grew to such a pitch, that they did not scruple to kick one another out of the window on the slightest provocation.
"During this happy state of harmony, the eldest Miss Fitzroy ran off with the coachman and the amiable Rebecca was asked in marriage by Captain Roger of Buckinghamshire.
"Mrs. Fitzroy did not approve of the match on account of the tender years of the young couple, Rebecca being but thirty six and Captain Roger little more than sixty three. To remedy this objection, it was agreed that they should wait a little while till they were a good deal older."
............
"Scarcely were they seated as usual, in the most affectionate manner in one chair, than the door suddenly opened and an aged gentleman with a sallow face and old pink coat, partly by intention and partly thro' weakness was at the feet of the lovely Charlotte, declaring his attachment to her and beseeching her pity in the most moving manner.
"Not being able to resolve to make anyone miserable, she consented to become his wife; where upon the gentleman left the room and all was quiet.
"Their quiet however continued but a short time, for on a second opening of the door a young and handsome gentleman with a new blue coat entered and entreated from the lovely Charlotte, permission to pay to her his addresses.
"There was a something in the appearance of the second stranger, that influenced Charlotte in his favour, to the full as much as the appearance of the first: she could not account for it, but so it was.
"Having therefore, agreeable to that and the natural turn of her mind to make everyone happy, promised to become his wife the next morning, he took his leave and the two ladies sat down to supper on a young leveret, a brace of partridges, a leash of pheasants and a dozen of pigeons.
"It was not till the next morning that Charlotte recollected the double engagement she had entered into; but when she did, the reflection of her past folly operated so strongly on her mind, that she resolved to be guilty of a greater, and to that end threw herself into a deep stream which ran thro her aunt's pleasure grounds in Portland Place.
"She floated to Crankhumdunberry where she was picked up and buried; the following epitaph, composed by Frederic, Elfrida, and Rebecca, was placed on her tomb."
............
............
August 17, 2021.
............
............
JUVENILIA Volume 1- Novel
............
............
Jack & Alice, by Jane Austen?
............
............
"Dedication
"Jack and Alice
"A Novel Is respectfully inscribed to Francis William Austen Esq.
"Midshipman on board His Majesty's Ship The Perseverance
"By his obedient humble servant
"The Author
............
Austen continues being amusing, from chuckling to hilarious.
............
"Mr. and Mrs. Jones were both rather tall and very passionate, but were in other respects good tempered, well-behaved people. Charles Adams was an amiable, accomplished, and bewitching young man; of so dazzling a beauty that none but eagles could look him in the face.
"Miss Simpson was pleasing in her person, in her manners, and in her disposition; an unbounded ambition was her only fault. Her second sister Sukey was envious, spiteful, and malicious. Her person was short, fat and disagreeable. Cecilia (the youngest) was perfectly handsome, but too affected to be pleasing.
"In Lady Williams every virtue met. She was a widow with a handsome Jointure and the remains of a very handsome face. Tho' benevolent and candid, she was generous and sincere; tho' pious and good, she was religious and amiable, and tho elegant and agreeable, she was polished and entertaining.
"The Johnsons were a family of love, and though a little addicted to the bottle and the dice, had many good qualities.
"Such was the party assembled in the elegant drawing room of Johnson Court, amongst which the pleasing figure of a sultana was the most remarkable of the female masks. Of the males, a mask representing the sun was the most universally admired. The beams that darted from his eyes were like those of that glorious luminary, tho' infinitely superior. So strong were they that no one dared venture within half a mile of them; he had therefore the best part of the room to himself, its size not amounting to more than three quarters of a mile in length and half a one in breadth. The gentleman at last finding the fierceness of his beams to be very inconvenient to the concourse, by obliging them to crowd together in one corner of the room, half shut his eyes, by which means the company discovered him to be Charles Adams in his plain green coat, without any
mask at all."
............
"For three months did the masquerade afford ample subject for conversation to the inhabitants of Pammydiddle; but no character at it was so fully expatiated on as Charles Adams. The singularity of his appearance, the beams which darted from his eyes, the brightness of his wit, and the whole tout ensemble of his person had subdued the hearts of so many of the young ladies, that of the six present at the masquerade but five had returned uncaptivated. Alice Johnson was the unhappy sixth whose heart had not been able to withstand the power of his charms. But as it may appear strange to my readers, that so much worth and excellence as he possessed should have conquered only hers, it will be necessary to inform them that the Miss Simpsons were defended from his power by ambition, envy, and self-admiration.
"Every wish of Caroline was centred in a titled husband; whilst in Sukey such superior excellence could only raise her envy not her love, and Cecilia was too tenderly attached to herself to be pleased with anyone besides. ... "
"One evening, Alice finding herself somewhat heated by wine (no very uncommon case) determined to seek a relief for her disordered head and love-sick heart in the conversation of the intelligent Lady Williams.
"She found her ladyship at home, as was in general the case, for she was not fond of going out, and like the great Sir Charles Grandison scorned to deny herself when at home, as she looked on that fashionable method of shutting out disagreeable visitors, as little less than downright bigamy."
............
" ... Preserve yourself from a first love and you need not fear a second.""
............
"“For” (said she) “he has often and often declared to me that his wife, whoever she might be, must possess youth, beauty, birth, wit, merit, and money. I have many a time” (she continued) “endeavoured to reason him out of his resolution and to convince him of the improbability of his ever meeting with such a lady; but my arguments have had no effect, and he continues as firm in his determination as ever.” You may imagine, Ladies, my distress on hearing this; for I was fearful that tho' possessed of youth, beauty, wit and merit, and tho' the probable heiress of my aunt's house and business, he might think me deficient in rank, and in being so, unworthy of his hand."
""However I was determined to make a bold push and therefore wrote him a very kind letter, offering him with great tenderness my hand and heart. To this I received an angry and peremptory refusal, but thinking it might be rather the effect of his modesty than anything else, I pressed him again on the subject. But he never answered any more of my letters and very soon afterwards left the country. As soon as I heard of his departure, I wrote to him here, informing him that I should shortly do myself the honour of waiting on him at Pammydiddle, to which I received no answer; therefore, choosing to take silence for consent, I left Wales, unknown to my aunt, and arrived here after a tedious journey this morning. On enquiring for his house, I was directed thro' this wood, to the one you there see. With a heart elated by the expected happiness of beholding him, I entered it, and had proceeded thus far in my progress thro' it, when I found myself suddenly seized by the leg and on examining the cause of it, found that I was caught in one of the steel traps so common in gentlemen's grounds."
""Ah!” cried Lady Williams, “how fortunate we are to meet with you; since we might otherwise perhaps have shared the like misfortune —"
""It is indeed happy for you, Ladies, that I should have been a short time before you. I screamed, as you may easily imagine, till the woods resounded again and till one of the inhuman wretch's servants came to my assistance and released me from my dreadful prison, but not before one of my legs was entirely broken.""
"Lady Williams now interposed, and observed that the young lady's leg ought to be set without farther delay. After examining the fracture, therefore, she immediately began and performed the operation with great skill, which was the more wonderful on account of her having never performed such a one before. Lucy then arose from the ground, and finding that she could walk with the greatest ease, accompanied them to Lady Williams's house at her ladyship's particular request."
"It may now be proper to return to the hero of this novel, the brother of Alice, of whom I believe I have scarcely ever had occasion to speak; which may perhaps be partly owing to his unfortunate propensity to liquor, which so completely deprived him of the use of those faculties nature had endowed him with, that he never did anything worth mentioning. His death happened a short time after Lucy's departure and was the natural consequence of this pernicious practice. By his decease, his sister became the sole inheritress of a very large fortune, which as it gave her fresh hopes of rendering herself acceptable as a wife to Charles Adams, could not fail of being most pleasing to her — and as the effect was joyful, the cause could scarcely be lamented."
""Sir, I may perhaps be expected to appear pleased at and grateful for the offer you have made me: but let me tell you that I consider it as an affront. I look upon myself to be, Sir, a perfect beauty — where would you see a finer figure or a more charming face. Then, Sir, I imagine my manners and address to be of the most polished kind; there is a certain elegance, a peculiar sweetness in them that I never saw equalled and cannot describe. Partiality aside, I am certainly more accomplished in every language, every science, every art and everything than any other person in Europe. My temper is even, my virtues innumerable, myself unparalleled. Since such, Sir, is my character, what do you mean by wishing me to marry your daughter? Let me give you a short sketch of yourself and of her. I look upon you, Sir, to be a very good sort of man in the main; a drunken old dog to be sure, but that's nothing to me. Your daughter Sir, is neither sufficiently beautiful, sufficiently amiable, sufficiently witty, nor sufficiently rich for me. — I expect nothing more in my wife than my wife will find in me — perfection. These, Sir, are my sentiments and I honour myself for having such. One friend I have, and glory in having but one. She is at present preparing my dinner, but if you choose to see her, she shall come and she will inform you that these have ever been my sentiments."
"Mr. Johnson was satisfied: and expressing himself to be much obliged to Mr. Adams for the characters he had favoured him with of himself and his daughter, took his leave.
"The unfortunate Alice, on receiving from her father the sad account of the ill success his visit had been attended with, could scarcely support the disappointment. — She flew to her bottle and it was soon forgot."
............
"What might have been the effect of her ladyship's advice, had it ever been received by Lucy, is uncertain, as it reached Bath a few hours after she had breathed her last. She fell a sacrifice to the envy and malice of Sukey, who jealous of her superior charms, took her by poison from an admiring world at the age of seventeen."
"His Grace's affliction may likewise be easily accounted for, since he lost one for whom he had experienced, during the last ten days, a tender affection and sincere regard. He mourned her loss with unshaken constancy for the next fortnight, at the end of which time, he gratified the ambition of Caroline Simpson by raising her to the rank of a duchess. ... —The beautiful but affected Cecilia was too sensible of her own superior charms, not to imagine that if Caroline could engage a duke, she might without censure aspire to the affections of some prince — and knowing that those of her native country were chiefly engaged, she left England and I have since heard is at present the favourite Sultana of the great Mogul. —
"In the meantime, the inhabitants of Pammydiddle were in a state of the greatest astonishment and wonder, a report being circulated of the intended marriage of Charles Adams. The Lady's name was still a secret. Mr. and Mrs. Jones imagined it to be Miss Johnson; but she knew better; all her fears were centred in his cook, when to the astonishment of everyone, he was publicly united to Lady Williams —."
............
August 17, 2021 - August 18, 2021.
............
............
Edgar and Emma
............
............
Here we see a glimpse more of the Austen we know, peeping through the outrageously hilarious Juvenilia in general which are pieces written, while she was younger, mostly to amuse her family.
............
"'I cannot imagine,' said Sir Godfrey to his lady, 'why we continue in such deplorable lodgings as these, in a paltry market-town, while we have three good houses of our own situated in some of the finest parts of England, and perfectly ready to receive us!'
"'I'm sure, Sir Godfrey,' replied Lady Marlow, 'it has been much against my inclination that we have stayed here so long; or why we should ever have come at all indeed, has been to me a wonder, as none of our houses have been in the least want of repair.'"
"As, after a few more speeches on both sides, they could not determine which was the most to blame, they prudently laid aside the debate, and having packed up their clothes and paid their rent, they set out the next morning with their two daughters for their seat in Sussex."
............
"The news of their arrival being quickly spread throughout the country, brought them in a few days visits of congratulation from every family in it.
"Amongst the rest came the inhabitants of Willmot Lodge a beautiful villa not far from Marlhurst. Mr Willmot was the representative of a very ancient family and possessed besides his paternal estate, a considerable share in a lead mine and a ticket in the lottery. His lady was an agreeable woman. Their children were too numerous to be particularly described; it is sufficient to say that in general they were virtuously inclined and not given to any wicked ways. Their family being too large to accompany them in every visit, they took nine with them alternately. When their coach stopped at Sir Godfrey's door, the Miss Marlow's hearts throbbed in the eager expectation of once more beholding a family so dear to them. Emma the youngest (who was more particularly interested in their arrival, being attached to their eldest son) continued at her dressing-room window in anxious hopes of seeing young Edgar descend from the carriage."
............
"Emma had continued in the parlour some time before she could summon up sufficient courage to ask Mrs Willmot after the rest of her family; and when she did, it was in so low, so faltering a voice that no one knew she spoke. ....
July 22, 2022
It's absolutely hilarious how nonchalantly Jane goes from what would become her future writing style to straight-up ridiculousness in these short stories from her younger days - I love it!
April 3, 2011
In her early works Jane Austen's satirical voice isn't as sensitively disguised as in her novels. This first part of her juvenilia includes 13 short pieces, some of them unfinished, most of them only around ten pages long.
For fans of Jane Austen's works this is probably a must-read. It gave me a pleasant-enough time and I'll certainly read the second and third volume as well, but I don't think I'll be reading the Juvenilia over and over again.
For fans of Jane Austen's works this is probably a must-read. It gave me a pleasant-enough time and I'll certainly read the second and third volume as well, but I don't think I'll be reading the Juvenilia over and over again.
April 5, 2024
This is my first time reading Austen’s juvenile work. It is clear in this first volume that she wrote these pieces very early in her life, because most are ridiculous and a lot are unfinished. I loved seeing glimpses of her genius to come though! My favorite piece was “Frederic and Elfrida” which was so delightfully over the top and hilarious. Young Austen definitely did not write the same things she is now known for. I would recommend any Austen fan to check out the Juvenilia and I am excited to continue on with volumes 2 and 3.
March 4, 2022
The stories are short and end abruptly. I did not feel any familiarity to Jane Austen’s accomplished works. I think she had not discovered her style yet when she wrote this. This seems more like practice work. Since this was not even intended to be published, it doesn’t really feel fair giving it a star rating (hence the 3 star). The character sketching is overly sarcastic as compared to the accurate portrayal of human behaviour in her later novels.
June 19, 2021
Макар и много малка, авторката си служи с много фин хумор, примесен с лек сарказъм. В разказите й има от всичко по малко: както любов, така и омраза; както има прегрешения, така има и опрощение, добро и зло, правилно и неправилно; и всичко това се преплита в невероятни детски (и не толкова детски) разкази.
July 4, 2020
I enjoyed this a lot. I specifically enjoyed Jack and Alice and The three Sisters. The three sisters had the potential to be written as a full novel. Overall, I loved it and hoping to read some more of Juvenilia.
Time: 1 hour and 20 mins
Time: 1 hour and 20 mins
August 6, 2022
I red some the Juvenilia from volume the first:
- Frederic and Elfrida
- Jack and Alice
- Edgar and Emma
- Henry and Eliza
- The Beautiful Cassandra
- The adventures of Mr Harley
- Sir William Montague
- Amelia Webster
- Frederic and Elfrida
- Jack and Alice
- Edgar and Emma
- Henry and Eliza
- The Beautiful Cassandra
- The adventures of Mr Harley
- Sir William Montague
- Amelia Webster
March 12, 2023
Es una bonita visita a los primeros escritos de Jane Austen, no es completamente lo que sus novelas, pero desde pequeña tenía ese humor y cinismo que la caracterizan. Los relatos están destinados a divertir a las personas a quienes se los escribió, y considero que debio ser un regalo muy bonito.
November 8, 2018
Amusing but not worth reading more than once, excepting The Three Sisters, which is the best.
February 8, 2020
These short pieces written when Austen was a teenager are hilarious. Well worth reading.
February 2, 2022
Young Austen was delightfully hilarious.
July 17, 2023
If you love Ms. Austen's humor then I would suggest you read this set of stories. Not as serious as her novels and not as quick to follow the social rules.
February 18, 2024
nothing like a 13-year-old’s feminist wit
Read
May 22, 2012Volume the First destroys common misconceptions about Jane Austen and her "dear Aunt Jane" reputation. The early writings, collected by Austen in notebooks, are filled with gender reversals and women who murder, drink, lie and steal. It proves that her novels are more than just romantic stories. Women in the 1800's got married. They did not have much of a choice, mostly due to finances. All six of her novel work in the framework of marriage but subtly weave feminist views of women in society. This is the case of when a "whisper is louder than a shout." Her books are far more well-known than those of Mary Wollstonecraft. Unfortunately, the way Austen is portrayed today as the "mother of romance" would have made her angry. In Northanger Abbey she made fun of the Gothic romances in Catherine's novels. Catherine imitated her heroines and was convinced that General Tilney was a murderer and it ended in her embarrassement. Austen realized that to change perspeptions, tiny variations had to occur a little at a time. Volume the First exhibits her early feminist views against the patriarchal system. Her novels are more refined and make the reader invested in the characters and their choices. Although the stories will never be as wide-read as her novels, it is refreshing to know that, for sure, Jane Austen was more than the spinster and aunt figures she is commonly associated with today.
January 4, 2021
3-3.5 stars
This is difficult to really rate considering it contains some of Austen's juvenilia written between the ages of 11/12 to 18 years old. The book is composed in three parts: an introduction, photocopies of each page of the journal so we can see each written in her own hand, and then at the back they are all typed up to easily read. Please read the introduction! It gives great insight into her age or estimated age when she writes each one, information about what was going on during her life and the lives of her family and friends (who she wrote these short stories/plays for), and references to literary works of the time that she referenced to and was writing satire about.
I loved reading these to see where she started. The contents were surprising to me as someone who is an avid Austen fan. They contain murder, suicide, threats of murder, drunkenness, brawling women, etc. Anyone who calls Austen boring or frumpy should read these. It's also difficult to rate these since so many are so short, and a lot of them are unfinished. They are written in so many styles (some all in letters, so in very short chapters-only a sentence of two!, others written in prose, or written as a play script) that was interesting to see her play with different styles. My favorite by far was The beautiful Cassandra.
This is difficult to really rate considering it contains some of Austen's juvenilia written between the ages of 11/12 to 18 years old. The book is composed in three parts: an introduction, photocopies of each page of the journal so we can see each written in her own hand, and then at the back they are all typed up to easily read. Please read the introduction! It gives great insight into her age or estimated age when she writes each one, information about what was going on during her life and the lives of her family and friends (who she wrote these short stories/plays for), and references to literary works of the time that she referenced to and was writing satire about.
I loved reading these to see where she started. The contents were surprising to me as someone who is an avid Austen fan. They contain murder, suicide, threats of murder, drunkenness, brawling women, etc. Anyone who calls Austen boring or frumpy should read these. It's also difficult to rate these since so many are so short, and a lot of them are unfinished. They are written in so many styles (some all in letters, so in very short chapters-only a sentence of two!, others written in prose, or written as a play script) that was interesting to see her play with different styles. My favorite by far was The beautiful Cassandra.
October 1, 2013
My favourite of the three Juvenilia. Very comical and full of drama. For example from Frederic and Elfrida: "She accordingly fainted and was in such a hurry to have a succession of fainting fits, that she scarcely patience enough to recover from one before she fell into another."
LOL! Some of the short stories are full of mischief,The Beautifull Cassandra. Cassandra is daring! Oh you must read this Juvenilia if you only desire to read one.
LOL! Some of the short stories are full of mischief,The Beautifull Cassandra. Cassandra is daring! Oh you must read this Juvenilia if you only desire to read one.
December 2, 2014
Considering that this is a collection of her earlier works and not originally meant for publishing, it's pretty good stuff. I can almost imagine her giggling away as she writes these 'novels', nonsensical as they are. And yet the nonsense is rather more of a caricature of her later masterpieces, and even in this collection her witty wordplay is evident on every page.
November 18, 2015
If one expects to read an 'Austen', this is probably disappointing.
But as a light, short reading in between whatever you're doing (I put the ebook in my handphone), it's quite amusing, although sometimes I just don't know what to think after reading a story.
For young reader, I think this could be a wonderful inspiration to write.
But as a light, short reading in between whatever you're doing (I put the ebook in my handphone), it's quite amusing, although sometimes I just don't know what to think after reading a story.
For young reader, I think this could be a wonderful inspiration to write.
August 26, 2015
I was excited to be given this book as a gift and even more excited to find out that there are two more volumes. These are short stories, plays, poems and letters written by a young Jane Austen to family members.
January 1, 2023
The best story for any Jane Austen fan! I was in awe by her writing, her thoughts, her language and just her! Already got book 2 and waiting for book 3! A must read - even if it can be difficult at times!
October 26, 2013
Honestly, I did like some stories, but most of them were quite...weird. Three Sisters was quite good.
April 16, 2015
These are marvelously clever and I can really see young Jane developing her sense of humor and social commentary. Can't wait to read the other two volumes. Some of these bits are a real hoot.
December 31, 2016
I enjoyed Three Sisters the best. However, I understand why the title is Juvenilia. Only for Jane Austen fans.
July 9, 2013
Very funny. Recommend for people who read Austen under sufferance at school.
March 22, 2017
"Juvenilia" of Jane Austen is the collection of the early authors works in three volumes. I had a lot of fun reading the first volume, it is quite similar to her big novels, but I very much enjoyed the irony and the humor of them.
The works you can find in the collection are not finished, which leads to some kind of melancholy wanting to read the play or the novel to the end, but knowing that you'll never be able to.
Still I found that Austens early works are a very precious treasure and it is definitely worth it reading them!
The works you can find in the collection are not finished, which leads to some kind of melancholy wanting to read the play or the novel to the end, but knowing that you'll never be able to.
Still I found that Austens early works are a very precious treasure and it is definitely worth it reading them!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews