Jane Austen's 'Sir Charles Grandison'

by Jane Austen, David Cecil (Foreword), Brian Southam (Editor)

First published in 1980 following the discovery of the manuscript, this is the complete text of the only surviving attempt by Jane Austen to write a full-length play. Sir Charles Grandison is a light-hearted dramatization of scenes from Samuel Richardson's novel, The History of Sir Charles Grandison. Edited and annotated by respected Austen scholar Brian Southam, it also includes a foreword by Lord David Cecil.

Genres: Classics, Plays

164 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 1981

About the author

Jane 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.

Reviews

[Asta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it because it was the only published text by Jane Austen that I had not read yet. I did not expect much in terms of literature (same as from her juvenilia or personal letters), so I was not disappointed. If you want to read "real Jane Austen", go for any of her completed six novels.
This text is simply a play written for family performance, not intended for publication. Also, most of the references (including some really funny ones) will be lost to a modern reader who is not familiar with the original text. The play is based on "History of Sir Charles Grandison" by Samuel Richardson. It is said to have been one of the favourite books of Jane Austen. That is the reason why I read it - even though it is a lengthy seven volume epistolary novel (sometimes funny, but mostly boring with lots of repetitions).
Jane Austen reduces the seven volume text to 50 pages of manuscript (which, when transcribed into publishing format, is only about 20 pages).
This play should not be read for its own merits. If you are not as crazy as I am to read literally everything that JA ever wrote, pick any of her novels instead :)

[Riley Moffatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Objectively not a very good play, but that's not really why anyone reads this ya know? It's because, as the introduction explained in great detail, its a look into Jane Austen's family life and the way she evolved as a writer. So I'm not quite sure how to rate this? As a standalone play, its like barely scratching a 2/5. But thats not what it is PLUS I got to read all the intros and extra crap. And the play isn't bad its just not really meant for us. It was written with no edits for her family to perform for funsies based on her favourite book so like I can't really compare it to Shakespeare. So maybe a 3 feels even? Anyways, everything Jane Austen writes is tinged with gold so there's some great morsels even in here. Like these:

"Oh! My poor book." - said after book was thrown into the fireplace

"Yes, that is my man, sure enough. I wish I had a better one to show you. But he is better than he was."

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'introduzione e la postfazione danno due interpretazioni diverse di quello che è racchiuso tra le pagine - e io mi sento più vicina alla linea di pensiero dell'introduzione perché scritta da una donna il cui nome era comparso molto spesso nelle mie ricerche quando ho scritto la mia tesi di laurea su Orgoglio e Pregiudizio.

In origine, The History of Sir Charles Grandison è un romanzo epistolare in sette volumi scritto da Samuel Richardson, ma una Jane quindicenne l'avrebbe ridotto a cinque brevi atti in modo da poterlo recitare in famiglia come forma di intrattenimento.
Tra le righe si leggono molte delle sue battute sagaci che si prestano a doppi sensi, ma c'è chi confuta questa teoria - c'è chi confuta questa Jane così vivace e irriverente e con una passione per il teatro perché va a collidere con l'immagine di donna riservata e conservatrice che molti membri della sua famiglia hanno cominciato a dipingere dopo la sua morte, partendo proprio dall'eliminazione quasi totale delle lettere scritte da Jane.
L'altra teoria sarebbe quella della nipote Anne di sette anni che un giorno si è presentata a zia Jane con il canovaccio di questa storia, dettandogliela in modo che la scrivesse - e l'opinione dell'autore della postfazione è che l'abbiano scritta insieme, che quella di Jane sia stata una lezione pedagogica per Anne.

Ho trovato la "voce" di Jane Austen in molte righe, ma allo stesso tempo questo testo teatrale non mi ha fatta impazzire - e forse dipende dal fatto che non conoscendo per niente l'opera originale, i salti temporali fanno risultare del tutto incomprensibili le scene negli atti successivi e perfetti sconosciuti i personaggi.
Io resto dell'opinione che sia stata scritta da Jane Austen - anche perché, come viene spiegato nell'introduzione, nel testo (sia quello rimasto che quello tagliato) ci sono riferimenti al matrimonio e molte allusioni a ciò che succede in quelli infelici grazie ad un certo personaggio che fa intendere violenze e stupro - non ce la vedo proprio una bambina di sette anni, per quanto nipote di Jane Austen, a rielaborare una cosa del genere.

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's difficult to imagine a more madcap piece of writing, but after going through Jane Austen's Juvenilia, one can be sure she could hsve done it! What with a kidnapping and a man attempting to force a young woman to marry him, and someone else rescuing and eventually marrying her, but little of consequence taking place on stage other than the failed wedding ceremony attempted by the kidnapper - wonder what audience would think or do if this were performed!
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[Mrs Darcy of the House Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ovviamente una giovane Jane, ovviamente ci sono molti interrogativi sulla creazione di quest'opera ma, avendo già letto quasi tutto, ogni tanto qualche cosuccia sua ancora inedita me la merito, quindi la prendo così com'è. Mi ha allietato una mezz'oretta di vita, questo è quanto. Se volevo allietarmi tutta una settimana avrei riletto per l'ennesima volta la sua opera massima.

[Stefyy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️