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The Poetry of Jane Austen and the Austen Family
As in many households in the late eighteenth century, writing verses was a pastime with the Austen family, and the composition of ingenious riddles and charades provided a source of lively entertainment. This volume of verses by Jane Austen and her family contains all the known poems by Jane herself as well as a selection of work by her mother, her sister Cassandra, four of her brothers, her uncle James, her nieces Anna and Fanny, her nephew James Edward and other relatives. David Selwyn provides an introduction and full explanatory notes; his transcriptions, taken from autograph manuscripts or from the earliest copies, are precise in terms of spelling punctuation and layout.
124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 21, 2015
There always seems to be more to discover aboutJane Austen, and this year for Austen in August, Janes's poetry found me.it was an interesting experience. Jane's poetry reads very much like her novels. They show the occupations of her time and little glimpses of her private life. The are humorous, and often are snippets of the wxperiences of her life.
The poems "When Stretched On One's Bed" amd "Ive A Pain In My Head" Reflect a lady in repose, be it from a headache or an escape to her bedroom for a much needed private moment.
Initially there was some disappointment in my reading of these poems. I much enjoyed an audio version of some of them because the playfullness of the words shine through when read aloud.
The disappointment stemmed from the need for them to be EPIC! They arent. But there is beauty and moments of beautiful connection in some of them. Like the poem she writes in remeberance of a dear friend that died on her birthday or the poem "This Little Bag" and ode to a device that hold needed items like a pin but more so is a symbol of the holder and theidentifer of a friend. it was interesting to step into Jane's poetic world, but I will always love stepping into her novels instead.
The poems "When Stretched On One's Bed" amd "Ive A Pain In My Head" Reflect a lady in repose, be it from a headache or an escape to her bedroom for a much needed private moment.
Initially there was some disappointment in my reading of these poems. I much enjoyed an audio version of some of them because the playfullness of the words shine through when read aloud.
The disappointment stemmed from the need for them to be EPIC! They arent. But there is beauty and moments of beautiful connection in some of them. Like the poem she writes in remeberance of a dear friend that died on her birthday or the poem "This Little Bag" and ode to a device that hold needed items like a pin but more so is a symbol of the holder and theidentifer of a friend. it was interesting to step into Jane's poetic world, but I will always love stepping into her novels instead.
May 21, 2025
This is delightful! Some highlights:
- The Austen ladies (Mrs. Austen, Cassandra, Jane, and sister-in-law) each write a poem where every line rhymes with "rose," a delightful and hilarious word game. Mom writes a silly poem about her day ("This morning I 'woke from a quiet repose, // I first rubb'd my eyes & I next blew my nose"), Cassandra writes on Love ("And when with joy: the Bosom glows, // And when the heart has full respose, // 'Tis Mutual Love the gift bestows"), Jane pokes fun at the sleepy churchgoer ("In Church he takes his seat among the rows, // Pays to the Place the reverence he owes, // Likes best the Prayers whose meaning least he knows")
- Lots of riddles and charades written by multiple family members
- Mrs. Austen's Epistle to to G. East Esq. is another quotidian letter written as a lilting, limerickian rhyme
- Mrs. Austen's little rhymes retelling some of Aesop's Fables
- Mr. Austen's poem on his wife's recovery from a serious illness, tended to by Dr. Bowen. It's too good to not include:
"Says Death, 'I've been trying these three weeks or more
To seize an Old Madam here at number four,
Yet I still try in vain, tho she's turn'd of threescore,
To what is my ill success oweing'?
I'll tell you, old Fellow, if you cannot guess,
To what you're indebted to your ill success;
To the prayers of my husband, whose love I possess,
To the care of my daughters, whom Heaven will bless,
To the skill and attention of BOWEN."
- Mrs. Austen's lovely little poem of congratulations and heartwarming advice to her granddaughter upon her marriage
- James Austen's humorous poem Tyger's Letter to Caroline in which the family cat, Tyger, complains about being blamed for a mishap in the kitchen
- James' moving poem Venta! within thy sacred fane, memorializing his sister Jane upon her death
- James' anonymously written poem written in a letter to Jane after Sense and Sensibility, her first novel, was published:
"On such Subjects no Wonder that she shou'd write well,
In whom so united those Qualities dwell;
Where 'dear Sensibility', Sterne's darling Maid,
With Sense so attemper'd is finly pourtray'd.
Fair Elinor's Sef in that Mind is exprest,
And the Feelings of Marianne live in that Breast.
Oh then, gentle Lady! continue to write,
And the Sense of your Reads t'amuse & delight.
A Friend."
- Henry Austen wrote a poem congratulating his brother Edward on his fine new estate. His nephew, George, parodied this little poem by writing it "to his Dog Pincher":
"Gentle Pincher, cock thy tail,
Open is the door to thee;
Enter, & there ne'er shall fail
Mirth and Hospitality -
Partridge bones, & Pork shall charm thee
Mutton shall with Veal unite;
Sterling Beef shall then inform thee
How domestic Dogs can find
All the savings, which combined
Make the Temple of Delight"
- And finally, yet another "fan fiction" poem from a sibling, Henry Austen's longer poem to Jane after Pride & Prejudice was published (after S&S)
- The Austen ladies (Mrs. Austen, Cassandra, Jane, and sister-in-law) each write a poem where every line rhymes with "rose," a delightful and hilarious word game. Mom writes a silly poem about her day ("This morning I 'woke from a quiet repose, // I first rubb'd my eyes & I next blew my nose"), Cassandra writes on Love ("And when with joy: the Bosom glows, // And when the heart has full respose, // 'Tis Mutual Love the gift bestows"), Jane pokes fun at the sleepy churchgoer ("In Church he takes his seat among the rows, // Pays to the Place the reverence he owes, // Likes best the Prayers whose meaning least he knows")
- Lots of riddles and charades written by multiple family members
- Mrs. Austen's Epistle to to G. East Esq. is another quotidian letter written as a lilting, limerickian rhyme
- Mrs. Austen's little rhymes retelling some of Aesop's Fables
- Mr. Austen's poem on his wife's recovery from a serious illness, tended to by Dr. Bowen. It's too good to not include:
"Says Death, 'I've been trying these three weeks or more
To seize an Old Madam here at number four,
Yet I still try in vain, tho she's turn'd of threescore,
To what is my ill success oweing'?
I'll tell you, old Fellow, if you cannot guess,
To what you're indebted to your ill success;
To the prayers of my husband, whose love I possess,
To the care of my daughters, whom Heaven will bless,
To the skill and attention of BOWEN."
- Mrs. Austen's lovely little poem of congratulations and heartwarming advice to her granddaughter upon her marriage
- James Austen's humorous poem Tyger's Letter to Caroline in which the family cat, Tyger, complains about being blamed for a mishap in the kitchen
- James' moving poem Venta! within thy sacred fane, memorializing his sister Jane upon her death
- James' anonymously written poem written in a letter to Jane after Sense and Sensibility, her first novel, was published:
"On such Subjects no Wonder that she shou'd write well,
In whom so united those Qualities dwell;
Where 'dear Sensibility', Sterne's darling Maid,
With Sense so attemper'd is finly pourtray'd.
Fair Elinor's Sef in that Mind is exprest,
And the Feelings of Marianne live in that Breast.
Oh then, gentle Lady! continue to write,
And the Sense of your Reads t'amuse & delight.
A Friend."
- Henry Austen wrote a poem congratulating his brother Edward on his fine new estate. His nephew, George, parodied this little poem by writing it "to his Dog Pincher":
"Gentle Pincher, cock thy tail,
Open is the door to thee;
Enter, & there ne'er shall fail
Mirth and Hospitality -
Partridge bones, & Pork shall charm thee
Mutton shall with Veal unite;
Sterling Beef shall then inform thee
How domestic Dogs can find
All the savings, which combined
Make the Temple of Delight"
- And finally, yet another "fan fiction" poem from a sibling, Henry Austen's longer poem to Jane after Pride & Prejudice was published (after S&S)
October 20, 2010
The title of this book says it all. Although not, perhaps, why anyone should bother reading 62 pages of what is, to be perfectly honest, some pretty crappy poetry. But, in fairness to the Austen family, they composed most of these poems as silly amusements for the parlor room, not as works of art to be handed down through time immemorial.
Tough break for them. Especially for Jane, who wasn’t exactly penning a literary masterpiece when she helped her family write:
"This morning I a’woke from a quiet repose,
I first rubb’d my eyes & I next blew my nose.
With my Stockings & Shoes I then cover’d my toes
And proceeded to put on the rest of my Cloathes."
I’ll spare you the rest, suffice to say that the Austens go on to rhyme “hose,” “chose,” “rows,” and even, alas, “windows.” Oh nos!
Still, it is an interesting look at how one of the greatest authors of all time got her start. Just not interesting enough to offset the incredibly bad poetry. My final verdict? Skip it and read Austen's History of England instead. Trust me, you'll be much more entertained.
Tough break for them. Especially for Jane, who wasn’t exactly penning a literary masterpiece when she helped her family write:
"This morning I a’woke from a quiet repose,
I first rubb’d my eyes & I next blew my nose.
With my Stockings & Shoes I then cover’d my toes
And proceeded to put on the rest of my Cloathes."
I’ll spare you the rest, suffice to say that the Austens go on to rhyme “hose,” “chose,” “rows,” and even, alas, “windows.” Oh nos!
Still, it is an interesting look at how one of the greatest authors of all time got her start. Just not interesting enough to offset the incredibly bad poetry. My final verdict? Skip it and read Austen's History of England instead. Trust me, you'll be much more entertained.
September 14, 2009
The quality of the verse was less than I might expect. But it was of interest to a reader curious about home life and activities of educated persons as that time. Some of the humorous verse of young family members was amusing.
And it was good to read how to 'play' (write) noun verse. I wish someone would do as much for the other games and amusements that were presented in the novels.
And it was good to read how to 'play' (write) noun verse. I wish someone would do as much for the other games and amusements that were presented in the novels.
February 23, 2013
Wonderful book displaying the takents in poetry of Jane and her family. How fun to read different riddles and even poems presented to her upon the publication of S&S and P&P. So fun to read and I would love to own this book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews