Jane Austen

by Manuela Santoni

«Cassandra, ti ricordi di quando eravamo piccole? Tu eri bravissima a ricamare e a disegnare. E poi eri sempre a tuo agio in quegli scomodi vestiti da dama che ci facevano mettere ai balli. Io ero negata in tutto. Ero la disperazione di nostra madre. Ma quando papà mi diede le chiavi della sua biblioteca il mio cuore si riempì di gioia. In mezzo a tutti quei libri! Non vedevo l'ora di leggerli tutti! In essi finalmente trovai la libertà. Con loro potevo essere in ogni luogo e in ogni tempo.»

Jane Austen, ormai prossima alla morte a soli 42 anni, ripercorre la propria giovinezza scrivendo una lunga lettera alla sorella Cassandra. Ricorda la sua infanzia di bambina cresciuta in mezzo ai libri, poco incline alle maniere consoni alle dame dell'epoca, ma incredibilmente dotata come narratrice. La scrittura e i libri sono tutta la sua vita, pari forse solo all'amore per il giovane Tom Lefroy.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Biography, Comics, Nonfiction, Romance, Historical, Graphic Novels Comics

109 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 2017

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Manuela Santoni creates a graphic novel in the fashion of a speculative biography of Jane Austen with a focus on the struggle for her between art and life, or writing and love. I have not read a biography of Jane Austen but I know she had some interaction with a law student when she was young, Tom Lefroy, and so Santoni imagines what it might have been like for her to choose writing over a guy. This is the early nineteenth century, so it may have gone like that, I dunno.

The romantic title, the flirtation with the young man, well, it never came to anything lasting, but the end of the book depicts Austen as writer and (imagined) lover, which she made happen in fiction if not in life.

The art is black and white, pen and ink, with loose, thick lines. The effect is intimate, but it's also at times a bit blocky and smudgy. I was so interested in this, as I love the title and cover and topic, but it's very short, not all that satisfying, but it maybe serves as a quick and provocative connection to a reading of Pride and Prejudice (which I am going to use when I teach Austen's classic in Fall 2021), as readers of romance often speculate on writers' love lives. Santoni focuses most of her attention on Jane as writer, her heart whispering: "write!"

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

This short graphic novel focuses on Jane Austen and her rumored relationship with Thomas LeFroy. Since we don't know a lot about what really went down between the two, it was nice to see how this author decided to tell this story. Now I so want to rewatch Becoming Jane , so that I can experience the beauty that is that movie again.
Anyway, this was a good read. I just wish it was a little bit longer.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having spent a week reading Kate Evans' Patchwork: A Graphic Biography of Jane Austen, it amused me to zip through this bio in less than an hour.

Austen's life is simplified here, shearing off all her siblings and leaving only her sister Cassandra to interact with her as she zips through childhood and her writing career. The center of the story is a dramatization of her relationship with Thomas Langlois Lefroy when she was twenty. Little is truly known about the extent of their flirtation, but Manuela Santoni manages to spin it into a romance that affects Austen's writing for the rest of her life.

This is a fluffy and sweet little dessert after Evans' meaty entree.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Jane Austen / Manuel Santoni, writer and illustrator -- [Afterword] An Extraordinarily Normal Life / Mara Barbuni -- A Jane Austen Timeline -- About the Author -- Acknowledgments

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel seemed like a streamlined version of Becoming Jane.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whimsical and fun comic book rendering of that time in Jane Austen's life when she was young, vivacious and had suitors, but also a secret passion for writing. A short piece and all done in black and white images, but engaging as the young Jane of this slightly fictional tale had to decide which love would get her future.

The story is brief, but complete with a good rising action and resolve. There was an extra section of explanation from the author for the elements of real life background for Jane Austen and the Regency period.

All in all, a fun way to experience a fictional biography of my favorite authoress.

[Eileen (BookCatPin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite classics yet I've not given much thought to Jane Austen the author until I had a chance to read this graphic novel. I loved what I learned about this timeless author.

The illustrations in Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisper were easy to follow. The simple style sets it apart from the coloured graphic novels we usually see. It's refreshing. The illustrator was able to convey all the emotions and feelings with very little words. We see very clearly Jane's growth as a woman and as a writer.

The last few pages of the book was especially informative. Passages that summarized Jane Austen's life shed light on how her personal experiences gave way to her characters. I love seeing the parallels. Stories that draw from real life are often the most heartfelt and relatable.

I enjoyed learning about Jane Austen's life. Her personal life was bittersweet and her love life somewhat tragic but her characters are super empowering and will live on forever.

[Stefania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Para fans de Jane Austen creo que merece mucho la pena. Un tesoro con el que te sientes un poco más cerca de la autora.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biografia a fumetti della Austen, romanzata quanto basta per fare arrabbiare molte Janeites.

[Iracema Miel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es una joyita, de esas que te sorprenden por gratas y hermosas.
Es mi iniciación en la Novela gráfica, un género al que no le había dado la oportunidad, porque no me atraía, por algún incorrecto motivo, en mi mente estaba asociado con super héroes etc (ilusa).

Ha resultado que ésta, mi primera novela gráfica será el comienzo de una colección que pienso realizar de este tipo de libros, si se siguen haciendo sobre escritores y sus vidas.

En esta ocasión trata sobre la vida de Jane Austen. Para todos los que adoramos a la escritora, es un gusto leerlo y conservarlo. Es su vida en forma gráfica bajo unas ilustraciones muy lindas, muy bien logradas.
Al concluir el trabajo gráfico, trae unas anotaciones (de varias páginas) de la Directora de la Revista Literaria de la Asociación Jane Austen de Italia (la ilustradora es italiana) resumiendo a grandes rasgos la vida de Austen.

Todo un disfrute para mí...me esperan otros dos. Ya los quiero leer.

[Renn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceptively simple! I hope someday I can find a graphic novel speculating about her relationships with women.

[Elisabetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una bella graphic novel su Jane Austen.
Una storia di fantasia, basata su un ultima lettera scritta alla sorella Cassandra che ripercorre la vita della scrittrice e il suo amore per Tom Lefroy.
Ah, lui sarà per sempre un mistero e sulla sua figura si concentrano tutte le idee amorose che i fan della scrittrice avrebbero voluto per lei. Un bel lieto fine come nei suoi romanzi..

Non posso dire molto sui disegni, non sono un esperta, ma pur non apprezzandoli particolarmente, non posso nemmeno dare un giudizio negativo. Ho apprezzato in particolar modo il disegno di Jane Austen giovane, quello che è anche in copertina, molto ben curato.

Infine la piccola trattazione sulle opere di Jane Austen in fondo al libro non ha aggiunto, a mio avviso, nulla in più. Riassunti sommari delle opere con piccole osservazioni che servirebbero a chi non conosce la scrittrice, ma che offre ben poco a che già la ammira da tempo.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Illustrated Speculation of Jane Austen’s Relationship with Tom Lefroy

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Graphic Novel

SYNOPSIS: A reimagining of Jane Austen’s life with a focus on her relationship with her “Irish friend,” Tom Lefroy. Geared towards a younger audience, this graphic novel shares a little of Jane Austen’s childhood and family life, her experiences with romance, and the beginning of her writing career. Accompanying this short tale are black and white images in comic-strip style.

WHAT I LOVED:

- Speculation and Romance: I know respecting privacy is important, but at the same time I dearly wish we knew more about Jane Austen’s life and that somehow we’d find a bunch of letters that Cassandra didn’t destroy! I like to think of Jane Austen having some big romance in her life, whether it be with Tom Lefroy, an unnamed gentleman from the seaside, or someone else. And I love reading stories that imagine and illustrate what that romance might be like.

- Sketching Her Character: Literally and figuratively! I very much enjoyed the collection of illustrations in this graphic novel; I liked the variety of sizes and styles. And I felt these images were dynamic and expressive – even though they were in black and white! I enjoyed how the author gave Jane some distinctive traits – such as her disinclination for lady-like accomplishments, her shared passion for scholarly pursuits, and some unruly curls! (LOL!) However, I do not agree with the author that Jane Austen was terrible at and disliked playing the piano! (not true!) But I did appreciate her depicting Jane Austen as an independent thinker and gifted writer.

- Back Matter: Included in the back matter of this novel is a timeline of Jane Austen’s life and a short essay by Dr. Mara Burbuni, which are great additions. I think readers who are unfamiliar with Jane Austen and the details of her life will find this information helpful. However, I would have loved to see the author elaborate more on what is fact and what is fiction in this work. Those sorts of details are always helpful and interesting too.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

- Misrepresenting?: Since I am familiar with some details of Jane Austen’s life, I did notice a few times where the truth felt slightly misrepresented. Such as some cattiness from Cassandra.

- Mixed Messages: SPOILER ALERT!!! In this scenario, Jane eventually realizes that she does not love Tom enough to give up her writing and become a wife and mother. She ends their engagement and declares that she “no longer felt anything for him” and that she confused fiction with reality. Yet towards the end of the story, it paints the picture that Tom was the great love of her life and that he did touch her heart deeply. I’m not sure what to think – perhaps the author wanted to illustrate Jane’s strength in breaking away from the belief that women must marry, even when in love? But at the same time it felt unclear what Jane truly felt for Tom – was it love or a passing fancy?

CONCLUSION:

Despite these minor criticisms I found a lot to enjoy in this delightful reimagining of Jane Austen’s life and I would recommend Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisper to all readers who take pleasure in graphic novels, speculating about Jane Austen’s relationships, or are looking for a way to introduce Jane Austen to some younger readers!

Austenesque Reviews

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Austen is one of my favourite writers, so when I find new books or graphic novel about her I can't help but buy them! This one is no exception, I've been meaning to read it for months.
I liked very much the illustrations and I enjoyed the story. Unfortunetely, I found it too short. I would have loved it to be a bit longer.
Anyway, it focuses a lot on her "encounter" with Tom Lefroy and the consequences of it for her own career. I've always been a great admirer of her strenght, nonconformist ideas and independence. However, we knew little about her relationship with Lefroy, Manuela Santoni gave her own version of the story (which I do not agree a lot with, but that's of no importance here).
It was definetely an enjoyable read.

[Lauren Salisbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very simple book both in style and story. Though it touches on the relationship between Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra, the central narrative is her relationship with Tom Lefroy. The black ink outline drawings reinforce the confessional diary/epistolary narration and is a good match for Austen's voice.

[Ophelinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quando si ama molto uno scrittore, si vorrebbe avere la possibilità di conoscerlo meglio, di chiedergli di tutto, di sapere che musica ascoltasse mentre scriveva, cosa provasse davvero nei confronti dei suo personaggi, specie di quelli più detestabili.

Forse a voi non succede, ma a me piacerebbe entrare in possesso di piccoli dettagli biografici in grado di alimentare infinite conversazioni immaginarie con lui/lei: la ricetta segreta della torta di mele tramandata dalla sua bisnonna; la prima volta che ha avuto il cuore spezzato; il posto che gli/le assomiglia, e in cui si è sentito/a a casa.

La biografia di Jane Austen è una di quelle che mi interessa e mi affascina di più, anche perché tanti dettagli non possono essere colmati, ma sono affidati all’immaginazione del lettore: non sapremo mai, ad esempio, come sia andata per davvero la sua storia d’amore con Tom Lefroy. Non sappiamo se, a causa sua, Jane abbia sperimentato i tormenti di un cuore spezzato: quella voragine nello stomaco che sembra destinata a non essere colmata mai più; quella sensazione di essere stata spezzata a metà e di non poter più tornare intera; quella paura di non riuscire più a sorridere, a ridere, a sperare, ad aspettare con ansia. A me piace pensare che Tom sia stato il suo grande amore e che non si siano potuti sposare a causa di problemi finanziari (come ho raccontato qui); Manuela Santoni, nella sua graphic novel dedicata a Jane Austen e pubblicata da Becco Giallo, racconta una versione dei fatti un po’ diversa, nel contesto di una lunga lettera scritta da Jane, quarantaduenne e molto malata, all’adorata sorella Cassandra.
(...continua su https://ophelinhapequena.com/2017/05/...)

[Jassmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally got my hands on this and it was disappointing. I got to appreciate the art as I was continuing reading, but the research in this wasn't very good. I don't know that much about Jane Austen's personal life to give a breakdown of everything that wasn't accurate but I know a lot wasn't. Also, the author seems to supplement Jane Austen story with some elements from Pride and Prejudice (like her father and mother?!), so... yeah. Not great. Will write a better review when my mind is more present.

Glad I finally got this off my TBR!


Later, yeah, no actually, I see no reason to try writing better review for this. I don't want to dwell on this book longer than necessary. I'm glad I finally read this, because I have been trying desperately to get my hands on this in previous Jane Austen Julies, but... yeah, not really worth it. Some of the aspects were so ridiculous I can't even...

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim at the library. It wasn't awful, but the art is very simple and there's not a whole lot of depth to the story. In addition, it's a story fabricated from very little information about an actual person - so all I can imagine is teens (or whoever) reading this and carrying this story with them whenever they think of Jane Austen.

Also, a minor gripe, but the historical write-up at the end was full of typos.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the book had been in color rather than black and white, just because I always envision Austen's world as full of color and emotion. That being said, the artwork by Manuela Santoni is excellent, and it captures Jane's energetic, spirited nature and the unique qualities she had for a woman of her era. I especially loved Jane's inner dialogue about reading and writing:

"I was always slipping into our father's office at night... to read in secret. In books, I could find freedom from life's binds. Those were my favorite moments of the day. I could be in every place... in every time. Reading became my greatest passion. My constant companion through adolescence" (22-26).

"It was a revelation. I felt an energy inside, a feeling of freedom, calming my heart. To write. I wanted only to write" (34).

My only quibble other than the choice of black-and-white is a few words like "office" - I feel confident that Jane would have chosen "study" or "library" instead. Since the author is Italian, I suspect this is a question of translation, or else to make the story more relatable to modern readers. Overall, this graphic novel is a very enjoyable work that rings true about women and writing, love and life. There is also an excellent afterword and timeline of Jane's life and work.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2019 bk 389. A lovely graphic novel detailing episodes in the life of Jane Austen. The artwork is reflective of the era, unlike those graphic novels that try to use the artwork of another time period and leave the reader feeling jarred. The story of Jane Austen is the story of a woman who both stayed within the guidelines of a regency area woman and at the same time tested those bounds and exceeded them. Ms Austen is such a positive role model for many women and girls around the world, this graphic novel is an excellent edition to the collection of books about the British author.

[Stephanie (aka WW) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this speculative graphic memoir of Jane Austen. It’s speculative because a large chunk of her life, particularly a major romantic relationship, is undocumented. There were lots of letters, but Jane’s sister destroyed them per Jane’s wishes. Bummer. I bet those were some well-written letters. The drawing style adds to the retelling. It’s charming, reminding me of the Madeline stories I used to read my kids.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black and white graphic novel of pieces of Jane Austen's life, including a what could have been with Tom Lefoy. Jane was asked her sister Cassandra to burn all the letters related to him, so we only have speculation on that relationship. The lack of colors made the story kind of sad (which it is), but it's still worth reading if you are a JA fan.

[Books I'm Not Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

This slim little graphic novel was essentially a variation on the story in the film Becoming Jane. It might have been a good way to start a month of reading Jane Austen-related books, but I probably would have enjoyed the film more.

[Piyali · Rating 3 out of 5]

A glimpse of Jane and when her heart whispered.

[Jullveig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quando l'ho ricevuto in regalo sono rimasta un po' delusa. Un po' perché i disegni mi sembravano semplicistici, ma soprattutto per lo stereotipo di Jane Austen come semplice scrittrice di romanzi d'amore in costume, cosa che feriva il mio orgoglio da maschiaccio. Avevo letto un suo libro a tredici anni e non mi ricordavo niente. Perché non avevo capito niente. Così dopo essere andata oltre le prime impressioni (capite l'antifona), mi sono immersa in questa graphic novel e, dopo esserne riemersa, mi ci sono buttata a capofitto altre due volte. D'un tratto i disegni erano diventati dinamici ed espressivi, Jane Austen un'eroina a cui volgevo lo sguardo con ammirazione. Abbandonato il mio orgoglio e ogni pregiudizio, ho deciso di conoscere meglio la Austen. Credo che possiate immaginare quale libro ho preso in mano.
p.s. grazie Manuela Santoni!

[Ambur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was absolutely delightful! The artwork is fairly straightforward with bold black lines, and the story is intriguing and perfect for any Austen fan!

Told as if Jane is writing a letter to her sister, Cassandra, this graphic novel reveals to the reader how Jane’s passion for reading and writing grew. Part memoir and part coming-of-age/first love story, this wonderful graphic novel all about Jane Austen speculates how Jane ultimately chose to not get married and how her inspiration may have been sparked.

Following the graphic novel portion of the book, there’s also a wonderful essay and a timeline of Jane’s life in reference to her writing.

I absolutely couldn’t put this one down and I heartily recommend that any and all Jane Austen fans check it out! Hopefully you’ll adore it as much as I did!

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm kinda getting annoyed at historical fiction that passes itself off as some sort of "imagined biography" by using real people as characters. "Imagined biography" is an oxymoron. Not a whole lot is known about Jane's relationship with Tom LeFroy, and why must it always be assumed that every romantic relationship has a huge impact that can never be moved past and of course must have influenced every aspect of Jane's writing and future life as a sad, sad spinster. Ugh. Jane had a wicked sense of humor and a sharp intellect that is obvious in her books, and I think being reduced to a pining old maid does her zero justice. At least stick to a fake person when you tell these kind of stories. I'm annoyed on your behalf, Jane.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3 STARS
2018; Lerner Publishing Group

If you like the movie, Becoming Jane, you will like this graphic novel on Jane Austen's love story with Thomas Lefroy. I didn't like the illustrations or the story that much. But I will try anything Jane Austen, so there will be stuff that won't work for me.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is historical fiction about the one romance that we know of in Jane Austen's life. But the text never really makes it clear, which is strange because it places the rest of the biographical elements in question. The black-and-white art is flowy and romantic and not particularly exciting. The best part was the all-text endnote featuring a true biography of Jane and her works. The rest is merely passable fluff.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take at Jane Austen's love life told in comic format. Personally, I loved that there was no color and really enjoyed the inking and the story line. Because so many of Jane Austen's letters were burned after her death we'll never know the full story of her first and probably only true love, but Manuela Santoni did a wonderful job re-imagining what that romance may have looked at. Fun graphic novel that Austenites will love!

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A black and white graphic novel with sparse information about Jane Austen

I didn't love this one. The artwork was too blocky for my taste. I've read some Jane Austen but knew little specifics about the author going into this book. And other than learning that she had a love that she grew tired of, I feel like I know very little coming out.