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Selected Letters

Jane Austen,

Vivien Jones (Editor)

3.79 · Rating details · 175 ratings · 29 reviews

In one of her personal letters, Jane Austen wrote "Little Matters they are to be sure, but highly important." In fact, letter-writing was something of an addiction for young women of Jane Austen's time and in her social position, and Austen's letters have a freedom and familiarity that only intimate writing can convey. Wiser than her critics, who were disappointed that her ...more

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Paperback, 294 pages

Published March 1st 2009 by Oxford University Press, USA (first published 2004)

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Oct 08, 2017 shakespeareandspice rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, classics

I didn’t specifically read this edition but a collection of Austen’s letters from the public domain. Quite enjoyed reading them even though I felt like a bit of an interloper. The letters are about the everyday average things (such as discussing Mansfield Park with her brother or sharing the news of the death of her father). Truly humanizes the woman behind the novel.

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Jul 30, 2020 Claudia rated it liked it

Well Jane Austen was a lot more snarky than I had assumed!

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Jul 16, 2019 Nadja rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: theme-austen, 1800-1899, author-british, form-physical-book, form-epistolary, genre-non-fiction, target-adult, theme-politics-society, time-2019

Well what to say these are everyday letters sent from Jane Austen to Cassandra or other people and like domestic life usually is this was mostly a dull read. Probably with context it would have been more interesting. But one gets glimpses into the wit and intelligence of Jane Austen. As well into her reading taste or what plays she attended (Macbeth, Tartuffe,..). And of course everything related to the creation of her books or the selling/earning aspect of it was fascinating. (P. & P is sold., ...more

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Mar 04, 2019 DJ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: britain-ireland, female-author, short-stories, published-1800s

Some of Jane Austen’s personal correspondences... interesting reading, she writes letters just as well as she writes novels.

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Sep 11, 2009 Grace Tjan rated it liked it

Shelves: british-literature, general-non-fiction, pemberley

Many people who read Austen’s letters feel that something is missing; surely the author of Pride and Prejudice and other novels famous for their adroit writing could have produced better letters! There are instances where her sarcastic wit and humor shines through, as when she wryly described a dinner party guest as being ‘at once both expensively and nakedly dressed’, but to get at them we must wade through pages of fabric prices, travel logistics and seemingly random gossipy tidbits about peop Many people who read Austen’s letters feel that something is missing; surely the author of Pride and Prejudice and other novels famous for their adroit writing could have produced better letters! There are instances where her sarcastic wit and humor shines through, as when she wryly described a dinner party guest as being ‘at once both expensively and nakedly dressed’, but to get at them we must wade through pages of fabric prices, travel logistics and seemingly random gossipy tidbits about people, some of them so obscure as to be of interest only to biographers or historians of the period. Many of her letters, especially those written to her sister Cassandra, were also written in an elliptical, disjointed style that make them difficult to follow. R.W. Chapman, the prominent Austen scholar, speculated that the ‘deficiencies’ of her extant correspondences must have been caused by Cassandra’s destruction of the bulk of Austen’s letters in her possession. Everything interesting or piquant must have been censored in the name of the privacy that Austen so highly prized. Others argued that the letters’ opaqueness were deliberate, a part of a defense mechanism for a poor spinster dependent on the generosity of wealthier relatives. I have no idea which theory is more valid, but I must admit that reading through her letters could be a slog at times.

My perseverance was rewarded by several amusing letters, mostly from the period after her books were successfully published: one to an errant publisher in which she adopted an alias that enabled her to sign the letter M.A.D, another in which she self-deprecatingly (but not without a certain mocking irony) declined the royal librarian’s suggestion that she should write a historical romance about the Prince Regent’s ancestors, and still another in which she visited a portrait exhibition to look for the likenesses of Mrs. Bingley and Mrs. Darcy (she found Mrs. Bingley, but not Mrs. Darcy, whose husband, Austen speculated, ‘prizes any Picture of her too much to like it should be exposed to the public eye’).

Some critics have argued that Austen’s fiction is too narrow in scope as it hardly acknowledges the Napoleonic wars and other historical events at that time, but her letters indicate how au courant she was with the wars and even certain colonial affairs. She maintained an active correspondence with her brothers in the Royal Navy and must have received many firsthand reports. If there are hardly any references to contemporary events in her fiction, it must have been deliberate on her part.

We can feel her growing confidence as a writer and a mature woman in her later letters, in which she revealed herself as an affectionate aunt who dispensed literary and romantic advices to her nieces. Her last letters, written as her fatal illness progressed, are a moving testament to her determination to not surrender to physical or mental infirmity.

...more

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Apr 28, 2014 Laurel added it

Shelves: jane-austen

“You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.” Jane Austen, 24 December 1798

Jane Austen’s personal correspondence has stirred up controversy since her untimely death in 1817 at age 41. The next year her brother Henry Austen wrote in the ‘Biographical Notice of the Author’ included with the publication of her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion that she ‘never dispatched a note or a letter unworthy of publication’. Years late “You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.” Jane Austen, 24 December 1798

Jane Austen’s personal correspondence has stirred up controversy since her untimely death in 1817 at age 41. The next year her brother Henry Austen wrote in the ‘Biographical Notice of the Author’ included with the publication of her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion that she ‘never dispatched a note or a letter unworthy of publication’. Years later, a niece Caroline Austen did not agree, ‘there is nothing in those letters which I have seen that would be acceptable to the public.’ In comparison to her published works, the letters do dwell upon ‘little matters’ of domestic life in the county, but to the patient reader we begin to understand Austen’s life and experiences beyond the minutia and realize through her clever descriptions and acerbic observations how this simple parson’s daughter became the author of novels that are so valued and cherished close to 200 years after their publication.

This reissue by Oxford University Press of their 2004 edition of Jane Austen Selected Letters is more than worthy of a second printing. Not only does it include two thirds of the known surviving letters and a thoughtful introduction by scholar Vivien Jones chronicling the history of the letters stewardship with the family, its supplemental material alone makes it an incredible value for the price. As with the other Oxford World’s Classics of Austen’s major and minor works that have been reissued this past year, it includes a brief biography, notes on the text, a select bibliography, a chronology of Jane Austen’s life, and explanatory notes. Unique to this edition, and by far the highlight are the glossary of people and places and the detailed index for quick reference.

For students and Austen enthusiast seeking a compact edition in comparison to the comprehensive and hefty Jane Austen’s Letters edited by Deirdre Le Faye, this reissue is a sleek and densely informative package. Usually I abhor abridged editions of anything, but in this instance we are given an excellent selection of letters and a lively introduction at less than a third of the price of its competitor. In this economy, I say better and better.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose ...more

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Jul 11, 2008 Anthea Gupta rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The letters are edited by Vivien Jones. Austen is funny, gossipy, and sly. Well worth reading.

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Mar 17, 2017 Alyce Hunt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-borrowed, non-fiction

Having read the majority of Jane Austen's novels in the last few months, I've found myself a little obsessed with her. I think she's such an amazing character, with sassy wit, a feminist mind and a sharp tongue which all make her so accessible despite the 200 years separating us.
When I spotted this book of letters in the library where I work, I picked it up without hesitation. The opportunity to get inside the mind of a genius was irresistible.
Jane herself acknowledges that her letters are full ...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Gina rated it liked it · review of another edition

I found this collection an excellent way of learning about the life of Jane Austen, her relationship with her family and friends, particularly her sister Cassandra and to a certain extent the inspiration for her novels.

It is interesting to note that back in Austen's day, the recipient of the letter actually paid for the letter so it was only right that the sender fill the whole page with as much content as possible, as otherwise the recipient would be payng for empty space.

As this was essentia ...more

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May 02, 2009 Tracey rated it liked it · review of another edition

I am having a hard time getting through this one.. I love JA but while it is interesting seeing her letters and things about her day to day life, it is just taking me a really long time to read.

Finally finished! I did enjoy reading about Jane's life as she is a most beloved author to me, but did have a hard time getting through it. Since most of the letters are about day to day life, there was nothing spurning me on to get to the end. ...more

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May 15, 2011 Quirkyreader rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

See my review on my book blog: http://quirkyreader.livejournal.com/2... ...more

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Oct 22, 2018 Jo Hurst rated it it was ok

Let me get one thing straight Jane Austen is my favourite author by a long way and I have read a few of her books more times than I can remember but ( and I believe I will be struck down for this) I hated this! I was looking forward to reading her letters but without context, with bits missing and a constant need to look at notes in the back of the book just killed this for me. Yes she still writes well and is gossipy and all the things that you would expect. But all the letters seem pointless b ...more

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Apr 02, 2018 DC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"My Dearest Cassandra:
I do not wish to tell you that your mulberry trees are dead... but, they are not exactly alive....."

Sweet Jane.
Imagine what this woman would have done with a twitter account. ...more

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Dec 24, 2018 Rebecca Wilson rated it liked it

Shelves: british, memoir-and-biography

These letters are...interesting in their boringness. Quotidian existence, quietly lived; not a lot happens, but it's always humbling to see how little people have changed over the centuries. I was expecting this book to be something comforting to read before bed, but these letters often left me feeling a little sad, I'm not sure why. I'm glad she had such a rich inner life.

I struggled with this edition, especially the choice to use endnotes rather than footnotes—so aggravating. ...more

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Feb 22, 2018 Jessica Harn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Austen will always be one the greatest British writers in history, and her personal letters give us a small look into her life and thoughts. A must read for Austen fans

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Jul 25, 2017 Karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

So sad that not all of her letters have survived.

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Jan 22, 2021 Natalie Quinn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021

This was so interesting. Loved reading about Austen's daily life and getting a glimpse into this period. As I've recently started writing letters myself, I found this really interesting and really enjoyed highlighting parts that I found particularly amusing and intriguing. ...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Ali rated it liked it

I must start off by saying I do love Jane Austen. In July I re-read Northanger Abbey during my first month of re-reading, and it made me want to re-read everything of hers soon. I then bought this book of letters and a collection of her juvenilia. I wanted to love this collection, was fully prepared to be captivated by Jane Austen’s life. So it is with some regret I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I had failed to remember that these are private letters, their intended audience only that pe I must start off by saying I do love Jane Austen. In July I re-read Northanger Abbey during my first month of re-reading, and it made me want to re-read everything of hers soon. I then bought this book of letters and a collection of her juvenilia. I wanted to love this collection, was fully prepared to be captivated by Jane Austen’s life. So it is with some regret I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I had failed to remember that these are private letters, their intended audience only that person to whom they were addressed – usually, though not exclusively Cassandra Austen. It would also appear that the Austen family – possibly not surprisingly – disposed of many of her most private letters in the years following Jane’s death.
The letters cover a period of 21 years and are filled with the minutiae of everyday life. Like so many of Jane Austen’s characters, she and Cassandra spent a lot of time away from the family home, visiting for instance the homes of other members of the family, caring for sick relatives or on purely pleasurable visits to London and Bath. The letters that Jane sent Cassandra then, when they were apart, are filled with family news, local gossip, descriptions of new gowns, and details of balls attended.
“There were twenty dances and I danced them all, & without any fatigue. I was glad to find myself capable of dancing so much & with so much satisfaction as I did; - from my slender enjoyment of the Ashford Balls (as Assemblies for dancing) I had not thought myself equal to it, but in cold weather & with few couples I fancy I could just as well dance for a week together as for half an hour.” (Letter to Cassandra Austen 1798)
I think had there been say fifty pages of such letters – they would have been just charming and interesting enough to be satisfying. However for me there was just a little too much similar content, at times I got a little bogged down by it. That is not to say that there is nothing of interest – there is – and Jane Austen’s wonderful style in itself is an absolute joy. What a marvellous letter writer she was, of course this was a time when gently brought up young women did write a lot of letters. What does shine through so beautifully though is Jane Austen’s deep affection for her sister Cassandra, and indeed her family as a whole. Little in jokes and snippets of a private language used by her and a niece, show us how important she must have been to her family. One can only guess at the loss they must have felt when Jane Austen died at just 41.
One thing I really loved however – and which there wasn’t quite enough of for me – was Jane Austen’s references to her own novels. The novels which she refers to as being her children, and that we, all these years later are still reading and talking about.
“P&P is sold. –Egerton gives £110 for it. – I would rather have had £150, but we could not both be pleased, & I am not at all surprised that he should not chuse to hazard so much.” (Letter to Mary Lloyd 1812)
One thing this collection has done for me is to make me all the more enthusiastic about re-reading the other novels. I’m pretty sure I will read one during my month of re-reading in January.
...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Gigi Ann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Jane Austen Fans

I ran across this book at Barnes & Nobles a few years ago and put off reading it until this month. What a pleasant surprise. This is a book of selected letters that Jane Austen wrote to her sister Cassandra.

The letters may not match the idealized view of Jane Austen, but they were anything but uninteresting. In any case the charm of the letters lies in the things Jane wrote to Cassandra. In her letter dated 27 October 1798 we get a glimpse of her dark humorous side. She wrote Cassandra, "Mrs Ha I ran across this book at Barnes & Nobles a few years ago and put off reading it until this month. What a pleasant surprise. This is a book of selected letters that Jane Austen wrote to her sister Cassandra.

The letters may not match the idealized view of Jane Austen, but they were anything but uninteresting. In any case the charm of the letters lies in the things Jane wrote to Cassandra. In her letter dated 27 October 1798 we get a glimpse of her dark humorous side. She wrote Cassandra, "Mrs Hall, of Sherborne, was brought to bed yesterday of a dead child, some weeks before she expected, owing to a fright. I suppose she happened unawares to look at her husband."

Another interesting tid-bit I ran across was also in that letter of 27 October 1798. It seems that "when not feeling well, or having trouble sleeping people took a few drops of 'laudanum.' (Now I looked that up to see just what was this cure-all for about everything, and I found out that 'laudanum' is any of various formerly used preparations of opium.) Therefore, I thought this little note about their mother was interesting Jane wrote..."My mother began to suffer from the exercise or fatigue or traveling, and she was a good deal indisposed. She had not a very good night at Staines, but bore her journey better than I expected, and at Basingstoke, where we stopped more than half an hour, received much comfort from a mess of broth and the sight of Mr. Lyford, who recommended her to take twelve drops of laudanum when she went to bed..., which she according did." Later Jane wrote..."I had the dignity of dropping out my mother's laudanum last night." Later in the letter she wrote, "It is now Saturday evening...My mother has not been down at all today; the laudanum made her sleep a good deal, and upon the whole I think she is better."

I guess 12 drops of opium will do that, or I should say 'laudanum.' It would probably make me sleep better too.

I found this book full of history of the Jane Austen family, and if you are a Jane Austen fan, I'm sure you would enjoy reading a different side of Jane. Different from the books we are use to reading written my Jane Austen. ...more

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Nov 12, 2015 Alexandra Freire rated it it was amazing

De que manera puedo empezar a escribir sobre este libro. Creo que ya he mencionado anteriormente que Jane Austen es mi escritora favorita y todo el misterio y misticismo que la rodea me atrae de sobremanera cada vez que conozco más acerca de su vida, desde la causa aun hasta estos tiempos desconocida de su muerte, como era físicamente (ya que el retrato de su hermana dibujado es el único que se tiene), el contenido de la mayoría de sus cartas que fueron quemadas por su propia hermana y que las s ...more

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Jun 02, 2010 Sarah rated it it was amazing

"Little Matters they are to be sure, but highly important." - Jane Austen, in a letter to her sister Cassandra, Dec 1808

Jane Austen's Selected Letters act as a fascinating insight into her life. She was a gossip, always ready and eager to share the latest news of her acquaintances with others, especially her sister Cassandra. In one letter she even joked how she was so tired of Cassandra "knowing nobody" and having little gossip to provide in return.

Jane Austen's letters reveal a preoccupation w ...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Jemma rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: abandoned, 2012, library, non-fiction

The Selected Letters of Jane Austen are indeed charming and a joy to read. The reason I abandoned this book is because it is VERY long... There are 161 letters, all of which come with explanatory notes, so it's like reading an in-depth novel. Most of the allusions in the letters, you wouldn't get without reading the explanatory notes.

I love Jane Austen's works, and I felt that this book gave an interesting insight into her life and relationship with Cassandra, her sister, but at the same time I ...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Andrea Hickman Walker rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: letters, non-fiction, history, biography

This is a collection of some of Jane Austen's letters. It's not all the surviving letters that have ever been found (I wouldn't mind Deirdre Le Faye's volume of those, actually, but I've never yet seen it in South Africa). Most of Austen's letters were destroyed by her sister, Cassandra, as she felt they were too private for public consumption. I don't blame her and I doubt not that it was what Austen herself would have wanted, but I do lament it.

The letters give some insight into Austen's life ...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library, non-fiction

“What fine weather this is! Not very becoming perhaps early in the morning, but very pleasant out of doors at noon, and very wholesome — at least everyone fancies so, and imagination is everything.”

“I have now attained the true art of letter-writing, which we are always told, is to express on paper exactly what one would say to the same person by word of mouth; I have been talking to you almost as fast as I could the whole of this letter.”

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Sep 30, 2010 Lauren marked it as to-read

This is so pretty. I want it.

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May 05, 2016 Vanessa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen

read a long time ago. added to knowledge of Jane Austen and her life.

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Jul 13, 2012 Cate Meredith rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: letters, e-book, 18th-century-literature

Loved this but the introduction was awful.

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Mar 28, 2007 Wendy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, austen

Started: May 14, 2007
Finished:
***

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Mar 17, 2014 Juan Guzman added it

good book i read most of what she wrote

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Suzan Lauder rated it liked it
Dec 05, 2013

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About Jane Austen

Jane Austen

50,671 followers

Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.

Austen lived her entire life as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fringes of the English landed gentr ...more