2021: Jane Austen: The Watsons: Final thoughts

[Elke]

Final thoughts on finishing The Watsons...

[Heather]

Several notices are made of Emma’s brown skin, but I don’t know what to extrapolate from this.

How might this fragment have ended? From the 1871 memoir it states, “When the author’s sister, Cassandra, showed the manuscript of this work to some of her nieces, she also told them something of the intended story; for with this dear sister – though, I believe, with no one else – Jane seems to have talked freely of any work she might have in hand. Mr. Watson was soon to die; and Emma to become dependent for a home on her narrowminded sister-in-law and brother. She was to decline an offer of marriage from Lord Osborne, and much of the interest of the tail was to arise from Lady Osborne‘s love for Mr. Howard, and his counter affection for Emma, whom he was finally to marry.”

[Philina]

Yes, the LibriVox narrator also told us that intended ending.
I think it's interesting that in contrast to P&P Emma would not marry the seemingly strange rich guy.
At least during reading I thought that Lord Osborne, strange as he is, would change for the better due to Emma. And also Lady Osborne would marry (Mr. Howard) beneath her for love.

[Philina]

Heather wrote: "Several notices are made of Emma’s brown skin, but I don’t know what to extrapolate from this."

Me either. Maybe just an olive complexion from some unknown French/Italian/Spanish ancestor.

[Elke]

Philina wrote: "Heather wrote: "Several notices are made of Emma’s brown skin, but I don’t know what to extrapolate from this."

Me either. Maybe just an olive complexion from some unknown French/Italian/Spanish a..."

In contrast, Miss Lambe in Sanditon who is West Indian and described as mulatto has a reference to her 'pale' face. I am so confused by how skin tone is described in these books!

[Philina]

I've tried a Google search on the issue but nothing interesting has come up. Only theories above theories that Jane Austen herself was a black lady. Do people actually believe that? I mean...portraits exist depicting the woman!

The most natural explanation would be "sun tanned". Emma served as companion to her aunt. I'm not sure how much they were outside to make the theory viable. Not much, I would guess, given the fact that the aunt taught Emma more distinguished ways and I think the ideal of beauty was rather pale and freckle-less at that point in time.

[Ruth]

Thank you, Heather, for sharing the excerpt
from the memoir, it was not included my
copy.
I thought Mr. Howard was more towards
Emma's liking.

Jane Austen describing brown skin has, I am
sure, set off my a debate. I understood it as
tan or olive tone. Jane and her cousin, Eliza
de fueillide are both described as brown
complexion, from the Austen line.
Rev. George Austen (portrait)
http://jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/...
Philadelphia Austen Hancock (portrait)
https://i0.wp.com/www.geriwalton.com/...
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/08/4c/...

Eliza de Feuillide
https://i0.wp.com/www.geriwalton.com/...

Jane Austen
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...
To suggest Jane Austen was black is far-fetched,
to day the least.