I found this book review fascinating, as I discovered it the morning after I viewed the 1st episode of the BBC mini series of ‘Miss Austen’.
In this book review by the creator of the blog site, The Home Place Web, I learned more about the original novel ‘Miss Austen’ by Gill Hornby, and how she fills in the gaps left in what we know of Jane and Cassandra Austen, their lives and relationships.
How moving it is to consider Cassandra Austen’s motivation for burning her sister Jane’s letters. I found myself torn between 1) regretting Cassandra’s action, and 2) understanding why she chose to do it, and believing that she did the right thing.
I also cannot help hoping a secret, hitherto-unknown hoard of letters from Jane still remains, somewhere, waiting to be discovered…
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I’ll be interested to see this series – on record at present to watch later. I found the book rather uncomfortable. The relationship between the sisters seemed a bit too close for my liking and I most hated the spiteful way they talked about others together. I couldn’t quite believe that Jane would have been so spiteful!
Yes, the TV episode was interesting but also very sad (re. Cassandra’s engagement to Tom & his subsequent death). I found myself wondering what Jane’s life would have been like if Cassandra had married, moved away & had babies; then if Jane’s own life had followed that trajectory – we wouldn’t even have her novels at all. I will have to read the book, but I don’t like the idea of Jane being shown as spiteful, either.
I thought Irish Tom was Jane’s beau not Cassandra’s.
Yes, I know it’s confusing! Tom Lefroy was the young Irishman who met Jane when she was 18, and she was very keen on him. Tom Fowles – brother of the girls’ good friend to whom Jane wrote all the letters – became Cassandra’s fiance, then went overseas & tragically died of yellow fever. It was to his sister that Jane wrote all the letters Casssandra later recovered & destroyed.
Ah, that makes sense about the two Toms, Sheila. How very confusing, especially if they had both married their Toms!
spoiler alert! Cassandra doesn’t burn Jane’s letters in episode 1. I didn’t know that happened!!
Sorry! That info is widely known, of course, to posterity, if you research online! However, apparently, ‘Miss Austen’ never actually shows Cassandra burning the letters & I suppose the purpose is to explore her feelings about the letters, & the memories they arouse, plus the things she hadn’t realised Jane had written about her.
Sorry! That info is widely known, of course, to posterity, if you research online! However, apparently, ‘Miss Austen’ never actually shows Cassandra burning the letters & I suppose the purpose is to explore her feelings about the letters, & the memories they arouse, plus the things she hadn’t realised Jane had written about her.