Reviews

A Memoir of Jane Austen by Jane Austen

lesley_henderson59's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting information about Austen’s life but the old fashioned writing makes the memoir part hard-going. Included is an alternative end to Persuasion, so I’m prompted to re-read Persuasion next to remind myself what was actually published.

joannavaught's review against another edition

3.0

pretty much just jane austen's living family members, chiefly her nieces and nephews, reminiscing about what a nice broad she was and being insistent that none of her characters were based on real life people in her family or circle of friends.

please, for the love of god, if i die early and something that i did before i died thrusts me into notoreity, and someone wants to write a biography: DO NOT LET my nieces and nephews write it. i beg you. you, dear reader, probably know me better than do.

la_cori's review against another edition

4.0

Questa biografia della mia adorata Jane Austen scritta dal nipote mi ha piacevolmente (e dolorosamente) colpito.. Oltre ad un racconto della sua vita piuttosto dettagliato, da questi scritti traspare un tale senso di "quotidianità" che si ha la sensazione di leggere di una nostra cara amica.
Dicevo dolorosamente poco fa, perchè non si può che domandarci: cos'altro avrebbe potuto offrire al mondo una donna così se la malattia non l'avesse colpita così giovane?!

nikkigee81's review against another edition

3.0

Despite the thinness of this volume, I enjoyed it. This memoir was penned by one of Austen's nephews, so it's nice to have a contemporary account from someone who actually interacted with her whilst she was living, even if he couldn't fully provide a picture of her life and is obviously a bit biased in her favor. It gives a little glimpse into the time period in which she lived and some extracts from her letters as well.