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aminowrimo's review
3.0
I read this for the YLTO!'s Getting to Know You challenge. This particular book was for the section "Read the biography or autobiography of someone you admire." I had a few books about Jane Austen which have been waiting for a while, and I decided on this one because it looked most likely to be interesting at the moment, and because I thought it would be better to start with this one than [b:Jane Austen's Sailor Brothers|3410184|Jane Austen's Sailor Brothers|J.H. Hubback|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nocover/60x80.png|3450437].
I liked the writing style of it, the explanations, and the excerpts from Jane's letters. It was wonderful to find out more about her life— though there seems to be less of the love story here with Tom LeFroy than there was in Becoming Jane (movie with Anne Hathaway). Then again, her own romance isn't the most important part of her life.
It's interesting to think that [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926] might have become compeltely different had it been published earlier. And it makes me want to reread [b:Persuasion|2156|Persuasion|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298411870s/2156.jpg|2534720], though I really should reread [b:Sense and Sensibility|14935|Sense and Sensibility|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203534s/14935.jpg|2809709] first, owing to the fact that I read it too long ago to remember practically anything about it. And, added to that, [b:Emma|6969|Emma|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203623s/6969.jpg|3360164], which I hated all the way through (so there must be something in it that's good!). Come to think of it, I should reread all her books, except P & P which I've read at least five times, and [b:Northanger Abbey|50398|Northanger Abbey|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328753190s/50398.jpg|4039699], which I read only last year, in December.
But getting past that. It's highly entertaining to read her letters:
He is getting very near our own age, for we do not grow older of course.
It was absolutely necessary that I should have the little fever and indisposition which I had: it has been all the fashion this week in Lyme.
Are you missing anything by not reading this book? I don't know. I haven't read any other J.A. Biographies, and there are certainly newer ones, or more informative ones that you can find. But it was an enjoyable read, which is about all you can really ask if you're not a professional.
I liked the writing style of it, the explanations, and the excerpts from Jane's letters. It was wonderful to find out more about her life— though there seems to be less of the love story here with Tom LeFroy than there was in Becoming Jane (movie with Anne Hathaway). Then again, her own romance isn't the most important part of her life.
It's interesting to think that [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926] might have become compeltely different had it been published earlier. And it makes me want to reread [b:Persuasion|2156|Persuasion|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298411870s/2156.jpg|2534720], though I really should reread [b:Sense and Sensibility|14935|Sense and Sensibility|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203534s/14935.jpg|2809709] first, owing to the fact that I read it too long ago to remember practically anything about it. And, added to that, [b:Emma|6969|Emma|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203623s/6969.jpg|3360164], which I hated all the way through (so there must be something in it that's good!). Come to think of it, I should reread all her books, except P & P which I've read at least five times, and [b:Northanger Abbey|50398|Northanger Abbey|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328753190s/50398.jpg|4039699], which I read only last year, in December.
But getting past that. It's highly entertaining to read her letters:
He is getting very near our own age, for we do not grow older of course.
It was absolutely necessary that I should have the little fever and indisposition which I had: it has been all the fashion this week in Lyme.
Are you missing anything by not reading this book? I don't know. I haven't read any other J.A. Biographies, and there are certainly newer ones, or more informative ones that you can find. But it was an enjoyable read, which is about all you can really ask if you're not a professional.
nadoislandgirl's review against another edition
2.0
A few gems in this book - glimpses into the personality of Jane Austen. But overall, a bit dry.
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
Review of Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters
By: William Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh
w/ an Introduction by Sarah S.G. Frantz
I rarely cry in books because I need the visual of a movie or show to get my tsars ducts going, but reading the last letter from Cassandra Austen to her niece after Jane Austen died made my vision blurry with tears. There was a memoir written by Jane Austen’s nephew after she died, but this one expands upon that text. We get various snippets of letters from Austen to her family and friends, especially Cassandra. Letter writing was a common pastime for woman during Austen’s lifetime and reading these letters inspired me to get into the habit of letter writing myself. Her letters show her voice in beautiful way. We get her actual thoughts and personality through these letters. She is a snarky, sassy, and a loving person who is completely devoted to her family. They are a delight to read. We don’t get all her letters, because Cassandra burned them out of respect to her sister, but it is understandable. Austen was very private person and wanted to keep her life to herself, which was probably smart, especially considering how people famous people are treated today. She was a beloved aunt and gave advice and guidance to her nieces and nephews. Two of them even tried to write themselves, but after Jane Austen died neither could continue to write. During her lifetime her books were received with varying degrees of praise, but her books didn’t receive their true recognition until after death. As a Jane Austen fan this is a good biography to read.
By: William Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh
w/ an Introduction by Sarah S.G. Frantz
I rarely cry in books because I need the visual of a movie or show to get my tsars ducts going, but reading the last letter from Cassandra Austen to her niece after Jane Austen died made my vision blurry with tears. There was a memoir written by Jane Austen’s nephew after she died, but this one expands upon that text. We get various snippets of letters from Austen to her family and friends, especially Cassandra. Letter writing was a common pastime for woman during Austen’s lifetime and reading these letters inspired me to get into the habit of letter writing myself. Her letters show her voice in beautiful way. We get her actual thoughts and personality through these letters. She is a snarky, sassy, and a loving person who is completely devoted to her family. They are a delight to read. We don’t get all her letters, because Cassandra burned them out of respect to her sister, but it is understandable. Austen was very private person and wanted to keep her life to herself, which was probably smart, especially considering how people famous people are treated today. She was a beloved aunt and gave advice and guidance to her nieces and nephews. Two of them even tried to write themselves, but after Jane Austen died neither could continue to write. During her lifetime her books were received with varying degrees of praise, but her books didn’t receive their true recognition until after death. As a Jane Austen fan this is a good biography to read.
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