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A review by woolfardis
Catharine and Other Writings by Jane Austen
4.0
[First read: 22nd January, 2011 for University: 3 stars.]
[Re-read: 31st October, 2015. Upgraded to 4-stars.]
A collection of short stories, plays, prayers and poetry by Jane Austen from when she was very young. So very different to anything she had written and had published later on in her life, the juvenalia is full of circumstances that are not found in her novels, including murder and characters being much more outspoken. This is the Regulated Hatred of Austen, but more profound and outspoken, perhaps not as regulated as her novels. A really good collection which shows a diversity in Austen that is not usually seen in her novels, and shows that her "regulated hatred" was conceivable. Funnier, more outlandish, better than her novels if only because they are obviously flights of fancy.
'Fredric and Elfrida': a delightful little tale of two young people destined to marry each other from birth, with more marriage proposals than you can shake a stick at AND a lovely death message thrown in.
'Jack and Alice': so humorous and a little naughty, again with wonderful language despite the spelling mistakes. Death and drunkenness abound.
'Edgar and Emma': particularly bad, since Emma is a whinging little arsehole. Still with humour, though, through the sheer amount of children and the tongue-in-cheek mention of them.
'Henry and Eliza': Wonderfully silly. Better in terms of how the women conduct themselves, and Eliza is a very good example of an early heroine.
'The Adventures of Mr Harley': Very short and very sweet and surprisingly funny in a funny-peculiar kind of way.
'Sir William Mountague': An exceptional take on the "love" that rich people feel for anyone that breathes.
'Memoirs of Mr Clifford': Very short and unfinished, the amusement she must have gained from listing off all the items seems unending. The fact that he was very rich but only ate one egg is not lost upon me, nor indeed was it on Jane.
'The Beautifull Cassandra': The ideas that rich girls have with a pretty bonnet on their heads is quite something.
'Amelia Webster': Letters to and fro, rather upended. "I saw you thro' a telescope, and was so struck by your Charms that from that time to this I have not tasted human food." Sums it up nicely, I feel.
'The Visit': An attempt at a play. Most amusing in one place, less interesting in all others.
'The Mystery': Another short and unfinished comedic play, with an obvious holding back of any useful information at all, though I found myself wondering what on earth it could be. We'll never know. One for us to finish ourselves, I wouldn't wonder.
'The Three Sisters': Written in letter form, this was actually very interesting and I'm so sad she didn't complete it as I'd love to find out how Mary either gets out of her marriage, or how she goes about making it better.
'Detached pieces': Slight pieces of non-fiction and poetry. Rather boring though a nice insight to her life and thoughts.
'Love and Freindship': Will I ever get over her poor spelling? It is so endearing. Unexpecting, a small amount of boring, but a lot of twists and turns. These characters are all so self-obsessed and demanding but in the most polite ways.
'Lesley Castle': She is fond of stories written as letters, though I must confess I find it difficult to keep up or understand truly what is happening. This one also had very little plot, except amusing remarks of women on other women.
'The History of England': A well-read Austen shares her views on the English Monarchy, with an odd distaste for Queen Elizabeth I. Well-written, if a little too opinionated.
'A Collection of Letters': Much the same, nothing particular here.
'Scraps': These scraps are more humorous then the others and contain my favourite thing Austen had ever written, namely 'A Letter from a Young Lady, whose feelings being too Strong for her Judgement led her into the commission of Errors which her Heart disproved.'
'Evelyn': These stories are insane. I truly wish there were more of this one. Evelyn sounds like the most ghostly, haunted, weird place in England. Definitely one for the paranormal. Accidental ghost story, though.
'Catharine': The closest to her novels as these stories get. Very lacking in paragraphs which made it drag slightly, but her amazing social commentary and humour is present in large quantities.
'Plan of a Novel, according to hints from various quarters': Take note if you wish to write a novel.
'Verses' and 'Prayers': Both of these are not great and I'll admit I only skimmed the prayers. Austen is not brilliant at poetry, though they still hold her humour. Fairly what I'd imagine anyone who wants to write to be able to write.
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[Re-read: 31st October, 2015. Upgraded to 4-stars.]
A collection of short stories, plays, prayers and poetry by Jane Austen from when she was very young. So very different to anything she had written and had published later on in her life, the juvenalia is full of circumstances that are not found in her novels, including murder and characters being much more outspoken. This is the Regulated Hatred of Austen, but more profound and outspoken, perhaps not as regulated as her novels. A really good collection which shows a diversity in Austen that is not usually seen in her novels, and shows that her "regulated hatred" was conceivable. Funnier, more outlandish, better than her novels if only because they are obviously flights of fancy.
'Fredric and Elfrida': a delightful little tale of two young people destined to marry each other from birth, with more marriage proposals than you can shake a stick at AND a lovely death message thrown in.
'Jack and Alice': so humorous and a little naughty, again with wonderful language despite the spelling mistakes. Death and drunkenness abound.
'Edgar and Emma': particularly bad, since Emma is a whinging little arsehole. Still with humour, though, through the sheer amount of children and the tongue-in-cheek mention of them.
'Henry and Eliza': Wonderfully silly. Better in terms of how the women conduct themselves, and Eliza is a very good example of an early heroine.
'The Adventures of Mr Harley': Very short and very sweet and surprisingly funny in a funny-peculiar kind of way.
'Sir William Mountague': An exceptional take on the "love" that rich people feel for anyone that breathes.
'Memoirs of Mr Clifford': Very short and unfinished, the amusement she must have gained from listing off all the items seems unending. The fact that he was very rich but only ate one egg is not lost upon me, nor indeed was it on Jane.
'The Beautifull Cassandra': The ideas that rich girls have with a pretty bonnet on their heads is quite something.
'Amelia Webster': Letters to and fro, rather upended. "I saw you thro' a telescope, and was so struck by your Charms that from that time to this I have not tasted human food." Sums it up nicely, I feel.
'The Visit': An attempt at a play. Most amusing in one place, less interesting in all others.
'The Mystery': Another short and unfinished comedic play, with an obvious holding back of any useful information at all, though I found myself wondering what on earth it could be. We'll never know. One for us to finish ourselves, I wouldn't wonder.
'The Three Sisters': Written in letter form, this was actually very interesting and I'm so sad she didn't complete it as I'd love to find out how Mary either gets out of her marriage, or how she goes about making it better.
'Detached pieces': Slight pieces of non-fiction and poetry. Rather boring though a nice insight to her life and thoughts.
'Love and Freindship': Will I ever get over her poor spelling? It is so endearing. Unexpecting, a small amount of boring, but a lot of twists and turns. These characters are all so self-obsessed and demanding but in the most polite ways.
'Lesley Castle': She is fond of stories written as letters, though I must confess I find it difficult to keep up or understand truly what is happening. This one also had very little plot, except amusing remarks of women on other women.
'The History of England': A well-read Austen shares her views on the English Monarchy, with an odd distaste for Queen Elizabeth I. Well-written, if a little too opinionated.
'A Collection of Letters': Much the same, nothing particular here.
'Scraps': These scraps are more humorous then the others and contain my favourite thing Austen had ever written, namely 'A Letter from a Young Lady, whose feelings being too Strong for her Judgement led her into the commission of Errors which her Heart disproved.'
'Evelyn': These stories are insane. I truly wish there were more of this one. Evelyn sounds like the most ghostly, haunted, weird place in England. Definitely one for the paranormal. Accidental ghost story, though.
'Catharine': The closest to her novels as these stories get. Very lacking in paragraphs which made it drag slightly, but her amazing social commentary and humour is present in large quantities.
'Plan of a Novel, according to hints from various quarters': Take note if you wish to write a novel.
'Verses' and 'Prayers': Both of these are not great and I'll admit I only skimmed the prayers. Austen is not brilliant at poetry, though they still hold her humour. Fairly what I'd imagine anyone who wants to write to be able to write.
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