My Dear Cassandra : Selections from the Letters of Jane Austen

The Illustrated Letters

by Penelope Hughes-Hallett, Jane Austen

It has been said that Jane Austen the woman and Jane Austen the author are all of a piece, and nowhere is this more evident to the lovers of her novels than in the pages of her letters. This new celebration of these letters is illustrated with portraits, facsimile letters, topographical engravings and fashion plates, and aims to bring to life the world Jane Austen inhabited. Although the book follows a broadly chronological scheme, the letters are arranged round visual themes considered particularly suitable for illustration, such as the Hampshire countryside, social life in Bath and London, domestic pursuits, paying visits and travelling by carriage. The author, who was born in Jane Austen's Hampshire village, lectures on English Literature for the Open University and the Oxford University Department of External Studies. Her special interest is 19th-century children's literature and she has compiled an anthology, "Childhood".

Genres: Nonfiction, Classics, History, Biography, Literature, Historical, British Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 1990

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this because I'm a massive Jane Austen fan. There is preciously little we know about one of the greatest authors of all times. Some of it due to the fact that she couldn't live a prolific life as an author back in the day - not as a woman. Another reason is that she died young.



What we do know about JA is that she loved her sister Cassandra and was in constant contact with her via mail. JA wrote a lot of letters to all kinds of people. This book presents some of them from different periods in the author's life to paint a picture of how she lived and thought.



As pretty as the design of the book is, I have to say that I didn't get why some annotations to the letters were necessary. Maybe it's a rights thing? Because I cannot imagine anyone having a problem with the language in the letters so I really don't see why we need explanations?



Be that as it may, it was nice getting a glimpse at the private life and thoughts of Jane Austen and to get a feel for the era she lived in thanks also to the comments, side notes and pictures (some of them were useful).



P.S.: We also learned a thing or two about the people close to JA, like her sister Cassandra. Look how talented she was in drawing and sketching (the one below on the left is from her)!

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am having a nice, cozy read of my friend's books while snowed in at her house. She had to go out to work at 7 a.m. so I am helpfully petting her cat and drinking her tea whilst she puts in a 12-hour work day like most folks back in Jane Austen's day.

This is the easy-reading version of Austen's letters: edited for length and interest, explained for importance and context, with pictures. I liked the illustrations, would have preferred the letters at full length, and hated the marginalia. I usually like marginalia, but this was more like summaries for the brain-damaged; a half-page letter where Jane describes to Cassandra the dress she just made and how much the fabric cost does not need a caption explaining, "Jane tells her sister about her new dress."

Recommended for those with a more casual interest in Austen or the domestic life of the period.

[Pe]

Lo que pasaba en la Inglaterra del XIX: bailes, visitas, nada porque llovía, más visitas, se compraba, se tejía o se hablaba sobre ropa, y más visitas. Luego Jane Austen te cuenta que también bailaba escandalosamente con su "amigo irlandés" (JAMES MCAVOY) y algo te dice que debía de ser una gran señora.

Austen también dice "considero a Elizabeth Bennet la criatura más deliciosa que jamás ha aparecido en un libro impreso, por lo que no sé qué haré para soportar a quienes no les guste ella" y vaya mood que se gastaba, team Jane Austen en esta casa.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book. There are beautiful illustrations and nice little explanations under some of the letters, to fill in what some readers might not understand.
It's laid out well and the letters within are a good indication of the type of person Jane was. The letter at the end from Cassandra to Fanny which describes Jane's death was very sad. I felt quite melancholy when I had finished reading.
A definite must read for any Austen fan.

[Anna Petruk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is difficult to rate because I simultaneously want to rate it 1, 3, and 5 stars. Here are the reasons:

The 5 star part:
- The beauty of the edition. I mean not only the cover (which I adore) but the versatile color illustrations throughout, including what the letters looked like.
- The additional context this book includes besides the letters. The book is broken into sections chronologically. Each section begins with biographical information about Austen during the given period. Then come the letters, snippets from Jane's novel, and additional historical information. For example, if a type of carriage or garment is mentioned, or a town or manor, there will be an illustration to show what it looks like. Also, portraits for people mentioned. This is great!
- I really enjoyed the letters in the sections from later in Jane's life, especially the ones to Fanny! They really opened up something of Jane's views on life and love.

I'm glad I read JA's biographies before reading this, because it was so cool to recognize the letters the biographies quoted!

The 3 star part:
- The font wasn't very readable, especially in italics (of which there was plenty)
- The letters from earlier in life were sort of meh, a bunch of mundane details.

The 1-star part THAT MADE ME SO MAD I almost regretted buying this in the first place!!!!!!!!
The appalling quality of editing. Or perhaps the complete lack thereof. I was aghast. There were MULTIPLE TYPOS PER PAGE. Awful, glaring ones that made me question if anyone even read this at all?????? It frustrated me so much I wanted to throw the book out the window. It's such a gorgeous, expensive hardback edition, could you not bother to EDIT IT???? What's more disappointing, I bought the whole set of these illustrated letters editions. I hope the other ones are better quality.

Some examples of what I'm talking about:
- "dean" instead of clean
- "win" instead of will
- 1 instead of I so MANY!! TIMES!!!
- "assembly roams", "upper roams" (rooms)
- "Heny" (Henry)
- "Airs." (Mrs.)
- "goon" (go on)
- "Steven ton" (Steventon)
- "comer" (corner)
- "So and S." (S. and S., short for Sense and Sensibility)
- "[1816)" (sloppy punctuation, the opening and closing brackets are different)
- "Kintbu:ry"

They even spoiled one of my favorite quotes! In the last letter before death Jane writes about how caring her family is in her illness: "...before I survived either them or their affliction" - it's affection!!!!!! 😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this beautiful hardcover book as a Christmas present and thought it the perfect tome to start the year 2020. I certainly was not disappointed!

As the title states, beautiful illustrations accompany selected extracts from letters by Jane Austen to her sister, Cassandra, her brothers, nieces, and nephews etc. As Ms. Penelope Hughes-Hallet states:

"This is reason enough to publish a fresh selection of extracts from the letters in an easily readable edition in which relevant excerpts from the novels, together with appropriate illustrations illuminate Jane Austen the woman and Jane Austen the author." (quote from the book)

The book is broken down into six sections highlighting key moments in Jane's life. I thoroughly enjoyed each one as they brought to life Jane's world, her wit and love for her family and friends.

"The particular society her letters evoke is one in which a sense of family is paramount, and indeed in the world of the letters Jane Austen was to some extent defined by family relationships: as a dutiful and loving daughter..." (quote from the book)

Based off of her letters, I could see where she captured moments in her own life that are incorporated into her novels. Her novels were her children and she considered her characters as real people. When attending exhibitions, she would look at paintings that might reflect in her mind's eye what her characters actually looked like. She had written that she had found Mrs. Bingley but...

"...and I am disappointed, for there was nothing like Mrs. D. at either. I can only imagine that Mr. D. prizes any picture of her too much to like it should be exposed to the public eye. I can imagine he wd. have that sort of feeling - that mixture of love, pride and delicacy." (quote from the book and one of Jane's letters)

I so loved the advice she gave her nieces regarding their writing and marriage. I imagined Mrs. Gardiner from 'Pride & Prejudice' giving such advice to Elizabeth and Jane Bennet.

And I completely agree with the following:

"Sir Walter Scott described her gifts "that exquisite touch which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting." (quote from the book)

For me this compendium not only provides the reader with beautiful illustrations of the times in which Jane lived but gives us a glimpse into her every day life...her love for her family, their struggles and their joys. I feel it was very well done indeed!

[Andrea Barcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

jane austen y yo habríamos sido amigas.. que chica tan divertida

[Eli Dhios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que belleza ver esta cara de Jane Austen, su monólogo interno, las historias de su familia, de su vida de escritora y proceso de publicación, del chisme de los bailes y sus vecinos, y una mini ventana a la historia de amor que no pudo ser por su status socioeconómico . No es un 5 porque al libro en si le falta para mi gusto más contexto.

[Mayra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful.

[Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Querida Cassandra, querida Jane, queridas mías! Me habéis dejado con la miel en los labios con este epistolario y la mente en ebullición imaginando más cartas, más tiempo, más de todo. Mi abuelo me enseñó a escribir cartas con sus frases de cortesía y sus finales rimbombantes y para comprobar que lo había aprendido nos enviábamos cartas formales contándonos nuestros menesteres. Hace un rato hablaba con lady @alterotra (si, las ladies y las damas hemos conseguido llagar hasta el siglo XXI) como serían vuestras cartas hoy en día, que no serían cartas, seguro, sino mensajes y audios por whatsap, os imagino bailando en tiktok y luciendo outfits en instagram... Aunque creo que en estos días sólo os podríais contar lo agobiadas que estáis por el trabajo, por la competencia editorial, por la subida de la luz o los vestidos que hay ahora en los escaparates de el corte inglés. aquí no hay nada que se parezca a la campiña inglesa y lo de los bailes quizá, con suerte, quede algún guateque o verbena pero no os podría asegurar que os gustase aunque quizá descubrieseis que sois las reinas del karaoke...
.
Poco se conserva de las cartas que se escribían Jane y Cassandra cuando por circunstancias no podían estar juntas. Gran parte de ellas las quemó la propia Cassandra de las que no quedan ninguna escrita por ella dirigida a su hermana... ¿ Y que se contaban las hermanas? Pues las acciones rutinarias de su vida, lo que ocurría ente vecinos y conocidos, sobre el mal tiempo y catarros difíciles de curar, sobre el mismo arte de escribir cartas para que no se llenen de párrafos tediosos, de posibles galanteos que acaban en aguas de borrajas, de como se empiezan a gestar las primeras novelas de Jane y las primeras reacciones de lectores cercanos.... se quejan de reglas sociales en cuanto al vestir y a cómo relacionarse con los demás... Le decía a @alterotra que puede que incluso entre ella tuviesen su propio lenguaje para comunicarse porque ¿acaso hay algo igual a la complicidad entre dos hermanas?

[Nora Abad Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seré muy, muy honesta y confesaré que la primera vez que intenté leer este libro me embargó la decepción porque las primeras cartas me parecieron aburridas, así, tal cual.
Varios meses después lo retomé con un ánimo muy distinto y me llenó el corazón de calidez leer estas cartas de Jane a su muy querida hermana. El cariño, la complicidad y el genuino interés que se revela en estas cartas me hizo sentir a la autora mucho más cercana y aumentar mi cariño por ella y sus obras.
Me produce un sentimiento agridulce pensar en esa felicidad doméstica que compartieron estas mujeres y que se cortó abrupta e injustamente por la muerte prematura de Jane.
También me embarga la curiosidad por conocer todas las conversaciones que tuvieron en vivo y todo lo que guardaban las cartas que Cassandra quemó. Muchos de los momentos cruciales en la vida de ambas no se tratan aquí ya sea porque los vivieron juntas o porque esas cartas se perdieron a manos del fuego.
En algunas cartas se deja entrever la lengua afilada de Jane, ¡pero lo que daría por leer todas y cada una de sus cartas sin censura! 😅

[Rachel Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book presents a selection of Jane Austen's letters in a chronological format with some details about her life in each section. The book is illustrated with lots of contemporary prints and pictures. I like the way Hughes-Hallett has given notes of explanation under each letter explaining who different people referred to are and what some of Austen's abbreviations mean. Its main shortfall is that it is only a selection and leaves you wanting more.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable and insightful read into jane Austen’s life through the letters she wrote. I could close my eyes and almost imagine at her desk in chawton writing her novels as I read the excerpts and understand where the idea for her characters bloomed from as she write more to her sister Cassandra.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very delightful, full of interesting tidbits and pictures that make the letters more meaningful. The letters themselves are pleasant and enjoyable which aid in making the person of Jane Austen and the novels she penned more real. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Jane Austen novels.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this compilation of Jane Austen's letters gave me such surprising insights into her personality. The people she knew and loved always talked so highly of her, you might think she was a saint! And while I'm sure there was a reason why everyone spoke so highly of her, she was not above gossip and catty remarks. I love that about her! She seemed so real--someone I could be great friends with. We both share a love of clothes. Comments on new purchases filled her letters to her sister, Cassandra. (I only wish a simple decorative ribbon could give me such pleasure.) She makes a lot of derogatory remarks about people which I'm sure are quite deserved since she seemed like such a good judge of character. No goody-goody pretensions with Jane Austen. She tells it like it is (or as she sees it). I love to see her independence--so unusual for the time. She protested certain changes that were requested to be made to her novels. She was not shy about admitting she hoped to make lots of money off them. She did not settle for a man who was not worthy of her. In fact she belittled many of them. Her behavior was more appropriate for today than the early 1800s. Unfortunately I knew how this all ended. Her death was so sad and devastating to so many people. With the longevity of other family members, why did she have to die so young?

[Palabradelectora · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Lejos de Cassandra" es un libro pequeñito que recoge alguna de las cartas que Jane Austen escribió a su hermana Cassandra, su persona favorita y sobre la que vertió toda su confianza. Las cartas nos revelan a una Jane inteligente, divertida, curiosa y observadora, la Jane que conocíamos por sus novelas. Pero también nos descubre a la desconocida, a la interesada por la moda, los bailes y la música. A la mujer ilusionada por el amor y a la creadora preocupada por si sus obras agradían al público (me ha hecho especial ilusión encontrar menciones a sus obras).

El libro es una pequeña delicia con la que os van a dar ganas de coger papel y boli y escribir cartas a todas las personas que queréis y si además sois austenitas os va a enamorar.

<Conocerte de cerca me ha hecho admirarte un poquito más.>>

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to reread the letters of Jane Austen after finding myself thoroughly taken in by Becoming Jane. Afraid that I wasn't completely aware of its inaccuracies, I knew I needed a brief refresher on the life and voice of this greatest literary friend of single girls the world over.

I'm never sorry to have undertaken a rereading. Her letters remain every bit as fresh, caustic, and utterly charming as her novels, welcoming the voyeur reader with both wit and wisdom (which she herself says is the stuff of lasting letters).

[DoRena]

Beautiful book that feels good in your hands. The letters themselves are delightful, and the illustrations add to the enjoyment. I read this slowly through the year, usually reserving a few minutes on a Sunday afternoon for a few letters and a cup of tea.

As much as I liked the content, I was disappointed that some of the illustrations were placed at the fold of the book, so part of the picture is lost on the spine, on one page the people in the picture are almost completely hidden. I also noticed several typographical errors in the commentary, and found the font a bit tiring. It would be nice to see a new edition with some improvements, but nonetheless I'm glad to have this on my shelf, and I'm sure I'll pull it out from time to time to revisit.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I feel there's a need for something between 3 and 4 stars! This is a selection of Jane Austen's letters, arranged chronologically, with attractive illustrations, and all in bite-sized chunks for easy reading. Some of the commentary is a bit unnecessary, almost like a simplistic version of the content of the letters (as if you could read the comment instead), and there are quite a few proof-reading issues, but this is a charming book to browse, while not really taking the place of other more extensive editions.

[Cassandra Colis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that this record of their memories exist.
Desde que encontré el libro con mi nombre me enamoré, debo ponerle 5 estrellas pues el libro no es más que una recopilación de cartas de Jane a Cassandra, las cuales no necesariamente aportan información valiosa, simplemente es un poco de sus vidas, y entiendes el gran cariño que se tenían mutuamente lo cual me parece lindo, más no algo necesariamente imprescindible. Igual es un libro que guardare y recordare siempre con mucho cariño.

[Fiona Murphy McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am overwhelmed. this could be the best book I've read this year. I'm so happy I got to read the letters in this edition specifically, I'm genuinely mourning that I finished it so I immediately bought her juvienalia

[Nicoleta Fedorca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Austen's letter mostly to her sister Cassandra but some also for her nephew and nieces and editor. Her letter writing is really sharp and lively. She loved her family really much and when it mattered the most at her deathbed all were there.

[Yvette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful from start to finish!

[Geno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recopilación de cartas que Jane escribió a su hermana Cassandra. Imprescindible para conocer a la autora un poco mejor.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The late Penelope Hughes-Hallett (she died in 2010) had the great fortune to be brought up in Steventon in Hampshire, Jane Austen's birthplace and where the future novelist herself lived between 1775 and 1801, so it's not a surprise that she maintained a lifelong interest in the Regency author. In 'My Dear Cassandra' she makes a selection from the letters Jane wrote to her older sister, introducing key periods in Jane's life (changing residences in Steventon, Bath, Southampton, Chawton and Winchester) and supplying a linking commentary. Hughes-Hallett clearly knew her stuff, highlighted by the way she elucidates obscure references in the letters and cross-references the numerous personages with whom Jane was acquainted.

A special feature of this selection, and one that I particularly appreciated, is the generous inclusion of contemporary illustrations on every page. Here are silhouettes of Jane and Cassandra, portraits of family members, facsimiles of her writing, watercolours of country and town scenes she would have known, maps and plans of the towns and villages she lived in, and prints showing aspects of social life such as travel, dancing and entertaining. We observe genteel individuals tiptoeing through muddy lanes or choosing items in a bookshop, we note working people such as butchers or postmen going about their work and we see likenesses of famous individuals like the actor Edmund Kean or the Prince Regent, to whom Jane reluctantly dedicated Emma. Philippa Lewis' picture research makes this selection a joy to peruse.

The letters themselves cover the whole gamut of Jane's emotions, as she felt able to share with her sister. She comments mischievously on her mother's secret plans to engage two maids in their new Bath household ("my father is the only one not in the secret") along with "a steady cook, and a young giddy house-maid, with a sedate, middle-aged man, who is to undertake the double office of husband to the former and sweetheart to the latter." She delights in the opportunities to enjoy prolonged visits from her brothers and her nieces, especially Fanny Knight (whom she calls "the delight of my life"). Most touching of all is the mention -- in one of her last letters, to an unnamed correspondent -- of Cassandra herself, whom she characterises as "my tender, watchful, indefatigable nurse" and whom she worries may become ill from her constant solicitations. Two months later the distraught Cassandra is writing to Fanny that she has

"lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed. She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow; I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if I had lost a part of myself."

As we approach the bicentenary of Jane's death in 2017, when Austen-fever will no doubt reach new heights, I wonder if the publishers will see fit to re-issue this in a new edition so that more of us can come to appreciate Jane's written legacy, in her correspondence as well as in her fiction. These letters really open the door on the essence of the woman, written as they were with no thought of publication. They may help us to rejoice in the published works that survive, even if her life was too cruelly cut short.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, heartwarming, heartbreaking. I have an even greater appreciation now for Austen's scholarship, character, creativity, and talent. My only critique is that the book could not have included more. Voyeuristic, yes--but it's a necessary evil. Her razor sharp wit aimed at herself and any other who dared to act foolishly and the tender love she felt for her family come across in brilliantly crafted epistolary form. Her integrity and her knowledge of her own self-worth come shining through as she blithely passes over suitors who would have assuredly raised her from her rather lowly financial state and social class. Rather than marrying without affection, she instead honed her skills, cared for and mentored various family members, and lived life to the fullest in an unconventional way. I am only sad she could not have lived as long as the rest of her family, and thus given us more of her brilliant books.

[drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the letters selected for this book, and how witty & kind Jane appears through her writing to her sisters and nieces! The additional illustrations were also really nice, as well as the excerpts from Jane’s novels.

This quote from Cassandra writing about Jane’s passing was so beautiful:

“I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed. She was the sun of my life, the glider of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow; I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if I had lost a part of myself…”


3.5 stars

[Cherene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this collection of Jane Austen's letters (mostly written to her sister, Cassandra). I love that the book is filled with drawings and paintings from Austen's day to illustrate what she is writing about. I love Jane's sense of humor, her wit, and her kindness. These traits all shine through in this collection of her letters.

[Antonio Heras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Venía de la experiencia maravillosa de las cartas de las Brönte en esta misma colección y este librito de correspondencias de Austen me dejó algo frío. Supongo que para amantes de la autora (como yo).

[Kneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todo lo que venga de Jane Austen (incluyendo sus cartas) son lo mejor de lo mejor para mí. Solo le pongo 4 estrellas porque el libro no trae en si mucho contexto