Катрин и други произведения

by Jane Austen, Джейн Остин, Снежана Милева (Translator)

Джейн Остин започва да пише на съвсем млада възраст, изпълвайки три дебели тетрадки със свои разкази, пиеси, планове за бъдещи романи, както и една забавна истроия на Англия. Тези произведения са посветени на баща й, на любимата й сестра касандра, на племеннички и приятелки, но в тях откриваме пълна картина на живота на английската аристокрация през 19 век. За хилядите почитатели на писателката в целия свят е истинско удоволствие да се докоснат до нейния изискан, остроумен и много живописен стил. С помощта на думите, Джейн Остин рисува истинския живот, видян през очите на една млада дама с необикновено чувство за хумор. Всичките й героини - Елайза, Ивлин, Ема, Елфрида са пълнокръвни, жизнени, пълни със страст и любов към живота. Техните преживявания ни разсмиват и забавляват, но и ни предпазват от собствените грешки, защото думите на Джейн Остин, както на всички големи писатели, надхвърлят своето време и звучат все по-съвременно.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Literature, Poetry, Romance, British Literature

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.

Reviews

[[ J o ] · Rating 4 out of 5]

[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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[Nadja · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to discover Jane Austen's mostly juvenile works - the Verses and prayes are dated on a later date. A few I've read before but I didn't have any memory of these works. I didn't LOVE LOVE any of the stories but I had some favourites and then many which were only good or slightly dull. Therefore I can only give 3 stars overall.

My favourites were:

“Frederic and Elfrida” - I honestly can‘t believe what I've just read. What a short „novel“ from Jane Austen. It’s so over the top but so crazy or funny! Lady says yes to marriage to two men and kills herself the next day cause of bad conscience? Let them get married and get this battle of wine or I will kill you? Hilarious! 3.5 stars.

“Henry and Eliza”- Mothers forget they had children, children eat their mothers fingers, lover stealing („we are married and gone”), revenge and much more in only six pages. wow. 4 stars.

“The Visit”- A comedy in 2 acts by JA. I loved reading a play by Jane Austen and wished there would exist a longer piece by her. As usual everyone needs to be married by end. 4.5 stars.

“The Three Sisters” - Supposedly I‘ve read this one many years ago but nothing seemed familiar. Anyhow another unfinished Novel with much potential! Mary is so mean („Oh! when there is so much love on one side there is no occasion for it on the other“, poor Mr. Watts, so old with his 32 years. 3.5 stars.

I really liked “Letter the third. From A young Lady in distress ‘d Circumstances to her freind.” & “A Letter from a Young Lady, whose feelings being too Strong for her Judgement led her into the commission of Errors which her Heart disapproved”. 4 stars.

Jane Austen July 2018: Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splendid nonsense! A youthful writer in the making


"Beware of swoons, Dear Laura ... A frenzy fit is not one quarter so pernicious; it is an exercise to the Body and if not too violent, is, I dare say, conducive to Health in its consequences -- Run mad as often as you chuse; but do not faint -" Letter 14, Laura to Marianne, Love and Freindship

Jane Austen grew up in the perfect fertile environment for a writer. Her family was highly educated and passionate readers, including novels which were considered by some in the late 18th-century as unworthy. Educated predominately at home, her father had an extensive library of classics and contemporary editions at her disposal. In her early teens, she began writing comical and imaginative stories for her family and close friends as entertainments and transcribing them into three volumes that would later be known as her Juvenilia. The plots and characters of these short stories are filled with unguarded satire, comical burlesque and "splendid nonsense"; -- shrewd parodies of contemporary novels, historical figures and even her own family engaged in unprincipled deeds: lying, cheating and occasionally murder. Described by her father as "Effusions of Fancy by a very Young Lady Consisting of Tales in a Style entirely new" they represent the creative beginnings of a clever and perceptive mind whose skill at keen observation of social maneuverings and the importance of wealth, so valued in her mature works, are apparent from the early beginnings.

If you have consumed all of Austen's major and minor novels, this reissue by Oxford University Press of their 1998 edition is an enticing treasure. In Catharine and Other Writings, we are introduced not only to a writer in the making, but a collection of prayers, poems and unfinished fragments of novels written in maturity and rarely reprinted. As with the other Oxford editions of Jane Austen's works reissued in the past year, this edition contains excellent supplemental material: a short biography of Austen, notes on the text, a select bibliography, a chronology of Austen's life, textural notes, insightful explanatory notes and a superb introduction by prominent Austen scholar Margaret Anne Doody that details the inspiration from her family and her environment that influenced and formed Austen's creative mind.

"Jane Austen was not a child as a writer when she wrote these early pieces. She possessed a sophistication rarely matched in viewing and using her own medium. She not only understood the Novel, she took the Novel apart, as one might take apart a clock, to see how it works - and put it back together, but it was no longer the same clock. Her genius at an early age is as awe-inspiring as Mozart's." pp xxxv

What I found so engaging in this collection was the lightness and comical devil-may-care freeness in Austen's youthful approach. It was like a rush of endorphin to a dour mood, taking you outside of your troubles and elevating you into a magical world of a youthful imaginings and farcical fancy. I have several favorites that I will re-read when I need a laugh, especially Love and Freindship, The Beautiful Cassandra and The History of England. Not all of the works are comical. When Winchester races is a verse written when Austen was mortally ill and dictated from her deathbed to her sister Cassandra three days before her death. It is her final work. A moralistic piece, it resurrects the ghost of St. Swinthin who curses the race goers for their sins of pleasure.

"When once we were buried you think we are gone

But behold me immortal!"

An interesting choice of subject for the last days of her life, and ironic in relation to what acclaim she has garnered since she has gone. Like St. Swinthin, Jane Austen is indeed immortal!

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very unlike all of Jane Austen's other, well-known works from later in her life. They are about the same subject matter, but with much more humor and scandal and fun. The heros and heroines are often silly or severely flawed, the villains are often completely without merit, and many of the stories are simply a big joke. Very very fun and interesting read.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection was such a fun and enjoyable read. Presenting Austen's Juvinilia we get a glimpse into the development of her writing across her adolescent years. Not as polished as her later novels, some critics have dismissed these stories and sketches as the trifling playthings of a young writer- and Austen certainly is playful with these stories- however, they were well worth the read. In fact an interesting argument put forth in the introduction suggests that in these sketches we get more of the 'true' Austen, before she had to bow to the pressures of the publishing industry. Clearly her writing developed across time, but I think there certainly is something to that argument. You also get a very performative and theatrical Austen in these stories- particularly those in the first volume that were intended to be read aloud to her family- and for those who agree with Charlotte Bronte that there is passion missing in Jane Austen's fiction,you need not look no further than these stories to dismiss that idea.

Overall then I'm really glad I went ahead and read these; Austen plays around with generic conventions and the literature of her day, in an absurd, ridiculous, but always witty way and I laughed my way through much of this collection.

[Sasha]

Aubrey says: "namely 'Love and Friendship', 'The Female Philosopher', and 'The History of England' (might be slightly wrong on the title of that one). From those, I gathered 15 year old Austen was a caustic rebel who likes dick jokes. "

sign me the hell up

[Mary Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Austen juvenilia. Quite delightful. As I've said before, we see how Jane wrote before she had to please publishers.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Proof, should you need it, that Austen’s razor sharp wit was honed at an early age.

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catharine and Other Writings;
by Jane Austen,
Douglas Murray (Editor), Margaret Anne Doody (Editor).
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Contents
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PLAN OF A NOVEL (1816)
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JUVENILIA I

FREDERIC AND ELFRIDA (1787-1793)
JACK AND ALICE (1787-1793)
EDGAR AND EMMA (1787-1793)
HENRY AND ELIZA (1787-1793)
THE ADVENTURES OF MR. HARLEY (1787-1793)
SIR WILLIAM MOUNTAGUE (1787-1793)
MEMOIRS OF MR. CLIFFORD (1787-1793)
THE BEAUTIFUL CASSANDRA (1787-1793)
AMELIA WEBSTER (1787-1793)
THE VISIT (1797-1793)
THE MYSTERY (1787-1793)
THE THREE SISTERS (1787-1793)
DETACHED PIECES (1787-1793)
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JUVENILIA II

LOVE AND FREINDSHIP (1787-1793)
LESLEY CASTLE (1787-1793)
THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND (1787-1793)
A COLLECTION OF LETTERS (1787-1793)
SCRAPS (1787-1793)
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JUVENILIA III

EVELYN (1787-1793)
CATHARINE (1787-1793)
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PLAYS

SIR CHARLES GRANDISON OR THE HAPPY MAN (1793)
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POEMS and PRAYERS

POEMS (1796-1817)
PRAYERS (1796-1817)
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LETTERS

THE LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN (1908)
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Reviews
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PLAN OF A NOVEL (1816)
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Plan of a Novel
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Plan of a novel
(according to hints from various quarters)
by Jane Austen
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Lovely!

"According to hints from various quarters"

Glad they - the sources - kept Those!

"Scene to be in the country, heroine the daughter of a clergyman[2], one who after having lived much in the world had retired from it and settled in a curacy, with a very small fortune of his own. He, the most excellent man that can be imagined, perfect in character, temper, and manners — without the smallest drawback or peculiarity to prevent his being the most delightful companion to his daughter from one year's end to the other. — Heroine[3] a faultless character herself, — perfectly good, with much tenderness and sentiment, and not the least wit[4] — very highly accomplished[5], understanding modern languages and (generally speaking) everything that the most accomplished young women learn, but particularly excelling in music — her favourite pursuit — and playing equally well on the pianoforte and harp — and singing in the first stile. Her person quite beautiful[6] — dark eyes and plump cheeks. — Book to open with the description of father and daughter — who are to converse in long speeches, elegant language — and a tone of high serious sentiment. — The father to be induced, at his daughter's earnest request, to relate to her the past events of his life. This narrative will reach through the greatest part of the first volume — as besides all the circumstances of his attachment to her mother and their marriage, it will comprehend his going to sea as chaplain[7] to a distinguished naval character about the court, his going afterwards to court himself, which introduced him to a great variety of characters and involved him in many interesting situations, concluding with his opinions on the benefits to result from tithes being done away, and his having buried his own mother (heroine's lamented grandmother) in consequence of the high priest of the parish in which she died refusing to pay her remains the respect due to them. The father to be of a very literary turn, an enthusiast in literature, nobody's enemy but his own — at the same time most zealous in discharge of his pastoral duties, the model of an exemplary parish priest[8]. ... "

Good deal of that sounds, up to a point, rather like description of the clergyman and his daughter in Felix Holt: The Radical, a work by George Eliot.

" ... — The heroine's friendship to be sought after by a young woman in the same neighbourhood, of talents and shrewdness, with light eyes and a fair skin, but having a considerable degree of wit[9], heroine shall shrink from the acquaintance. From this outset, the story will proceed, and contain a striking variety of adventures. ... "

This part reminds one of a work by Elizabeth Gaskell, read last year.

" ... Heroine and her father never above a fortnight together in one place[10], he being driven from his curacy by the vile arts of some totally unprincipled and heartless young man, desperately in love with the heroine, and pursuing her with unrelenting passion. ... "

There's the story of Kitty Bennett, with some differences.

" ... — No sooner settled in one country of Europe than they are necessitated to quit it and retire to another — always making new acquaintance, and always obliged to leave them. — This will of course exhibit a wide variety of characters — but there will be no mixture; the scene will be forever shifting from one set of people to another — but all the good[11] will be unexceptionable in every respect — and there will be no foibles or weaknesses but with the wicked, who will be completely depraved and infamous, hardly a resemblance of humanity left in them. ... "

Kitty Bennett's story was cut short, comparatively, in both time and space.

" ... — Early in her career, in the progress of her first removals, heroine must meet with the hero[12] — all perfection of course — and only prevented from paying his addresses to her by some excess of refinement. — Wherever she goes, somebody falls in love with her, and she receives repeated offers of marriage — which she refers wholly to her father, exceedingly angry that he should not be first applied to. ... "

What a pity Austen never wrote it!

" ... — Often carried away by the anti-hero, but rescued either by her father or by the hero — often reduced to support herself and her father by her talents and work for her bread; continually cheated and defrauded of her hire, worn down to a skeleton, and now and then starved to death. — ... "

Touch of George Eliot's (eventual bride of) Daniel Deronda, there.

" ... At last, hunted out of civilized society, denied the poor shelter of the humblest cottage, they are compelled to retreat into Kamschatka where the poor father, quite worn down, finding his end approaching, throws himself on the ground, and after 4 or 5 hours of tender advice and parental admonition to his miserable child, expires in a fine burst of literary enthusiasm, intermingled with invectives against holders of tithes. ... "

Kamchatka, all the way? They survived the journey - Austen never mentions railway, anywhere in her work, and sailing that far couldn't have been easy, even if they got passage on a steamship - only for him to die of lying on ground, presumably!

" ... — Heroine inconsolable for some time — but afterwards crawls back towards her former country — having at least 20 narrow escapes from falling into the hands of the anti-hero — and at last in the very nick of time, turning a corner to avoid him, runs into the arms of the hero himself, who having just shaken off the scruples which fettered him before, was at the very moment setting off in pursuit of her. ... "

Fortunately that's all in home country with towns and corners, not vast steppes of Russia on the way back! Or forests of Siberia for that matter.

" ... — The tenderest and completest éclaircissement takes place, and they are happily united. — Throughout the whole work, heroine to be in the most elegant society[13] and living in high style. The name of the work not to be Emma[14], but of the same sort as Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice.[15]"

Really, "Throughout the whole work, heroine to be in the most elegant society[13] and living in high style."??!!! East of Moscow, there were country homes of the aristocracy, but surely not all the way to Kamchatka? Were there any, in Kamchatka?

Wonder what would the title finally have been! Home and Kamchatka?
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August 17,, 2021 - August 17,, 2021.
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Frederic & Elfrida, by Jane Austen,
Juliet McMaster (Illustrator), Victoria Kortes-Papp (Editor),
Sylvia Hunt (Editor).
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Jane Austen wrote these bits to amuse her family, and quite amusing they certainly are, from chuckle to hilarious through the collection termed juvenilia.
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"Dedication
"To Miss Lloyd
"My Dear Martha
"As a small testimony of the gratitude I feel for your late generosity to me in finishing my muslin cloak, I beg leave to offer you this little production of your sincere friend.
"The Author
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"The uncle of Elfrida was the father of Frederic; in other words, they were first cousins by the father's side."

Not always correct; the first part might be about Elfrieda's mother's brother, or an uncle by marriage, in which the latter case they wouldn't be related at all.

"They were exceedingly handsome and so much alike, that it was not everyone who knew them apart. Nay, even their most intimate friends had nothing to distinguish them by, but the shape of the face, the colour of the eye, the length of the nose, and the difference of the complexion."

Didn't people dress very differently those days, across gender gap? Or was cross dressing common?
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"On being shown into an elegant dressing room, ornamented with festoons of artificial flowers, they were struck with the engaging exterior and beautiful outside of Jezalinda, the eldest of the young ladies; but e'er they had been many minutes seated, the wit and charms which shone resplendent in the conversation of the amiable Rebecca enchanted them so much, that they all with one accord jumped up and exclaimed:

""Lovely and too charming fair one, not withstanding your forbidding squint, your greasy tresses and your swelling back, which are more frightful than imagination can paint or pen describe, I cannot refrain from expressing my raptures, at the engaging qualities of your mind, which so amply atone for the horror with which your first appearance must ever inspire the unwary visitor."

""Your sentiments so nobly expressed on the different excellencies of Indian and English muslins, and the judicious preference you give the former, have excited in me an admiration of which I can alone give an adequate idea, by assuring you it is nearly equal to what I feel for myself.""

How did "that they all with one accord jumped up and exclaimed" quite so much?

"From this period, the intimacy between the families of Fitzroy, Drummond, and Falknor daily increased, till at length it grew to such a pitch, that they did not scruple to kick one another out of the window on the slightest provocation."

"From this period, the intimacy between the families of Fitzroy, Drummond, and Falknor daily increased, till at length it grew to such a pitch, that they did not scruple to kick one another out of the window on the slightest provocation.

"During this happy state of harmony, the eldest Miss Fitzroy ran off with the coachman and the amiable Rebecca was asked in marriage by Captain Roger of Buckinghamshire.

"Mrs. Fitzroy did not approve of the match on account of the tender years of the young couple, Rebecca being but thirty six and Captain Roger little more than sixty three. To remedy this objection, it was agreed that they should wait a little while till they were a good deal older."
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"Scarcely were they seated as usual, in the most affectionate manner in one chair, than the door suddenly opened and an aged gentleman with a sallow face and old pink coat, partly by intention and partly thro' weakness was at the feet of the lovely Charlotte, declaring his attachment to her and beseeching her pity in the most moving manner.

"Not being able to resolve to make anyone miserable, she consented to become his wife; where upon the gentleman left the room and all was quiet.

"Their quiet however continued but a short time, for on a second opening of the door a young and handsome gentleman with a new blue coat entered and entreated from the lovely Charlotte, permission to pay to her his addresses.

"There was a something in the appearance of the second stranger, that influenced Charlotte in his favour, to the full as much as the appearance of the first: she could not account for it, but so it was.

"Having therefore, agreeable to that and the natural turn of her mind to make everyone happy, promised to become his wife the next morning, he took his leave and the two ladies sat down to supper on a young leveret, a brace of partridges, a leash of pheasants and a dozen of pigeons.

"It was not till the next morning that Charlotte recollected the double engagement she had entered into; but when she did, the reflection of her past folly operated so strongly on her mind, that she resolved to be guilty of a greater, and to that end threw herself into a deep stream which ran thro her aunt's pleasure grounds in Portland Place.

"She floated to Crankhumdunberry where she was picked up and buried; the following epitaph, composed by Frederic, Elfrida, and Rebecca, was placed on her tomb."
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August 17, 2021 - August 17, 2021.
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[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a Jane Austen super fan, this is required reading. If you're not, it's most definitely skip-able. I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, and decided to reread all of her books, watch the movie versions, and definitively rank them. I'd never read this before, so while it wasn't a re-read, it seemed like an important thing to read as part of this project. And, from the perspective of seeing how Jane Austen's writing grew and changed, it was fascinating. But it's definitely juvenilia--Austen is playing, most of the stories are unfinished, and they are silly, silly, silly. Which is fun--it's great to think of Austen as a tween/teen writing these stories and getting lost in the ridiculous and nonsensical. But it also means most of them aren't super satisfying in a narrative sense.

The title story, "Catharine," written last, is the most similar to Jane Austen's later works. I found myself wishing it had been finished--there were so many interesting ideas there. I also really loved the fainting and melodrama of "Love and Friendship." Most of the other stories are very, very short, and can be laugh out loud funny, but blend together a bit.

Essentially, this reads like what it is--a young writer playing around with ideas and themes that she will refine and build on for the rest of her writing career. The spark of Jane Austen is there, and there's a sense of joy that is infectious, but if you're not a fan, or haven't read any Jane Austen before, there are better books to start with.

(I will say that the endnotes in this edition are fascinating. I learned so much about Jane Austen's era and the literature of her time through those notes--if you read, I highly recommend taking the time to read these detailed notes.)

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite bored with this initially . Austen began writing when she was VERY young, by all accounts, and many of these pieces are just that -- juvenilia -- without much nuance, as you might expect from a child. Nevertheless it is evident already that at a young age Austen had a keen sense of irony and what is more, a very acute sense of the forms that narratives can take. One sees her writing mature; volume the third is of course the most interesting, in particular Catherine, which I think is a pity as it is unfinished. Like Sandition and The Watsons, it has the potential for a most interesting work. Her narration matures in Catherine, I do think, most of her other works are epistolary. I am not of the opinion that the epistolary mode is the best.... I think it lacked the nuance Austen was looking for. In any case I think it is indispensible for any Austen critic, if only because one realises just how *tight* her completed novels are, how they never lag in interest and description, how -- at times -- especially when she was younger -- a less disciplined pen would have done her subjects (and she shows a marked preference for the everyday) ill.

[T Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of most/all of the lesser known works of Jane Austen. Some seem to be no more than an synopsis or start for a story idea (like "Scraps and "Detached Pieces"). I've only commented on the stories that stood out to me, which I had not read & reviewed before - not each selection. The 4 star rating reflects mostly "Three Sisters", "Catharine" & "Prayers".

Three Sisters - Loved the storyline. I really wanted to find out where their lives would lead - if only it was finished.

Catharine - Interesting characters. Was Edward a real scoundrel? Great start!

Prayers - Very eloquent; beautifully phrased. "...to address thee with our hearts, as with our lips.", "...nor be Christians only in name.".

Evelyn, Plan of a Novel and Fredric & Elfrida - Meh.

[Julie Bozza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Juvenilia is a great deal of fun, with outrageously self-centred heroines capable of anything from blithely insulting their best friends in the name of candour, to contracting illicit liaisons, to raising armies, and committing the occasional murder. Austen seems to take great delight in playing with and skewering the novelistic conventions of the day. But it is all done with a light, surprisingly confident touch (for such a young person), and never feels malicious.

The lighter poems were nicely written, while I felt the more serious ones were less so. And I was disappointed in the three prayers. I expected far more eloquence in the latter.

All up, an interesting read, and there's certainly some little treasures in here for Austen fans.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very long introduction, but the material covering all three of Jane Austen's notebooks filled with her earlier works is a chance to see how she first wrote and how she evolved and changed over the years, though how much was by choice and how much was forced in order to sell books can never be known.

My favorite was her The History of England (available on its own), and her three prayers were also quite interesting.

[Alayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of Austen's early writings was essentially like reading a gifted teenager's journal. Most of the plots and characters are intentionally absurd. I found the exhaustive cross-references and end notes almost as interesting as the stories, because it seemed a bit odd for academics to pick apart the silly, irreverent elements of stories written for family members and friends. Some of the abbreviated stories didn't hold my attention. I loved Lesley Castle the most. Overall, this was a fun read and a unique glimpse into the young mind of one of my favorite authors.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty interesting to read Jane's writing notebooks from before any of her published works. Almost all of these stories and poems come from her teenage years. (think Jo in Little Women) That being said some are really good, some are reeeaaalllly bad, and most are so-so. You could tell she was playing with structure and characters types. There are literally section that I'm sure show up verbatim in Northanger Abbey. My favorite little story was "Frank and Alice" because there is just some funny inner dialogue with it. I was also quite surprised about her poetry.

[Maria Tortuga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just thinking about this book makes me smile with glee. Jane Austen was just a girl when she wrote most of these stories for her friends and family. While it showcases her incredible budding talent as a writer and someone who truly understands people, the real treasure here is that these stories are comedic. The writing here is funny and fantastic. Austen fans will definitely enjoy it.

[bookinglibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I've read Austen's Juvenelia and the "joyous scorn" the suffuses these wickedly witty works was a revelation, though not unsurprising. What is amazing is the "exhuberance" of these various pieces penned by the adolescent Austen. Both qualities (the quotes are from G.K. Chesterton) are toned down and more subtly crafted in her later works.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at Austen's otherwise unpublished work - very different from what you'd expect! Reading some of the blatant sarcastic humor in these early stories helps provide a lense in which the subtle satire of Austen's main works comes to the surface.

[Terra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew I loved Jane Austen, but I had NO idea she was this completely hysterical as a teenager! This is a collection of short stories and farces that she wrote from a young age, mostly to amuse various family members (to whom they are dedicated). Extremely enjoyable.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at JA's early writing and other random written pieces. Seeing the development of characters and plots that show up in later novels was very insightful. Her wit and humor were very apparent as well.

[Jossefin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Тая жена (Остин) е гениална! В книгата са събрани ранните й произведения, които, както четох някъде, явно е писала, за да забавлява семейството си. Толкова сарказъм блика от тия страници, че доста често се смеех с глас :)

[Alexa Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://alexaadams.blogspot.com/2011/0...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of hard to find Austen works.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her unpublished works from her teen years are quite funny, and it's very cool to watch as her writing matures, especially as she starts to try out different writing styles.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting to see these early works of Jane Austen, including short stories, unfinished works, humorous poetry and a poem she dictated three days before her death.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite author. Of course I love it! Her early writings, sharp, satirical and witty.

[Katherine B · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

Interesting.

If you are going into this expecting the typical Jane Austen style that we all know and love you will very likely be disappointed. However, if you go into this with an open mind, with a wish to know more about JA's approach to writing, you will enjoy it.

Is the writing as polished and perfected as her novels? No. Is it meant to be? No. These are the works of a teenager playing with words to amuse and entertain those she knows. They were never meant to be perfect, they were meant to appeal to a specific audience to wile away the hours without a TV in their lives. These are notebooks never intended to be read by a wider audience, like a diary.

There are many different formats at play and lots of different styles that I found great. It is interesting to see how she attempted a variety of approaches to see what worked for her, to get the genius flowing and to find her own personal style.

The stories themselves can be little uneventful at times, but are short lived so do not pose a problem.

Her style changed and improved so much, but you can see the roots of her novels emerging which is lovely to see.

She had great talent, and clearly an amazing sense of humour.

Would recommend to any open-minded Austen fan.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains very early writings of a very young Jane Austen, plus a few prayers and poems she may or may not have written. It's astonishing to see her grasp of character and the deceptively light and breezy tone she is already mastering at the age of 16. The book has extensive textual and explanatory notes and is really very well done. I did have to laugh at the theory posited by one of the academics who wrote the introduction that Jane was actually a proto magical realist. I haven't read any works by magical realists, unless you count Pynchon, but I think the young Jane was just trying to make her family and friends laugh, and used absurdity because, as Elizabeth Bennett said, absurdity entertained and amused her, and she loved to laugh. You can see her honing her skills over time, and you can see her genius for capturing character and plot beginning to blossom and flower. How I wish she had written more!

[Andree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't know how to rate this. This book is basically snippets of Austen's journals, many written when she was young (I gather). I mean, you can see that Austen knew how to craft a sentence, and her dialogue was always strong. She was also always fascinated by marriages, etc. But most of this feels fall more farcical (which it's supposed to - I think she was generally writing to make her family and friends laugh). I picked at this for a week, and it's sort of interesting to get a sense of how her writing evolved. Also, a lot of familiar names in the snippets. But yeah, as a book, well, it's not really a book. It's a series of vignettes/letters/scenes/stories and a couple shorter works.

Default 3 star rating. If you're a JA completionist, maybe read this, or if you're interested in her progress as a writer. Otherwise, you could probalby read any 20 pages of this and get a sense.