The Illustrated Letters of Jane Austen

by Penelope Hughes-Hallett

A beautifully illustrated account of the letters and correspondence of 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 handsome celebration of Austen's letters is illustrated with portraits, facsimile letters, topographical engravings and fashion plates, all helping to bring to life the world Jane Austen inhabited.

The letters, with an accompanying commentary by Penelope Hughes-Hallett, are separated into six periods of Jane Austen's life, between the years 1796, when she was twenty, and 1817, the year of her death. They celebrate Jane Austen's talent for expressing exactly what she perceived, making this an illuminating companion to her novels. Although the book follows a broadly chronological scheme, the letters are arranged round visual themes, including 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 of Steventon, lectured on English Literature for the Open University and the Oxford University Department of External Studies. 

Genres: Nonfiction

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2023

Reviews

[Rosmona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paseino francamente ben léndoas. Tiven ocasión de dicir "Jane, PAVA!" varias veces.

[jillianAKAjill · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found this book while searching for a Jane Austen biography. And though the thought of reading her letters was interesting and exciting enough for me, I must be honest, it was the gorgeous cover that made be decide to buy it. And lo, it was indeed the right decision!

I cannot express enough how much I admire Jane. I have read all of her books, first being Pride and Prejudice in high school. I fell in love immediately. Reading this book, pouring over each correspondence, I feel eager to reread each book.

The letters are thoughtfully selected and introduced, and if any explanation of Jane’s shorthand is needed it is followed right after the letter.

The only fault I find (and it’s almost not worth mentioning) is that I feel like there were too many illustrations. I appreciate the drawings and paintings of the people and places mentioned, but there were also ones of people working, girls playing with dolls, carriages, and maps too small to read.

Did I cry reading her final letters? And those her sister wrote notifying her beloved niece of her death? Yes, indeed I did. I was going to quote something from the latter, but decided against it because it needs to be read as a whole. So heartbreaking.

[Agata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a fan, I always loved Jane and having read all her books I’ve been delighted by this lovely collection of her personal letters, in a beautiful edition, giving an insight into early 19 century’s girl daily struggles (spoiler alert: we aren’t all that different, more than 200 years later). I loved that the letters were accompanied by a detailed context (so that it was always clear who is writing to whom) and that they were intertwined with excerpts from her most brilliant novels. One regret is not visiting Bath this year, on 250 anniversary of her birthday.

[Buffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book. The letters are, obviously, fabulous treasures that make one feel as if they really know Austen personally. Unfortunately the editors did not take enough care in publication - many disappointing typos which take you out of the wonders of Austen’s world.

[Victoria Sigsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book last year and didn't know, because of the title, that it is the same as the paperback published in 1991, which is titled My Dear Cassandra. As a Library Assistant /Assistant in Charge (retired), I could have easily checked my shelves. So to save anyone else any further confusion, they are one and the same exactly apart from the cover and title of the paperback and some of the layout.
They are beautiful books which contain a lot of detail both in the letters and the illustrations and I decided to take my time reading it because I really wanted to enjoy it to the full. If you haven't come across this book before and you are an Austen fan, it is not to be missed. You feel as if you have really entered her world and can visualise the parties and the visiting as if you are right there.

[Nanuska_153 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at the same time than Deirdre Le Faye's. It contains just extracts of the most relevant letters, but if you just want a picture of her life on her own words, this book is enough. The letters are divided on different periods and before each one there's an explanation of what was happening in Jane's life, at the end of some letters contains some clarifications or relevant extracts of her novels,all very helpful. This edition is beautiful.

[Sue.the.very.busy.reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish The Illustrated Letters of Jane Austen Selected and Introduced By Penelope Hughes Hallett. The letters were very interesting and there were a lot of illustrations and paintings of the time period to help explain things that Jane wrote about. I’m so glad I read this book. I finished it the night before I went to the Jane Austen Museum in Chawton UK. It helped me to understand Jane’s life as I walked through her house and garden.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful book is a must for anyone who enjoys reading Austen's novels, as much of her own life experiences appear in her books. Her letters (mostly to her sister) are absolutely delightful and inform us of her thoughts as they give us a real sense of her personal life. I'm so glad we were able to visit beautiful Bath on one of our trips to England. It is gratifying to know that her legacy endures and future generations will read her books.

[Nicoletta Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

with excellent commentary on context and explanations of who and what, combined with images and illustrations of the time, the book transports the reader to each location. one can't help but feel like an Austen sister herself. unfortunately there are a lot of mis-prints in the book that breaks the illusion but makes it no less a beautiful to have for the passionate Janeite.

[Brandi Fox]

beautiful to behold and charming to read, an enjoyable experience for any Austen fan, although I find myself longing for a collection of her letters that is a little more extensive

[Carol Chen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really made you know Jane Austen more vivid.

[Luminous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!