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Catharine
Catharine, an orphan living with her maiden aunt in Devon and sorely missing her absent friends Cecilia and Mary Wynne, is delighted by the visit of her cousin Camilla Stanley, a spirited if somewhat silly young woman. The Stanleys bring a taste of high society, but the arrival of their unreliable son Edward introduces company of a different kind.
Jane Austen's early unfinished novel is a delightful foretaste of the immortal novels and characters to follow.
Jane Austen's early unfinished novel is a delightful foretaste of the immortal novels and characters to follow.
62 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1792
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349 people want to read
About the author
Jane Austen
4,059 books76.1k followersJane 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 29, 2017
This incomplete novel could have been re-worked into a novel. Elements of silliness like Catherine Moorland (Northanger Abbey) and crazy love of balls like Lydia and Kitty (Pride and Prejudice). Element of a rascal of a young man like John Thorpe (Northanger Abbey) . Elements of social satire about rascal-ly young men and willful young women, their introductions and dances. Even a rather prudish aunt thrown in (Mrs Norristown in another incarnation). All characters common enough to a Austen novel. A little more time might have brought us a completed, or more completed, Catherine.
November 18, 2020
I’ve long viewed “Catharine; or, The Bower” as the juvenile story by Jane Austen that offered the greatest scope for completion by another hand. The heroine, Catharine Percival, is young and naive but intelligent and spirited. Although she is an orphan, as befits the heroine of a novel written in the late eighteenth century, she is hampered in her adventures by a guardian aunt who is loving but as overprotective and fearful of the world as any Mr. Woodhouse. The writing is not up to Austen’s adult standard but shows flashes of clever wit and it is more naturalistic and less satirical than most of the juvenilia.
Kept in well-heeled rural seclusion in a Devonshire village, Catharine has little to fear or concern her beyond the unhappy fate of her childhood companions—the four children of the village’s vicar, who have been left impoverished by the death of their father. The daughters have been sent off, one to Bengal to find a husband, the other to serve as a companion in a noblewoman’s household; the sons are one in the army and the other at a faraway school.
Into Catharine’s quiet life come some relations from London—Mr. and Mrs. Stanley and their flighty daughter Camilla, shortly followed by their handsome and impetuous son Edward. In a lively scene of manipulative behavior by this young man-of-the-world, Catharine is swept into behavior seen as rude by her neighbors and dangerous by her overly cautious aunt. And here Austen’s promising fragment of a tale breaks off.
The story so far is strongly reminiscent of Fanny Burney’s youthful novel Evelina, and were I to attempt a continuation, that is where I would look for inspiration. It’s possible that Mr. Rockas, who has taken on the task here, had the same thought, because like Evelina, Catharine is swept off to London where she is exposed to some of society’s hazards and thrown into a set of people who are her inferiors in intellect and taste. This story proves much tamer than Burney’s, however, since the rackety characters have less hold over our heroine; she remains protected by her cautious aunt and other kindly relations. Her childhood friends come back into the picture as well, helping to insulate her from the dangerous influences of the metropolis.
There are some interesting characters and situations here, but—as is often the case with those modern authors who attempt to match wits with Jane Austen—it all falls a bit flat. The characters tend to be one-note, with reiterated verbal tics substituting for fully realized personalities. And there is no strong thematic or moral underpinning to give the incidents resonance. There are outbreaks of felicitous language but also outbreaks of jarring anachronism, such as when one girl boasts of her “choker” instead of her necklet. The humor is heavy-handed, lacking Austen’s deft sting, and the emotions remain largely on the surface.
For me, it was a pleasant enough reading experience but in the end a missed opportunity.
Kept in well-heeled rural seclusion in a Devonshire village, Catharine has little to fear or concern her beyond the unhappy fate of her childhood companions—the four children of the village’s vicar, who have been left impoverished by the death of their father. The daughters have been sent off, one to Bengal to find a husband, the other to serve as a companion in a noblewoman’s household; the sons are one in the army and the other at a faraway school.
Into Catharine’s quiet life come some relations from London—Mr. and Mrs. Stanley and their flighty daughter Camilla, shortly followed by their handsome and impetuous son Edward. In a lively scene of manipulative behavior by this young man-of-the-world, Catharine is swept into behavior seen as rude by her neighbors and dangerous by her overly cautious aunt. And here Austen’s promising fragment of a tale breaks off.
The story so far is strongly reminiscent of Fanny Burney’s youthful novel Evelina, and were I to attempt a continuation, that is where I would look for inspiration. It’s possible that Mr. Rockas, who has taken on the task here, had the same thought, because like Evelina, Catharine is swept off to London where she is exposed to some of society’s hazards and thrown into a set of people who are her inferiors in intellect and taste. This story proves much tamer than Burney’s, however, since the rackety characters have less hold over our heroine; she remains protected by her cautious aunt and other kindly relations. Her childhood friends come back into the picture as well, helping to insulate her from the dangerous influences of the metropolis.
There are some interesting characters and situations here, but—as is often the case with those modern authors who attempt to match wits with Jane Austen—it all falls a bit flat. The characters tend to be one-note, with reiterated verbal tics substituting for fully realized personalities. And there is no strong thematic or moral underpinning to give the incidents resonance. There are outbreaks of felicitous language but also outbreaks of jarring anachronism, such as when one girl boasts of her “choker” instead of her necklet. The humor is heavy-handed, lacking Austen’s deft sting, and the emotions remain largely on the surface.
For me, it was a pleasant enough reading experience but in the end a missed opportunity.
October 20, 2019
A Gilmore girls-ben volt egy rész*, amikor Jess amellett érvel, hogy Jane Austen nagyon jóban lett volna Kerouac-kal. Hmm, gondoltam akkor magamban. Most viszont azt kell mondjam, ennek a srácnak igaza volt, és alighanem Rory is jobban tette volna, ha vele jött volna össze, nem azzal a tenyérbemászó szőke kapitalistával. A kötet gyakran töredékes írásaiból is tökéletesen kirajzolódik egy csodásan üde humorú, éles szemű és szarkasztikus írói egyéniség, valamint egy izgalmas pályamodell, ami a kezdeti „balkézzel” odavetett szösszenetektől elvezet minket egészen az első tipikusnak mondható Austen-prózáig, a Catharine-ig. Tanulságos volt látni, hogy a korai Austen első blikkre nem annyira a Büszkeség és balítélet-et juttatja eszünkbe, sokkal inkább John Cleese-t. Jó volna tudni, a kisasszony külső nyomásra vagy belső késztetésre mozdult el a „normális” társadalomrajz felé a groteszkből – mindenesetre nem állítom, hogy rosszul tette, és azt sem, hogy elveszítettük volna ezzel élénk humorát. Mert a nagyregényekben is ott van mindez az abszurditás, csak a romantikus valószínűség álcája alatt. És hát az is biztos, hogy a kidolgozott nagyregényekben jobban vizsgálhatjuk azt a páratlan éleslátást, amitől Jane Austent minden további nélkül a zsenik közé sorolhatjuk. Szóval: nem csak nőknek szól.
* Nem mintha láttam volna. Egy ismerősöm ismerősének az ismerőse mondta.**
** Jó, hát lehet, hogy mégis láttam.
* Nem mintha láttam volna. Egy ismerősöm ismerősének az ismerőse mondta.**
** Jó, hát lehet, hogy mégis láttam.
September 6, 2012
Catharine é um dos primeiros e incompletos romances de Jane Austen.
Não tinha conhecimento deste livro até há uns dias atrás, e fiquei muito curiosa em relação ao mesmo. É um livro bastante pequeno mas extremamente agradável de ler, como é habitual nos romances desta autora.
O livro conta parte da vida de uma adolescente, Catharine, que perdeu os pais quando era muito jovem, e que passou a ser criada pela sua tia solteirona.
Como em todas as obras de Jane Austen, a personagem principal é uma mulher forte e com convicções um pouco diferentes para a época. É uma jovem mulher culta, com uma boa educação e que vive numa sociedade onde a etiqueta e as normais sociais são muitas e restritivas. Catharine gosta de ser livre e de se poder divertir, acabando por vezes por se esquecer das normas pelas quais a sociedade em que vive se rege, enfurecendo a sua tia e alguns dos outros familiares.
Quando li que era um dos incompletos romances de Jane Austen, pensei que a historia ficava interrompida sem fazer nexo, mas tal não acontece. A história tem um final, que pode ser considerado aberto, pois termina um episódio da vida de Catharine, fazendo com nos deixe a pensar que mais aventuras / desavenças irá Catharine passar.
Jane Austen mais uma vez dá um foco especial à mulher, à sua educação e ao seu papel na sociedade do século XVIII. A sua escrita é muito característica, própria da época em que viveu, e bastante agradável.
Recomendo vivamente... Mas como uma segunda obra a ler de Jane Austen.
Não tinha conhecimento deste livro até há uns dias atrás, e fiquei muito curiosa em relação ao mesmo. É um livro bastante pequeno mas extremamente agradável de ler, como é habitual nos romances desta autora.
O livro conta parte da vida de uma adolescente, Catharine, que perdeu os pais quando era muito jovem, e que passou a ser criada pela sua tia solteirona.
Como em todas as obras de Jane Austen, a personagem principal é uma mulher forte e com convicções um pouco diferentes para a época. É uma jovem mulher culta, com uma boa educação e que vive numa sociedade onde a etiqueta e as normais sociais são muitas e restritivas. Catharine gosta de ser livre e de se poder divertir, acabando por vezes por se esquecer das normas pelas quais a sociedade em que vive se rege, enfurecendo a sua tia e alguns dos outros familiares.
Quando li que era um dos incompletos romances de Jane Austen, pensei que a historia ficava interrompida sem fazer nexo, mas tal não acontece. A história tem um final, que pode ser considerado aberto, pois termina um episódio da vida de Catharine, fazendo com nos deixe a pensar que mais aventuras / desavenças irá Catharine passar.
Jane Austen mais uma vez dá um foco especial à mulher, à sua educação e ao seu papel na sociedade do século XVIII. A sua escrita é muito característica, própria da época em que viveu, e bastante agradável.
Recomendo vivamente... Mas como uma segunda obra a ler de Jane Austen.
December 9, 2011
Tal como referido na sinopse, Catharine é um romance incompleto de Jane Austen. Como fã desta escritora tão peculiar e única não pude deixar de resistir a adquirir mais esta obra, mesmo por terminar, e juntá-la às muitas outras que tenho.
Surpreendo-me sempre com o reconhecimento que esta escrita provoca em mim. Podia jurar que se me dessem várias obras, saberia apontar qual delas seria de Austen. A maneira de escrever, as palavras que escolhe para determinados momentos, as suas personagens... tudo é-lhe tão característico que nos faz sentir, desde a primeira página, confortáveis e à-vontade pois nada nos parece estranho e sim familiar.
em termos de história, esta acaba por ser uma introdução, mas que nos faz desejar que Jane tivesse continuado já que em apenas 60 páginas (de tamanho A6 ou menos) são-nos apresentadas personagens, locais e situações chave que seriam então posteriormente desenvolvidas e que contribuiriam para o desenlace deste romance tão próprio da época.
Será que Edward Stanly voltaria? Será que os sentimentos por Catharine seriam verdadeiros, ou apenas uma forma de contradizer a vontade da tia desta? O que aconteceu a Camilla?
Nenhuma destas perguntas serão respondidas, mas este aperitivo sabe muito melhor que certas obras completas, por isso a recomendação fica dada à mesma.
Surpreendo-me sempre com o reconhecimento que esta escrita provoca em mim. Podia jurar que se me dessem várias obras, saberia apontar qual delas seria de Austen. A maneira de escrever, as palavras que escolhe para determinados momentos, as suas personagens... tudo é-lhe tão característico que nos faz sentir, desde a primeira página, confortáveis e à-vontade pois nada nos parece estranho e sim familiar.
em termos de história, esta acaba por ser uma introdução, mas que nos faz desejar que Jane tivesse continuado já que em apenas 60 páginas (de tamanho A6 ou menos) são-nos apresentadas personagens, locais e situações chave que seriam então posteriormente desenvolvidas e que contribuiriam para o desenlace deste romance tão próprio da época.
Será que Edward Stanly voltaria? Será que os sentimentos por Catharine seriam verdadeiros, ou apenas uma forma de contradizer a vontade da tia desta? O que aconteceu a Camilla?
Nenhuma destas perguntas serão respondidas, mas este aperitivo sabe muito melhor que certas obras completas, por isso a recomendação fica dada à mesma.
August 26, 2019
Uma obra inacabada, aliás, acho que seria apenas o primeiro capítulo, mas onde se nota bem a escrita de Jane Austen, que ela depois desenvolveu nos seus romances mais célebres.
Nesta livrinho, que é mesmo pequenino, é-nos apresentada Catharine, ou Kitty, uma jovem que vive com a tia, a Sra. Percival.
Esta tia tenta manter Catharine longe de bailes, saídas e outras coisas que possam levar Catharine a cair em tentações masculinas.
Um dia recebem os Stanley, pai, mãe e a menina Stanley, uma jovem bastante oca que só sabe falar e discorrer sobre vestuário, mas que, à falta de melhor se torna amiga de Catharine.
Há um baile na aldeia, mas uma dor de dentes impede Catharine de atender ao mesmo, ficando em casa, mas como entretanto a dor amainou, ela decide ir. Nesse momento aparece o Sr. Stanley, filho dos Stanley que estavam hospedados na casa da tia de Catharine.
Um belo rapaz que acaba por acompanhá-la ao baile, onde conversam muito e dançam a maior parte das músicas.
A tia começa a ficar preocupada com aquela aproximação e ainda mais fica quando o Sr. Stanley beija Catharine, apenas para a tia ver.
Um dia de manhã Catharine acorda e descobre que o Sr. Stanley havia partido para Lyons e que os seus pais e irmã também iriam continuar a sua viagem, deixando Catharine apenas com a companhia da tia.
Seria um belo romance, mas, infelizmente acaba de forma abrupta.
Nesta livrinho, que é mesmo pequenino, é-nos apresentada Catharine, ou Kitty, uma jovem que vive com a tia, a Sra. Percival.
Esta tia tenta manter Catharine longe de bailes, saídas e outras coisas que possam levar Catharine a cair em tentações masculinas.
Um dia recebem os Stanley, pai, mãe e a menina Stanley, uma jovem bastante oca que só sabe falar e discorrer sobre vestuário, mas que, à falta de melhor se torna amiga de Catharine.
Há um baile na aldeia, mas uma dor de dentes impede Catharine de atender ao mesmo, ficando em casa, mas como entretanto a dor amainou, ela decide ir. Nesse momento aparece o Sr. Stanley, filho dos Stanley que estavam hospedados na casa da tia de Catharine.
Um belo rapaz que acaba por acompanhá-la ao baile, onde conversam muito e dançam a maior parte das músicas.
A tia começa a ficar preocupada com aquela aproximação e ainda mais fica quando o Sr. Stanley beija Catharine, apenas para a tia ver.
Um dia de manhã Catharine acorda e descobre que o Sr. Stanley havia partido para Lyons e que os seus pais e irmã também iriam continuar a sua viagem, deixando Catharine apenas com a companhia da tia.
Seria um belo romance, mas, infelizmente acaba de forma abrupta.
December 19, 2015
I would give up naps for a whole month to find out what happen to Edward the rake. And I love nap time the way only an overworked adult does. I guess we will never know.
Both Catharine and The Watsons were started but abandoned before Sense and Sensibility was published. So I'm going to read that next.
Both Catharine and The Watsons were started but abandoned before Sense and Sensibility was published. So I'm going to read that next.
May 3, 2022
I received this eARC from Sunbury Press via Netgalley.
I did not connect with this story. I tried very hard and took notes. It was confusing. I found none of the characters interesting. They all blurred together without distinction. I love Jane and her stories. Most of all her characters, but this story just didn't work for me. Knowing that this was written in her youth and not finished didn't help. I would like to praise Mr. Rockas on his continuation, but I will thank him for the effort.
I did not connect with this story. I tried very hard and took notes. It was confusing. I found none of the characters interesting. They all blurred together without distinction. I love Jane and her stories. Most of all her characters, but this story just didn't work for me. Knowing that this was written in her youth and not finished didn't help. I would like to praise Mr. Rockas on his continuation, but I will thank him for the effort.
November 19, 2025
3,5 estrellas.
¡Me ha gustado un montón! No le pongo más estrellas porque la novela no está acabada realmente. Podría leerse como un relato largo con un final abierto pero la realidad es que se nota que había sido concebido para ser algo más. Ojalá lo hubiera sido, porque tiene un potencial increíble. Catherine es una protagonista divertidísima y me ha encantado lo directa y explícita que es la Jane Austen de 17 años y el humor qué tiene. Es una versión algo más rebeldilla y crítica de lo que acabó siendo después (nunca dejó de lado el tema de la crítica social realmente, pero de adolescente iba más a metralla).
Es súper fácil y agradable de leer, te dura una tarde, y su sencillez y extensión hace que sea una lecturita cozy mientras te tomas un té calentito. Súper recomendado.
Ps.Data --> Esta no es mi edición, la que yo tengo no aparece en goodreads y la recomiendo mil veces. Es la edición de Avenauta, de la colección Biblioteca Diástole, que se publicó hace y nada y viene con unas ilustraciones bellísimas y con notas a pie de páginas muy interesantes.
¡Me ha gustado un montón! No le pongo más estrellas porque la novela no está acabada realmente. Podría leerse como un relato largo con un final abierto pero la realidad es que se nota que había sido concebido para ser algo más. Ojalá lo hubiera sido, porque tiene un potencial increíble. Catherine es una protagonista divertidísima y me ha encantado lo directa y explícita que es la Jane Austen de 17 años y el humor qué tiene. Es una versión algo más rebeldilla y crítica de lo que acabó siendo después (nunca dejó de lado el tema de la crítica social realmente, pero de adolescente iba más a metralla).
Es súper fácil y agradable de leer, te dura una tarde, y su sencillez y extensión hace que sea una lecturita cozy mientras te tomas un té calentito. Súper recomendado.
Ps.Data --> Esta no es mi edición, la que yo tengo no aparece en goodreads y la recomiendo mil veces. Es la edición de Avenauta, de la colección Biblioteca Diástole, que se publicó hace y nada y viene con unas ilustraciones bellísimas y con notas a pie de páginas muy interesantes.
July 30, 2025
3 stars. I actually found this one somewhat long and boring, but probably only because I expected it to be short. It felt like an early parody of Northanger Abbey in some things, though there was no Henry Tilney to make things better. I did quite enjoy the satirical portrayal of dandified gentlemen of the period, and the humour; also this story was quite well developed for a juvenilia and the characters were rather amusing.
June 9, 2018
Esta pequena e incompleta obra é igualmente uma das primeiras obras escritas de Jane Austen.
É uma pena que Austen não a tenha acabado, pois o que o início é... é BOM... MUITO BOM.
Em meras 61 páginas temos invejas, desilusões, ilusões amorosas, sonhos destruídos ou pelo menos abafados, e um mistério sobre um desaparecimento súbito.
Ou seja, este é um prelúdio de uma obra literária de qualidade e que nos capta o interesse desde logo.
Na minha opinião, querida Austen, preferia que tivesses acabado este "Catharine" e deixado incompleto o "Sensibilidade e Bom Senso"
É uma pena que Austen não a tenha acabado, pois o que o início é... é BOM... MUITO BOM.
Em meras 61 páginas temos invejas, desilusões, ilusões amorosas, sonhos destruídos ou pelo menos abafados, e um mistério sobre um desaparecimento súbito.
Ou seja, este é um prelúdio de uma obra literária de qualidade e que nos capta o interesse desde logo.
Na minha opinião, querida Austen, preferia que tivesses acabado este "Catharine" e deixado incompleto o "Sensibilidade e Bom Senso"
August 11, 2022
“[When] the Bower began to have its usual influence over her Spirits, she contributed towards settling them, by taking out a book, for she had always one about her, and reading.”
Catharine, also known as Kitty, lives with her aunt Mrs Percival at The Grove, Chetwynde, five miles from Exeter, far from “the hot House of Vice” that is London. We may suppose that, as with her author at the time of writing, Kitty is sixteen years old; but we’re immediately told that, unlike her author, she “had the misfortune, as many heroines before her, of losing her Parents when she was very young.”
When we discover that her aunt is determined to preserve Kitty’s virtue by closely scrutinising, supervising and warning off any young man that crosses the girl’s path, we recognise that Austen is playing on common fairytale tropes; and so our task appears a simple one – to see how the story plays out. Unfortunately, we don’t get the joy of that because this, begun in 1792 as one of Austen’s first essays in novel-writing, remains incomplete.
Though there is evidence that, a score of years later, she was tinkering with this youthful fragment – removing outdated practices such as powdering the hair, and inserting references to the newly instituted Regency – she never did progress with this promising start. Yet, even at this stage, we can recognise some of her trademark themes.
Despite her circumstances Kitty has had a comfortable time up till now: with access to books she’d enjoyed the company of the sisters Wynne, amenable daughters of the clergyman presiding at Chetwynde, and they’d helped her construct her retreat, the arbour or garden bower. However, when Rev Wynne dies one sister is sent to be married off to a man twice her age in British Bengal and the other is in Scotland as a companion to Lady Halifax’s own daughters. Of the Wynne boys, one is a Lieutenant in the army and the other has gone to sea.
Bereft of close companions – for, like her parents, the daughter of the new clergyman is snooty and uncongenial – Kitty is at first grateful when her aunt’s relatives come to stay because Camilla Stanley appears to be a possible new best friend. Unfortunately, Kitty soon finds Camilla has “an Understanding unimproved by reading and a Mind totally devoid of Taste or Judgement.” Since we know Kitty’s own “imagination was warm, and in her Freindships […] enthousiastic” this proves another impediment to her happiness.
Until Camilla’s brother Edward unexpectedly appears, and then her spirits lift. Here is someone who pleasantly but habitually cocks a snook at etiquette and convention, and even risks Kitty’s reputation and virtue, not to forget her aunt’s outrage, by being in the girl’s company unchaperoned. Kitty is bowled over and fancies herself in love, but Edward suddenly and without warning leaves Chetwynde …
You might think that Austen is imagining the course of true love definitely not running smoothly, and that despite misunderstandings and mishaps Edward and Kitty will eventually get back together. Yet is this a scenario we can unhesitatingly identify in her published novels? For Edward is described as an “unaccountable” being; indeed we’re immediately told that Kitty gives not “a Moment’s recollection on the vanity of Young Women, or the unaccountable conduct of Young Men.” Unaccountable can mean either “inexplicable” or “irresponsible”, so which is it in this case? Is Edward in his dalliance with Kitty in truth a precursor of Frank Churchill in Emma?
And what of the other fleetingly mentioned young men in the Wynne family? Only Charles is named, and like Fanny Price’s brother William in Mansfield Park and Frederick Wentworth in Persuasion he is a seaman: can we read anything into this profession? We’ll never know of course.
What is evident however is Austen’s emerging, almost fully fledged literary capabilities. Here are fully rounded characters, with entirely credible psychologies; here too are her telltale touches of authorial humour, subtle yet telling and honed to perfection in her impressive juvenilia; also evident is her sure handling of fairytale motifs to raise our expectations, all the better to confound them.
I read Catharine in an informative annotated edition of her mostly adolescent writings, aided by detailed textual and explanatory notes which clarify Austen’s own approach to creating and revising her fiction. Contained, along with the unfinished Evelyn, in the final volume of her three notebooks, it marks a sea change in her previous work by attempting a fully grown-up novel, and hints at later work – there is even a mention of a Lady Susan! Even in its fragmentary state Catharine is a precious legacy from a precocious talent.
February 9, 2020
A lovely glimpse into Austen's young mind. With all her usual humor, wit, charm, and over-dramatic and hypocritical characters that our sharp protag sees right through but remains polite within the social decorum of the time.
I have read all of her works and this is what I think would have happened if it were finished:
Kitty, swooning over handsome but (not yet realized) wholly inadequate Edward, will become acquainted with the Wynne brother and/or Sir Peter. They will form a healthy friendship and attachement and be a superior comparison to Edward who is immature, vain, and cruel for playing with our heroine's feelings.
Edward will return after a time and Kitty, now having been acquainted with mature, respectful gentlemen, will realize with disappointment how inadequate and undeserving Edward is of her affection and dump his trash ass.
Edward will be shocked and struggle to cope with his injured vanity, and will try to win her, perhaps inadvertently realizing he fosters real feelings towards the superior Kitty.
Kitty, after some reflection and time to sort out her feelings from being manipulated by Edward, will realize that the man who deserves her and she him, will be Mr Wynne or the mysterious Sir Peter.
Either way somehow her beloved Wynne sisters will have been elevated from their poor situations and live happily ever after nearby Kitty and her new husband. Perhaps Sir Peter may fall for the single Wynne sister, thus being the salvation of their lowly situation. The married Wynne sister will not so tragically lose her old ass wank of a husband to some illness and be free to chill with Kitty and her sister and marry for happiness instead. THE END
I have read all of her works and this is what I think would have happened if it were finished:
Kitty, swooning over handsome but (not yet realized) wholly inadequate Edward, will become acquainted with the Wynne brother and/or Sir Peter. They will form a healthy friendship and attachement and be a superior comparison to Edward who is immature, vain, and cruel for playing with our heroine's feelings.
Edward will return after a time and Kitty, now having been acquainted with mature, respectful gentlemen, will realize with disappointment how inadequate and undeserving Edward is of her affection and dump his trash ass.
Edward will be shocked and struggle to cope with his injured vanity, and will try to win her, perhaps inadvertently realizing he fosters real feelings towards the superior Kitty.
Kitty, after some reflection and time to sort out her feelings from being manipulated by Edward, will realize that the man who deserves her and she him, will be Mr Wynne or the mysterious Sir Peter.
Either way somehow her beloved Wynne sisters will have been elevated from their poor situations and live happily ever after nearby Kitty and her new husband. Perhaps Sir Peter may fall for the single Wynne sister, thus being the salvation of their lowly situation. The married Wynne sister will not so tragically lose her old ass wank of a husband to some illness and be free to chill with Kitty and her sister and marry for happiness instead. THE END
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2020
3,5 Stars
When you know Austens other works, you can notice that this is an early draft. Sometimes you have a paragraph full of narration followed by a whole paragraph only of dialogue (almost like in a play). Normally Austen would have interwoven those parts a lot better.
She also throws us right into the story without introducing her characters properly. At the very first I thought that the main protagonist is also part of the Wynne family, but she is actually their best friend.
Mostly I was confused about the ever changing use of the names Catherine and Kitty. First I thought that they are 2 different people, then that they are the same, then again I was back to the 2 people theory. Until I was finally convinced that they are indeed one and the same.
However, apart from this confusion and the unrefined paragraphs, Jane Austen's writing style and tone is like the one I already know from her other novels. I especially didn't notice how young she was when writing "Catharine" (only 17!). She deploys the same themes and topics as in her novels, and of course the setting and the main character being a young girl that is unmarried, not exactly rich and relying on relatives is also the same. Jane Austen wrote about the things she knew best from her own experience!
Since Austens manuscript is rather short and ends after just three chapters (but with setting the tone quite well and establishing the fundamental elements) it has never been published as a separate work, although there have been several projects where scholars or writers attempted to think up their own "What's next?" version, as Leo Rockas states in his foreword to this edition. I found on the internet a website of Juliet McMaster, an academic who specialised in Jane Austen. She also tried to finish this manuscript with her students and presents the fact that all of Jane Austens heroines marry the guy they first encountered! So it should be quite clear that Kitty ends up with Edward. But then McMaster lists several arguments against this outcome and even finds a young man that is not part of the novel yet but that Kitty has met before! There you go...
I don't want to spoil how Leo Rockas managed to finish this story (well, he did not only finish it, he actually wrote almost two thirds of the whole book). But in my opinion he did a good job in developing the story further and concluding it to a satisfying end. Only his dialogues are nothing Jane Austen would have written. Rockas characters speak way to bold and straight-forward, whereas Jane Austen always choose the indirect part with only hinting at something. Leo Rockas also lets the characters repeat their message way too often, as if we didn't get it the first time already. Here you can really tell the difference between the two writers (and I much prefer Austen's style!).
When you know Austens other works, you can notice that this is an early draft. Sometimes you have a paragraph full of narration followed by a whole paragraph only of dialogue (almost like in a play). Normally Austen would have interwoven those parts a lot better.
She also throws us right into the story without introducing her characters properly. At the very first I thought that the main protagonist is also part of the Wynne family, but she is actually their best friend.
Mostly I was confused about the ever changing use of the names Catherine and Kitty. First I thought that they are 2 different people, then that they are the same, then again I was back to the 2 people theory. Until I was finally convinced that they are indeed one and the same.
However, apart from this confusion and the unrefined paragraphs, Jane Austen's writing style and tone is like the one I already know from her other novels. I especially didn't notice how young she was when writing "Catharine" (only 17!). She deploys the same themes and topics as in her novels, and of course the setting and the main character being a young girl that is unmarried, not exactly rich and relying on relatives is also the same. Jane Austen wrote about the things she knew best from her own experience!
Since Austens manuscript is rather short and ends after just three chapters (but with setting the tone quite well and establishing the fundamental elements) it has never been published as a separate work, although there have been several projects where scholars or writers attempted to think up their own "What's next?" version, as Leo Rockas states in his foreword to this edition. I found on the internet a website of Juliet McMaster, an academic who specialised in Jane Austen. She also tried to finish this manuscript with her students and presents the fact that all of Jane Austens heroines marry the guy they first encountered! So it should be quite clear that Kitty ends up with Edward. But then McMaster lists several arguments against this outcome and even finds a young man that is not part of the novel yet but that Kitty has met before! There you go...
I don't want to spoil how Leo Rockas managed to finish this story (well, he did not only finish it, he actually wrote almost two thirds of the whole book). But in my opinion he did a good job in developing the story further and concluding it to a satisfying end. Only his dialogues are nothing Jane Austen would have written. Rockas characters speak way to bold and straight-forward, whereas Jane Austen always choose the indirect part with only hinting at something. Leo Rockas also lets the characters repeat their message way too often, as if we didn't get it the first time already. Here you can really tell the difference between the two writers (and I much prefer Austen's style!).
May 11, 2018
As Austen stories go, short or otherwise, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I can make exceptions for this being a very early work, and also an unfinished one, but the only real joy here is seeing the workings of Austen’s young mind.
Catharine’s story is very similar to those of women in Austen’s later works. A naive, innocent heroine becomes caught up in society life before a young gentleman enters and throws her world into a spin. Although we will never get to hear whether or not their lives tangled up together enough that it led to marriage, we can assume by the well-known Austen formula that she got her man in the end.
I found this difficult for a few reasons, mainly due to Austen’s inexperienced punctuation and general errors. There was a distinct lack of paragraph breaks which meant reading overwhelming walls of text without relief.
Having said all that, it’s amazing what Austen has accomplished with this at a mere seventeen years of age. Her mark is all over it - the beautiful character building, the little hints at the ridiculousness of societal customs, and yes another nineteenth century fuckboy. I would have loved to discover what happened next, but I imagine there are parts of both Catharine and Edward littered throughout some of Austen’s more well known characters.
This is a worthwhile investment in your time if you’re an Austen fangirl as I am. On it’s own, however, it’s a bit disappointing unless you’re going in with the knowledge of its incomplete state.
Catharine’s story is very similar to those of women in Austen’s later works. A naive, innocent heroine becomes caught up in society life before a young gentleman enters and throws her world into a spin. Although we will never get to hear whether or not their lives tangled up together enough that it led to marriage, we can assume by the well-known Austen formula that she got her man in the end.
I found this difficult for a few reasons, mainly due to Austen’s inexperienced punctuation and general errors. There was a distinct lack of paragraph breaks which meant reading overwhelming walls of text without relief.
Having said all that, it’s amazing what Austen has accomplished with this at a mere seventeen years of age. Her mark is all over it - the beautiful character building, the little hints at the ridiculousness of societal customs, and yes another nineteenth century fuckboy. I would have loved to discover what happened next, but I imagine there are parts of both Catharine and Edward littered throughout some of Austen’s more well known characters.
This is a worthwhile investment in your time if you’re an Austen fangirl as I am. On it’s own, however, it’s a bit disappointing unless you’re going in with the knowledge of its incomplete state.
May 2, 2018
This is an early unfinished novel from Austen's youth (possibly 18 years old). It is delightful, and I'm sad that it remains unfinished.
June 28, 2016
It is a shame we do not know where JA was leading these characters. But I now know where one of my favourite Jane Austen quotes comes from; "... but for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short."
September 19, 2015
Very nice early writing not lacking Austen's trademark style. I wish they were finished though.
January 12, 2020
Catharine é uma novela incompleta escrita por Jane Austen e publicada em 1792.
É um livro agradável de ler, muito divertido, com situações cómicas e ternas, típicas da autora. É uma pena que não tenha ficado terminado, gostaria bastante de saber como terminaria. Na verdade, a história mal teve tempo de se desenvolver, mas prometia entretenimento.
É a história de uma jovem orfã criada por um tia que lhe é amorosa, mas rígida no trato e nos modos. A preocupação da jovem com o destino triste das suas duas melhores amigas... e a intervenção de um jovem charmoso, mas pouco preocupado com convenções sociais ou com os sentimentos dos outros. Adoraria saber o que Jane Austen tinha planeado para o final!
É um livro agradável de ler, muito divertido, com situações cómicas e ternas, típicas da autora. É uma pena que não tenha ficado terminado, gostaria bastante de saber como terminaria. Na verdade, a história mal teve tempo de se desenvolver, mas prometia entretenimento.
É a história de uma jovem orfã criada por um tia que lhe é amorosa, mas rígida no trato e nos modos. A preocupação da jovem com o destino triste das suas duas melhores amigas... e a intervenção de um jovem charmoso, mas pouco preocupado com convenções sociais ou com os sentimentos dos outros. Adoraria saber o que Jane Austen tinha planeado para o final!
September 27, 2022
This was SO funny and amusing, a delight to read! It was really interesting to read about characters who clearly heavily inspired characters in future novels Austen wrote. I only wish this was longer and completed!
August 26, 2022
loved the sound of the wynnes, wish we heard more from them. are edward and kitty COUSINS
August 19, 2021
Austen begins, seemingly, with the humour, right off the bat, in dedication. But the story itself is not the outlandish humour that pervades most of Juvenilia. It's more like the work of Austen that her readers are used to, before one begins on the Juvenilia, except here she's still not quite yet changing paragraph when she changes topic.
This book, too, like Sanditon and Three Sisters, finishes abruptly, leaving one wish she'd had time to write it to its completion.
............
"To Miss Austen
"Madam
"Encouraged by your warm patronage of The Beautiful Cassandra, and The History of England, which through your generous support, have obtained a place in every library in the kingdom, and run through threescore editions, I take the liberty of begging the same exertions in favour of the following novel, which I humbly flatter myself, possesses merit beyond any already published, or any that will ever in future appear, except such as may proceed from the pen of,
"Your most grateful Humble servant
"The Author"
............
" ... Her personal attractions had gained her a husband as soon as she had arrived at Bengal, and she had now been married nearly a twelve month. Splendidly, yet unhappily married. United to a man of double her own age, whose disposition was not amiable, and whose manners were unpleasing, though his character was respectable. Kitty had heard twice from her friend since her marriage, but her letters were always unsatisfactory, and though she did not openly avow her feelings, yet every line proved her to be unhappy. She spoke with pleasure of nothing, but of those amusements which they had shared together and which could return no more, and seemed to have no happiness in view but that of returning to England again. Her sister had been taken by another relation the Dowager Lady Halifax as a companion to her daughters, and had accompanied her family into Scotland about the same time of Cecilia's leaving England. From Mary therefore, Kitty had the power of hearing more frequently, but her letters were scarcely more comfortable —. There was not indeed that hopelessness of sorrow in her situation as in her sister's she was not married, and could yet look forward to a change in her circumstances, but situated for the present without any immediate hope of it, in a family where, tho' all were her relations she had no friend, she wrote usually in depressed spirits, which her separation from her sister and her sister's marriage had greatly contributed to make so. ... "
............
" ... The living of Chetwynde was now in the possession of a Mr Dudley, whose family unlike the Wynnes were productive only of vexation and trouble to Mrs Percival and her niece. Mr Dudley, who was the younger son of a very noble family, of a family more famed for their pride than their opulence, tenacious of his dignity, and jealous of his rights, was forever quarrelling, if not with Mrs Percival herself, with her steward and tenants concerning tithes, and with the principal neighbours themselves concerning the respect and parade, he exacted. His wife, an ill-educated, untaught woman of ancient family, was proud of that family almost without knowing why, and like him too was haughty and quarrelsome, without considering for what. Their only daughter, who inherited the ignorance, the insolence, and pride of her parents, was from that beauty of which she was unreasonably vain, considered by them as an irresistible creature, and looked up to as the future restorer, by a splendid marriage, of the dignity which their reduced situation and Mr Dudley's being obliged to take orders for a country living had so much lessened. They at once despised the Percivals as people of mean family, and envied them as people of fortune. They were jealous of their being more respected than themselves and while they affected to consider them as of no consequence, were continually seeking to lessen them in the opinion of the neighbourhood by scandalous and malicious reports. Such a family as this, was ill-calculated to console Kitty for the loss of the Wynnes, or to fill up by their society, those occasionally irksome hours which in so retired a situation would sometimes occur for want of a companion. Her aunt was most excessively fond of her, and miserable if she saw her for a moment out of spirits; yet she lived in such constant apprehension of her marrying imprudently if she were allowed the opportunity of choosing, and was so dissatisfied with her behaviour when she saw her with young men, for it was, from her natural disposition remarkably open and unreserved, that though she frequently wished for her niece's sake, that the neighbourhood were larger, and that she had used herself to mix more with it, yet the recollection of there being young men in almost every family in it, always conquered the wish. The same fears that prevented Mrs Percival's joining much in the society of her neighbours, led her equally to avoid inviting her relations to spend any time in her house; — she had therefore constantly regretted the annual attempt of a distant relation to visit her at Chetwynde, as there was a young man in the family of whom she had heard many traits that alarmed her. This son was however now on his travels, and the repeated solicitations of Kitty, joined to a consciousness of having declined with too little ceremony the frequent overtures of her friends to be admitted, and a real wish to see them herself, easily prevailed on her to press with great earnestness the pleasure of a visit from them during the summer. Mr and Mrs Stanley were accordingly to come, and Catharine, in having an object to look forward to, a something to expect that must inevitably relieve the dullness of a constant tête à tête with her aunt, was so delighted, and her spirits so elevated, that for the three or four days immediately preceding their arrival, she could scarcely fix herself to any employment. ... "
............
" ... Mr and Mrs Stanley were people of large fortune and high fashion. He was a member of the House of Commons, and they were therefore most agreeably necessitated to reside half the year in town where Miss Stanley had been attended by the most capital masters from the time of her being six years old to the last spring, which comprehending a period of twelve years had been dedicated to the acquirement of accomplishments which were now to be displayed and in a few years entirely neglected. She was elegant in her appearance, rather handsome, and naturally not deficient in abilities; but those years which ought to have been spent in the attainment of useful knowledge and mental improvement, had been all bestowed in learning drawing, Italian and music, more especially the latter, and she now united to these accomplishments, an understanding unimproved by reading and a mind totally devoid either of taste or judgement. Her temper was by nature good, but unassisted by reflection, she had neither patience under disappointment, nor could sacrifice her own inclinations to promote the happiness of others. All her ideas were towards the elegance of her appearance, the fashion of her dress, and the admiration she wished them to excite. She professed a love of books without reading, was lively without wit, and generally good humoured without merit. Such was Camilla Stanley; and Catharine, who was prejudiced by her appearance, and who from her solitary situation was ready to like anyone, tho' her understanding and judgement would not otherwise have been easily satisfied, felt almost convinced when she saw her, that Miss Stanley would be the very companion she wanted, and in some degree make amends for the loss of Cecilia and Mary Wynne. ... "
............
" ... She could scarcely resolve what to think of her new acquaintance; she appeared to be shamefully ignorant as to the geography of England, if she had understood her right, and equally devoid of taste and information. Kitty was however unwilling to decide hastily; she was at once desirous of doing Miss Stanley justice, and of having her own wishes in her answered; she determined therefore to suspend all judgement for some time. After supper, the conversation turning on the state of affairs in the political world, Mrs Percival, who was firmly of opinion that the whole race of mankind were degenerating, said that for her part, everything she believed was going to rack and ruin, all order was destroyed over the face of the world, the House of Commons she heard did not break up sometimes till five in the morning, and depravity never was so general before; concluding with a wish that she might live to see the manners of the people in Queen Elizabeth's reign, restored again."
" ... She found no variety in her conversation; she received no information from her but in fashions, and no amusement but in her performance on the harpsichord; and after repeated endeavours to find her what she wished, she was obliged to give up the attempt and to consider it as fruitless. There had occasionally appeared a something like humour in Camilla which had inspired her with hopes, that she might at least have a natural genius, tho' not an improved one, but these sparklings of wit happened so seldom, and were so ill-supported that she was at last convinced of their being merely accidental. All her stock of knowledge was exhausted in a very few days, and when Kitty had learnt from her, how large their house in town was, when the fashionable amusements began, who were the celebrated beauties and who the best milliner, Camilla had nothing further to teach, except the characters of any of her acquaintance as they occurred in conversation, which was done with equal ease and brevity, by saying that the person was either the sweetest creature in the world, and one of whom she was dotingly fond, or horrid, shocking and not fit to be seen.
"As Catharine was very desirous of gaining every possible information as to the characters of the Halifax family, and concluded that Miss Stanley must be acquainted with them, as she seemed to be so with everyone of any consequence, she took an opportunity as Camilla was one day enumerating all the people of rank that her mother visited, of asking her whether Lady Halifax were among the number."
" ... But I was going to ask you whether you have ever seen a Miss Wynne with them?'
"'I know who you mean perfectly — she wears a blue hat —. I have frequently seen her in Brook Street, when I have been at Lady Halifax's balls — she gives one every month during the winter —. But only think how good it is in her to take care of Miss Wynne, for she is a very distant relation, and so poor that, as Miss Halifax told me, her mother was obliged to find her in clothes. Is not it shameful?'
"'That she should be so poor? It is indeed, with such wealthy connexions as the family have.'
"'Oh! no; I mean, was not it shameful in Mr Wynne to leave his children so distressed, when he had actually the living of Chetwynde and two or three curacies, and only four children to provide for —. What would he have done if he had had ten, as many people have?'
"'He would have given them all a good education and have left them all equally poor.'
"'Well I do think there never was so lucky a family. Sir George Fitzgibbon you know sent the eldest girl to India entirely at his own expense, where they say she is most nobly married and the happiest creature in the world — Lady Halifax you see has taken care of the youngest and treats her as if she were her daughter; she does not go out into public with her to be sure; but then she is always present when her ladyship gives her balls, and nothing can be kinder to her than Lady Halifax is; she would have taken her to Cheltenham last year, if there had been room enough at the lodgings, and therefore I do not think that she can have anything to complain of. Then there are the two sons; one of them the Bishop of M—— has got into the army as a lieutenant I suppose; and the other is extremely well off I know, for I have a notion that somebody puts him to school somewhere in Wales. ... "
............
"'For my own part, Catharine' said Mrs Percival 'I have not a doubt but that you caught this toothache by sitting so much in that arbour, for it is always damp. I know it has ruined your constitution entirely; and indeed I do not believe it has been of much service to mine; I sat down in it last May to rest myself, and I have never been quite well since —. I shall order John to pull it all down I assure you.'
"'I know you will not do that, Ma’am,' said Kitty, 'as you must be convinced how unhappy it would make me.'
"'You talk very ridiculously Child; it is all whim and nonsense. Why cannot you fancy this room an arbour!'"
............
"' ... I hope he may not go abroad again.'
"'Do you think he will not?'
"'Oh! dear, to be sure he must, but I wish he may not with all my heart —. You cannot think how fond I am of him! By the bye are not you in love with him yourself?'
"'To be sure I am,' replied Kitty laughing, 'I am in love with every handsome man I see.'
"'That is just like me — I am always in love with every handsome man in the world.'
"'There you out do me,' replied Catharine 'for I am only in love with those I do see.'
"Mrs Percival who was sitting on the other side of her, and who began now to distinguish the words, love and handsome man, turned hastily towards them and said 'What are you talking of, Catharine?' To which Catharine immediately answered with the simple artifice of a child,
"'Nothing, Ma’am.' She had already received a very severe lecture from her aunt on the imprudence of her behaviour during the whole evening; she blamed her for coming to the ball, for coming in the same carriage with Edward Stanley, and still more for entering the room with him. For the last-mentioned offence Catharine knew not what apology to give, and tho' she longed in answer to the second to say that she had not thought it would be civil to make Mr Stanley walk, she dared not so to trifle with her aunt, who would have been but the more offended by it. The first accusation however she considered as very unreasonable, as she thought herself perfectly justified in coming. This conversation continued till Edward Stanley entering the room came instantly towards her, and telling her that everyone waited for her to begin the next dance led her to the top of the room, for Kitty, impatient to escape from so unpleasant a companion, without the least hesitation, or one civil scruple at being so distinguished, immediately gave him her hand, and joyfully left her seat. This conduct however was highly resented by several young ladies present, and among the rest by Miss Stanley whose regard for her brother tho' excessive, and whose affection for Kitty tho' prodigious, were not proof against such an injury to her importance and her peace. Edward had however only consulted his own inclinations in desiring Miss Percival to begin the dance, nor had he any reason to know that it was either wished or expected by anyone else in the party. As an heiress she was certainly of consequence, but her birth gave her no other claim to it, for her father had been a merchant. It was this very circumstance which rendered this unfortunate affair so offensive to Camilla, for tho' she would sometimes boast in the pride of her heart, and her eagerness to be admired that she did not know who her grandfather had been, and was as ignorant of everything relative to genealogy as to astronomy, (and she might have added, geography) yet she was really proud of her family and connexions, and easily offended if they were treated with neglect."
"Kitty in the meantime remained insensible of having given anyone offence, and therefore unable either to offer an apology, or make a reparation; her whole attention was occupied by the happiness she enjoyed in dancing with the most elegant young man in the room, and everyone else was equally unregarded. The evening indeed to her, passed off delightfully; he was her partner during the greatest part of it, and the united attractions that he possessed of person, address and vivacity, had easily gained that preference from Kitty which they seldom fail of obtaining from everyone. She was too happy to care either for her aunt's ill humour which she could not help remarking, or for the alteration in Camilla's behaviour which forced itself at last on her observations. Her spirits were elevated above the influence of displeasure in anyone, and she was equally indifferent as to the cause of Camilla's, or the continuance of her aunt's. ... "
............
"'I do not speak, Sir,' she continued, 'out of any disrespect to you, but I could not answer it to myself to allow of his stay; there is no knowing what might be the consequence of it, if he were to continue here, for girls nowadays will always give a handsome young man the preference before any other, tho' for why, I never could discover, for what after all is youth and beauty! It is but a poor substitute for real worth and merit; believe me Cousin that, whatever people may say to the contrary, there is certainly nothing like virtue for making us what we ought to be, and as to a young man's being young and handsome and having an agreeable person, it is nothing at all to the purpose for he had much better be respectable. I always did think so, and I always shall, and therefore you will oblige me very much by desiring your son to leave Chetwynde, or I cannot be answerable for what may happen between him and my niece. You will be surprised to hear me say it,' she continued, lowering her voice, ‘but truth will out, and I must own that Kitty is one of the most impudent girls that ever existed. I assure you Sir, that I have seen her sit and laugh and whisper with a young man whom she has not seen above half a dozen times. Her behaviour indeed is scandalous, and therefore I beg you will send your son away immediately, or everything will be at sixes and sevens.'"
" ... Mr Stanley went immediately to Edward, to whom he repeated the conversation that had passed between Mrs Percival and himself, and strongly pointed out the necessity of his leaving Chetwynde the next day, since his world was already engaged for it. His son however appeared struck only by the ridiculous apprehensions of Mrs Percival; and highly delighted at having occasioned them himself, seemed engrossed alone in thinking how he might increase them, without attending to any other part of his father's conversation. Mr Stanley could get no determinate answer from him, and tho' he still hoped for the best, they parted almost in anger on his side.
"His son though by no means disposed to marry, or any otherwise ....
This book, too, like Sanditon and Three Sisters, finishes abruptly, leaving one wish she'd had time to write it to its completion.
............
"To Miss Austen
"Madam
"Encouraged by your warm patronage of The Beautiful Cassandra, and The History of England, which through your generous support, have obtained a place in every library in the kingdom, and run through threescore editions, I take the liberty of begging the same exertions in favour of the following novel, which I humbly flatter myself, possesses merit beyond any already published, or any that will ever in future appear, except such as may proceed from the pen of,
"Your most grateful Humble servant
"The Author"
............
" ... Her personal attractions had gained her a husband as soon as she had arrived at Bengal, and she had now been married nearly a twelve month. Splendidly, yet unhappily married. United to a man of double her own age, whose disposition was not amiable, and whose manners were unpleasing, though his character was respectable. Kitty had heard twice from her friend since her marriage, but her letters were always unsatisfactory, and though she did not openly avow her feelings, yet every line proved her to be unhappy. She spoke with pleasure of nothing, but of those amusements which they had shared together and which could return no more, and seemed to have no happiness in view but that of returning to England again. Her sister had been taken by another relation the Dowager Lady Halifax as a companion to her daughters, and had accompanied her family into Scotland about the same time of Cecilia's leaving England. From Mary therefore, Kitty had the power of hearing more frequently, but her letters were scarcely more comfortable —. There was not indeed that hopelessness of sorrow in her situation as in her sister's she was not married, and could yet look forward to a change in her circumstances, but situated for the present without any immediate hope of it, in a family where, tho' all were her relations she had no friend, she wrote usually in depressed spirits, which her separation from her sister and her sister's marriage had greatly contributed to make so. ... "
............
" ... The living of Chetwynde was now in the possession of a Mr Dudley, whose family unlike the Wynnes were productive only of vexation and trouble to Mrs Percival and her niece. Mr Dudley, who was the younger son of a very noble family, of a family more famed for their pride than their opulence, tenacious of his dignity, and jealous of his rights, was forever quarrelling, if not with Mrs Percival herself, with her steward and tenants concerning tithes, and with the principal neighbours themselves concerning the respect and parade, he exacted. His wife, an ill-educated, untaught woman of ancient family, was proud of that family almost without knowing why, and like him too was haughty and quarrelsome, without considering for what. Their only daughter, who inherited the ignorance, the insolence, and pride of her parents, was from that beauty of which she was unreasonably vain, considered by them as an irresistible creature, and looked up to as the future restorer, by a splendid marriage, of the dignity which their reduced situation and Mr Dudley's being obliged to take orders for a country living had so much lessened. They at once despised the Percivals as people of mean family, and envied them as people of fortune. They were jealous of their being more respected than themselves and while they affected to consider them as of no consequence, were continually seeking to lessen them in the opinion of the neighbourhood by scandalous and malicious reports. Such a family as this, was ill-calculated to console Kitty for the loss of the Wynnes, or to fill up by their society, those occasionally irksome hours which in so retired a situation would sometimes occur for want of a companion. Her aunt was most excessively fond of her, and miserable if she saw her for a moment out of spirits; yet she lived in such constant apprehension of her marrying imprudently if she were allowed the opportunity of choosing, and was so dissatisfied with her behaviour when she saw her with young men, for it was, from her natural disposition remarkably open and unreserved, that though she frequently wished for her niece's sake, that the neighbourhood were larger, and that she had used herself to mix more with it, yet the recollection of there being young men in almost every family in it, always conquered the wish. The same fears that prevented Mrs Percival's joining much in the society of her neighbours, led her equally to avoid inviting her relations to spend any time in her house; — she had therefore constantly regretted the annual attempt of a distant relation to visit her at Chetwynde, as there was a young man in the family of whom she had heard many traits that alarmed her. This son was however now on his travels, and the repeated solicitations of Kitty, joined to a consciousness of having declined with too little ceremony the frequent overtures of her friends to be admitted, and a real wish to see them herself, easily prevailed on her to press with great earnestness the pleasure of a visit from them during the summer. Mr and Mrs Stanley were accordingly to come, and Catharine, in having an object to look forward to, a something to expect that must inevitably relieve the dullness of a constant tête à tête with her aunt, was so delighted, and her spirits so elevated, that for the three or four days immediately preceding their arrival, she could scarcely fix herself to any employment. ... "
............
" ... Mr and Mrs Stanley were people of large fortune and high fashion. He was a member of the House of Commons, and they were therefore most agreeably necessitated to reside half the year in town where Miss Stanley had been attended by the most capital masters from the time of her being six years old to the last spring, which comprehending a period of twelve years had been dedicated to the acquirement of accomplishments which were now to be displayed and in a few years entirely neglected. She was elegant in her appearance, rather handsome, and naturally not deficient in abilities; but those years which ought to have been spent in the attainment of useful knowledge and mental improvement, had been all bestowed in learning drawing, Italian and music, more especially the latter, and she now united to these accomplishments, an understanding unimproved by reading and a mind totally devoid either of taste or judgement. Her temper was by nature good, but unassisted by reflection, she had neither patience under disappointment, nor could sacrifice her own inclinations to promote the happiness of others. All her ideas were towards the elegance of her appearance, the fashion of her dress, and the admiration she wished them to excite. She professed a love of books without reading, was lively without wit, and generally good humoured without merit. Such was Camilla Stanley; and Catharine, who was prejudiced by her appearance, and who from her solitary situation was ready to like anyone, tho' her understanding and judgement would not otherwise have been easily satisfied, felt almost convinced when she saw her, that Miss Stanley would be the very companion she wanted, and in some degree make amends for the loss of Cecilia and Mary Wynne. ... "
............
" ... She could scarcely resolve what to think of her new acquaintance; she appeared to be shamefully ignorant as to the geography of England, if she had understood her right, and equally devoid of taste and information. Kitty was however unwilling to decide hastily; she was at once desirous of doing Miss Stanley justice, and of having her own wishes in her answered; she determined therefore to suspend all judgement for some time. After supper, the conversation turning on the state of affairs in the political world, Mrs Percival, who was firmly of opinion that the whole race of mankind were degenerating, said that for her part, everything she believed was going to rack and ruin, all order was destroyed over the face of the world, the House of Commons she heard did not break up sometimes till five in the morning, and depravity never was so general before; concluding with a wish that she might live to see the manners of the people in Queen Elizabeth's reign, restored again."
" ... She found no variety in her conversation; she received no information from her but in fashions, and no amusement but in her performance on the harpsichord; and after repeated endeavours to find her what she wished, she was obliged to give up the attempt and to consider it as fruitless. There had occasionally appeared a something like humour in Camilla which had inspired her with hopes, that she might at least have a natural genius, tho' not an improved one, but these sparklings of wit happened so seldom, and were so ill-supported that she was at last convinced of their being merely accidental. All her stock of knowledge was exhausted in a very few days, and when Kitty had learnt from her, how large their house in town was, when the fashionable amusements began, who were the celebrated beauties and who the best milliner, Camilla had nothing further to teach, except the characters of any of her acquaintance as they occurred in conversation, which was done with equal ease and brevity, by saying that the person was either the sweetest creature in the world, and one of whom she was dotingly fond, or horrid, shocking and not fit to be seen.
"As Catharine was very desirous of gaining every possible information as to the characters of the Halifax family, and concluded that Miss Stanley must be acquainted with them, as she seemed to be so with everyone of any consequence, she took an opportunity as Camilla was one day enumerating all the people of rank that her mother visited, of asking her whether Lady Halifax were among the number."
" ... But I was going to ask you whether you have ever seen a Miss Wynne with them?'
"'I know who you mean perfectly — she wears a blue hat —. I have frequently seen her in Brook Street, when I have been at Lady Halifax's balls — she gives one every month during the winter —. But only think how good it is in her to take care of Miss Wynne, for she is a very distant relation, and so poor that, as Miss Halifax told me, her mother was obliged to find her in clothes. Is not it shameful?'
"'That she should be so poor? It is indeed, with such wealthy connexions as the family have.'
"'Oh! no; I mean, was not it shameful in Mr Wynne to leave his children so distressed, when he had actually the living of Chetwynde and two or three curacies, and only four children to provide for —. What would he have done if he had had ten, as many people have?'
"'He would have given them all a good education and have left them all equally poor.'
"'Well I do think there never was so lucky a family. Sir George Fitzgibbon you know sent the eldest girl to India entirely at his own expense, where they say she is most nobly married and the happiest creature in the world — Lady Halifax you see has taken care of the youngest and treats her as if she were her daughter; she does not go out into public with her to be sure; but then she is always present when her ladyship gives her balls, and nothing can be kinder to her than Lady Halifax is; she would have taken her to Cheltenham last year, if there had been room enough at the lodgings, and therefore I do not think that she can have anything to complain of. Then there are the two sons; one of them the Bishop of M—— has got into the army as a lieutenant I suppose; and the other is extremely well off I know, for I have a notion that somebody puts him to school somewhere in Wales. ... "
............
"'For my own part, Catharine' said Mrs Percival 'I have not a doubt but that you caught this toothache by sitting so much in that arbour, for it is always damp. I know it has ruined your constitution entirely; and indeed I do not believe it has been of much service to mine; I sat down in it last May to rest myself, and I have never been quite well since —. I shall order John to pull it all down I assure you.'
"'I know you will not do that, Ma’am,' said Kitty, 'as you must be convinced how unhappy it would make me.'
"'You talk very ridiculously Child; it is all whim and nonsense. Why cannot you fancy this room an arbour!'"
............
"' ... I hope he may not go abroad again.'
"'Do you think he will not?'
"'Oh! dear, to be sure he must, but I wish he may not with all my heart —. You cannot think how fond I am of him! By the bye are not you in love with him yourself?'
"'To be sure I am,' replied Kitty laughing, 'I am in love with every handsome man I see.'
"'That is just like me — I am always in love with every handsome man in the world.'
"'There you out do me,' replied Catharine 'for I am only in love with those I do see.'
"Mrs Percival who was sitting on the other side of her, and who began now to distinguish the words, love and handsome man, turned hastily towards them and said 'What are you talking of, Catharine?' To which Catharine immediately answered with the simple artifice of a child,
"'Nothing, Ma’am.' She had already received a very severe lecture from her aunt on the imprudence of her behaviour during the whole evening; she blamed her for coming to the ball, for coming in the same carriage with Edward Stanley, and still more for entering the room with him. For the last-mentioned offence Catharine knew not what apology to give, and tho' she longed in answer to the second to say that she had not thought it would be civil to make Mr Stanley walk, she dared not so to trifle with her aunt, who would have been but the more offended by it. The first accusation however she considered as very unreasonable, as she thought herself perfectly justified in coming. This conversation continued till Edward Stanley entering the room came instantly towards her, and telling her that everyone waited for her to begin the next dance led her to the top of the room, for Kitty, impatient to escape from so unpleasant a companion, without the least hesitation, or one civil scruple at being so distinguished, immediately gave him her hand, and joyfully left her seat. This conduct however was highly resented by several young ladies present, and among the rest by Miss Stanley whose regard for her brother tho' excessive, and whose affection for Kitty tho' prodigious, were not proof against such an injury to her importance and her peace. Edward had however only consulted his own inclinations in desiring Miss Percival to begin the dance, nor had he any reason to know that it was either wished or expected by anyone else in the party. As an heiress she was certainly of consequence, but her birth gave her no other claim to it, for her father had been a merchant. It was this very circumstance which rendered this unfortunate affair so offensive to Camilla, for tho' she would sometimes boast in the pride of her heart, and her eagerness to be admired that she did not know who her grandfather had been, and was as ignorant of everything relative to genealogy as to astronomy, (and she might have added, geography) yet she was really proud of her family and connexions, and easily offended if they were treated with neglect."
"Kitty in the meantime remained insensible of having given anyone offence, and therefore unable either to offer an apology, or make a reparation; her whole attention was occupied by the happiness she enjoyed in dancing with the most elegant young man in the room, and everyone else was equally unregarded. The evening indeed to her, passed off delightfully; he was her partner during the greatest part of it, and the united attractions that he possessed of person, address and vivacity, had easily gained that preference from Kitty which they seldom fail of obtaining from everyone. She was too happy to care either for her aunt's ill humour which she could not help remarking, or for the alteration in Camilla's behaviour which forced itself at last on her observations. Her spirits were elevated above the influence of displeasure in anyone, and she was equally indifferent as to the cause of Camilla's, or the continuance of her aunt's. ... "
............
"'I do not speak, Sir,' she continued, 'out of any disrespect to you, but I could not answer it to myself to allow of his stay; there is no knowing what might be the consequence of it, if he were to continue here, for girls nowadays will always give a handsome young man the preference before any other, tho' for why, I never could discover, for what after all is youth and beauty! It is but a poor substitute for real worth and merit; believe me Cousin that, whatever people may say to the contrary, there is certainly nothing like virtue for making us what we ought to be, and as to a young man's being young and handsome and having an agreeable person, it is nothing at all to the purpose for he had much better be respectable. I always did think so, and I always shall, and therefore you will oblige me very much by desiring your son to leave Chetwynde, or I cannot be answerable for what may happen between him and my niece. You will be surprised to hear me say it,' she continued, lowering her voice, ‘but truth will out, and I must own that Kitty is one of the most impudent girls that ever existed. I assure you Sir, that I have seen her sit and laugh and whisper with a young man whom she has not seen above half a dozen times. Her behaviour indeed is scandalous, and therefore I beg you will send your son away immediately, or everything will be at sixes and sevens.'"
" ... Mr Stanley went immediately to Edward, to whom he repeated the conversation that had passed between Mrs Percival and himself, and strongly pointed out the necessity of his leaving Chetwynde the next day, since his world was already engaged for it. His son however appeared struck only by the ridiculous apprehensions of Mrs Percival; and highly delighted at having occasioned them himself, seemed engrossed alone in thinking how he might increase them, without attending to any other part of his father's conversation. Mr Stanley could get no determinate answer from him, and tho' he still hoped for the best, they parted almost in anger on his side.
"His son though by no means disposed to marry, or any otherwise ....
November 20, 2022
2.5 STARS
2.5/5 for imagining what could have been if Austen had ever finished this story. Northanger Abbey is probably the closest we ever got to knowing what happened to Catharine.
2.5/5 for imagining what could have been if Austen had ever finished this story. Northanger Abbey is probably the closest we ever got to knowing what happened to Catharine.
November 6, 2021
For my full review: https://girlwithherheadinabook.co.uk/...
Catharine or the Bower is an unfinished piece of Austen's juvenilia. It is often seen as significant as it represents a shift in tone between the high-spirited burlesques of Love and Freindship and her later more emotionally complex novels. Certain critics have tried to compare to Austen's other incomplete works Sanditon and The Watsons and here Leo Rockas attempts to complete the story.
The novel's heroine is Catharine Percival, better known as Kitty. She shows more signs of being the classical heroine of early Regency literature than Austen's later more nuanced protagonists. Kitty is virtuous, beautiful and educated. She is also an orphan, the ward of her aunt, Mrs Percival, who seems to have been an early fore-runner of Mrs Norris. With her aunt determined to prevent Kitty from meeting unsuitable young men, she never meets anyone. To make matters worse, Kitty's childhood friends the Wynnes have all been scattered to the winds following the death of their clergyman father. Mrs Percival only allows Kitty to befriend local girl Camilla Stanley when Camilla's brother has been confirmed to have moved to the Continent. Unfortunately Camilla proves vain and vapid but when her brother Edward unexpectedly returns, flirtation occurs. This naturally causes Mrs Percival terrible chagrin and when Edward is packed off back to France, Kitty is left to ponder what might be between them.
It was here that Austen stopped writing and that Rockas picked up the story. Unfortunately, Rockas' writing does take matters at something of a hairpin turn and the change in tone was somewhat jarring. Similarly, the choice to pick up characters from Lady Susan and jam them into the narrative also took me out of the story. The reappearances of the Wynnes and fates of the Stanley siblings all felt artificial. They had far more in common with the ludicrous fantasies of Love and Freindship than of what Austen appeared to have been trying here. Austen passes comment on the governess trade, on young girls being sent out to India to marry and on education and the position of women. Given how young she was at the time of writing, this is a very sophisticated attempt to query accepted attitudes within society.
Indeed, the dynamic between Kitty and Edward also raises other questions. He seems to sincerely care for her but he also has a rakish reputation. We have seen how this character type will play out in later scenarios such as Henry Crawford's ill-fated courtship of Fanny Price in Mansfield Park, Willoughby's ill-starred love for Marianne and also in the manipulative conduct of Frank Churchill in Emma. Typically, Austen steered her heroines towards steadier characters than Edward Stanley. But there is still something good-natured about him as a male lead that makes me hope for better things. But then I also think Henry Crawford would be a better life partner than Edmund Bertram so maybe I’m not the best judge. It was a shame that Rockas was so keen to knock any chance of romance squarely on the head in his continuation.
As spin-offs or continuations go, this one was not particularly compelling. However, it did draw my attention to a significant moment in Austen’s development as a writer. Glimpses of characters such as Mrs Percival show early signs of Austen’s genius for characterisation and there are fascinating moments of budding radicalism through Kitty. I have already forgotten much of Rockas’ story but I will always remember Kitty and wish her well in her bower.
Catharine or the Bower is an unfinished piece of Austen's juvenilia. It is often seen as significant as it represents a shift in tone between the high-spirited burlesques of Love and Freindship and her later more emotionally complex novels. Certain critics have tried to compare to Austen's other incomplete works Sanditon and The Watsons and here Leo Rockas attempts to complete the story.
The novel's heroine is Catharine Percival, better known as Kitty. She shows more signs of being the classical heroine of early Regency literature than Austen's later more nuanced protagonists. Kitty is virtuous, beautiful and educated. She is also an orphan, the ward of her aunt, Mrs Percival, who seems to have been an early fore-runner of Mrs Norris. With her aunt determined to prevent Kitty from meeting unsuitable young men, she never meets anyone. To make matters worse, Kitty's childhood friends the Wynnes have all been scattered to the winds following the death of their clergyman father. Mrs Percival only allows Kitty to befriend local girl Camilla Stanley when Camilla's brother has been confirmed to have moved to the Continent. Unfortunately Camilla proves vain and vapid but when her brother Edward unexpectedly returns, flirtation occurs. This naturally causes Mrs Percival terrible chagrin and when Edward is packed off back to France, Kitty is left to ponder what might be between them.
It was here that Austen stopped writing and that Rockas picked up the story. Unfortunately, Rockas' writing does take matters at something of a hairpin turn and the change in tone was somewhat jarring. Similarly, the choice to pick up characters from Lady Susan and jam them into the narrative also took me out of the story. The reappearances of the Wynnes and fates of the Stanley siblings all felt artificial. They had far more in common with the ludicrous fantasies of Love and Freindship than of what Austen appeared to have been trying here. Austen passes comment on the governess trade, on young girls being sent out to India to marry and on education and the position of women. Given how young she was at the time of writing, this is a very sophisticated attempt to query accepted attitudes within society.
Indeed, the dynamic between Kitty and Edward also raises other questions. He seems to sincerely care for her but he also has a rakish reputation. We have seen how this character type will play out in later scenarios such as Henry Crawford's ill-fated courtship of Fanny Price in Mansfield Park, Willoughby's ill-starred love for Marianne and also in the manipulative conduct of Frank Churchill in Emma. Typically, Austen steered her heroines towards steadier characters than Edward Stanley. But there is still something good-natured about him as a male lead that makes me hope for better things. But then I also think Henry Crawford would be a better life partner than Edmund Bertram so maybe I’m not the best judge. It was a shame that Rockas was so keen to knock any chance of romance squarely on the head in his continuation.
As spin-offs or continuations go, this one was not particularly compelling. However, it did draw my attention to a significant moment in Austen’s development as a writer. Glimpses of characters such as Mrs Percival show early signs of Austen’s genius for characterisation and there are fascinating moments of budding radicalism through Kitty. I have already forgotten much of Rockas’ story but I will always remember Kitty and wish her well in her bower.
June 9, 2018
I love all Jane Austen novels and of course I like this one, too. I think it was written between 1787 and 1793. It`s about this orphaned girl, Catharine, who lives with her aunt. She is all alone after her two best friend leave her. Then one day the Stanley`s come to visit. Their daughter, Camile, is really boring and only cares about fashion and music. She doesn`t read the same books Catharine reads.So they don`t have anything to talk about.(It`s mostly Camile talking about her new hat. And that reminded me of the letters Jane Austen wrote to Cassandra about decorating her hat.)
Then Camile`s brother, Edward, shows up. He seems very fond of Catharine and they go to a ball together and so on. And then he leaves. But before that he asks his siter to tell Catharine that he loves her and that she shouldn`t marry before he returns.
And then.......The novel ends!(I just now saw in that description that it is unfinished.)
Just like that. Don`t get me wrong the writing style was great and the characters were, too. But nothing happens. Did Edward marry Catharine? Or was her aunt outraged and didn`t let them? So did they ran away? Or maybe Edward`s parents forbid him to marry her! So he married another girl, but he was still in love with Catharine and they had an affair, but Edward`s new wife found out and tried to ruin Catharine`s life. And maybe then they had to run to India and go to Catharine`s friend. And......and that`s my imagination running wild. I should write a sequel, because I seem to have so many ideas.
The most irritating character was Camile. She reminded me of a friend of mine. At first she hated the Dudley`s and then they decide to have a ball and she loves them and can`t stop talking about what noble, good, kind and generouse people they are. And then that hat from London. I don`t know why it irritated me so much. It`s just....All the girls are gonna love my hat and they will be jealouse and they will want the same. And it will arrive just in time for the ball. The hat. The hat. The hat. If I was in Catharine`s place I would have slapped Camile, the very least. But Catharine and I, we are not alike. She is so quiet and obidient and I`m well me.
Now about Edward. I know Austen writes about true love, but I don`t think Edward is truly in love with Catharine. I mean, he just met her. He might be attracted by her beauty, but in love- no. And maybe if the novel was finished there would have been another character, a family friend or someone else Catharine knew and she would have fallen in love with him. Just I don`t think true love is something happening that fast. Look at Eizabeth and Darcy. They hated each other or they didn`t like each other the very least. And Emma and Mr. Knightly, well they didn`t hate each other, but there wasn`t any "Don`t marry untill I come back!!" stuff.
I`m currently reading Sense and sensibility. And I`m going to star Love and friendship soon.(or imidiatly)
Then Camile`s brother, Edward, shows up. He seems very fond of Catharine and they go to a ball together and so on. And then he leaves. But before that he asks his siter to tell Catharine that he loves her and that she shouldn`t marry before he returns.
And then.......The novel ends!(I just now saw in that description that it is unfinished.)
Just like that. Don`t get me wrong the writing style was great and the characters were, too. But nothing happens. Did Edward marry Catharine? Or was her aunt outraged and didn`t let them? So did they ran away? Or maybe Edward`s parents forbid him to marry her! So he married another girl, but he was still in love with Catharine and they had an affair, but Edward`s new wife found out and tried to ruin Catharine`s life. And maybe then they had to run to India and go to Catharine`s friend. And......and that`s my imagination running wild. I should write a sequel, because I seem to have so many ideas.
The most irritating character was Camile. She reminded me of a friend of mine. At first she hated the Dudley`s and then they decide to have a ball and she loves them and can`t stop talking about what noble, good, kind and generouse people they are. And then that hat from London. I don`t know why it irritated me so much. It`s just....All the girls are gonna love my hat and they will be jealouse and they will want the same. And it will arrive just in time for the ball. The hat. The hat. The hat. If I was in Catharine`s place I would have slapped Camile, the very least. But Catharine and I, we are not alike. She is so quiet and obidient and I`m well me.
Now about Edward. I know Austen writes about true love, but I don`t think Edward is truly in love with Catharine. I mean, he just met her. He might be attracted by her beauty, but in love- no. And maybe if the novel was finished there would have been another character, a family friend or someone else Catharine knew and she would have fallen in love with him. Just I don`t think true love is something happening that fast. Look at Eizabeth and Darcy. They hated each other or they didn`t like each other the very least. And Emma and Mr. Knightly, well they didn`t hate each other, but there wasn`t any "Don`t marry untill I come back!!" stuff.
I`m currently reading Sense and sensibility. And I`m going to star Love and friendship soon.(or imidiatly)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2020
“Catharine or The Bower” is one of Austein’s not finished works. She started to write it before she wrote all her well known books, and she used characters from this draft in her other books. Leo Rockas, who has studied Austein’s books, has taken the draft, added the missing parts using his knowledge about her books.
Austen books have fairly similar stories and have similar outcomes - heroine’s family (usually big and loud) and hero (tall, moody and independent), they meet, at first they keep apart, then something happens and they need to communicate more, so being more together ends in falling in love. Her stories have humor and they have drama.
But “Catharine” does not have this well known story. Here are a lot of single young people, they get together, they fall apart, they are the best for each other, they should not be together, they look for love and for the most beneficial partner. In a way you could see in this book, how the sisters Bennets and siblings Bertsams were created and this story is not just Austen like, it is also Dickens like.
In a way, it's a good story, but at the same time I feel that the story lacks the substance that Austen’s finished stories have.
Austen books have fairly similar stories and have similar outcomes - heroine’s family (usually big and loud) and hero (tall, moody and independent), they meet, at first they keep apart, then something happens and they need to communicate more, so being more together ends in falling in love. Her stories have humor and they have drama.
But “Catharine” does not have this well known story. Here are a lot of single young people, they get together, they fall apart, they are the best for each other, they should not be together, they look for love and for the most beneficial partner. In a way you could see in this book, how the sisters Bennets and siblings Bertsams were created and this story is not just Austen like, it is also Dickens like.
In a way, it's a good story, but at the same time I feel that the story lacks the substance that Austen’s finished stories have.
July 1, 2020
normally I Dont read Classic novels, but lately i have been needing to read some thing othere then my thrillers and cozies. Im trying to catch up with my arc reading and forgot that this was on my kindke so isaid what the heck. Now from the introduction of the story my understanding is that this was an unpublished story. and that the co-author states that the characters eventually came to play in other stories..
not that all classics are dull or slow but i felt that while i enjoyed the experience it kinda felt like Ms Austen was brain storming with this story then actually writing a novel.. there is a common thread in the story but i felt like there wasnt much point to the story line.. but that ok, as I said it was still an experience that i enjoyed.
not that all classics are dull or slow but i felt that while i enjoyed the experience it kinda felt like Ms Austen was brain storming with this story then actually writing a novel.. there is a common thread in the story but i felt like there wasnt much point to the story line.. but that ok, as I said it was still an experience that i enjoyed.
May 8, 2012
Written in 1792, when Austen was only 17, it nonetheless shows what enormous literary talent she already had. In just 62 pages, Austen manages to sketch the characters efficiently and well: Catharine Percival, thoughtful, intelligent, spirited and vivacious, if a little naïve; Camilla Stanley, shallow, flighty and self-contradictory; Edward Stanley, young, handsome, very vain and provocative. The bower of the title was constructed by Catharine and her dear friends Cecilia and Mary Wynne, and is her refuge in times of unhappiness. It is a great pity that the reader does not get to see the plot unfold.
May 14, 2012
Surprisingly, I really loved this! I wasn't expecting to because I've never got on with Jane Austen before, but I feel like this may be the beginning of a long friendship... Mansfield Park is next once I get through all of the reservations that have just come my way in the library!
September 20, 2020
It really upsets me that this is an unfinished story, because I would love to know how it ends. This is a bit truer to Jane Austen's other writings and it's more like her other novels than any of her other juvenilia. I wonder how she was planning on finishing it.
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