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Evelyn
"Evelyn", racconto giovanile e incompiuto di Jane Austen – scritto nel 1792 quando aveva appena sedici anni – è uno spassoso “racconto dell’assurdo”, un divertissement in cui l’autrice riesce a sovvertire, grazie alla sua già pungente ironia, mode e stereotipi letterari del suo tempo – dal romanzo gotico al sentimental novel. L’edizione è arricchita dai contributi postumi dei nipoti James e Anna che testimoniano quanto la passione per la letteratura fosse profondamente radicata all’interno della cerchia familiare di Austen. Inoltre l’introduzione che accompagna il volume guida il lettore tra le particolarità linguistiche del manoscritto originale e i riferimenti culturali del tempo. Molto più di un semplice esercizio giovanile, "Evelyn" è un piccolo capolavoro di satira letteraria, che anticipa con freschezza e originalità la voce narrativa dell’autrice di capolavori quali "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Emma"
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1792
About the author
Jane Austen
3,938 books76.3k 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 9, 2025
In a retired part of the County of Sussex there is a village (for what I know to the Contrary) called Evelyn, perhaps one of the most beautiful Spots in the south of England.Evelyn is a desperately sad and moving morality tale about a young man seeking happiness and getting constantly thwarted by the Fates, by the death of loved ones, by his own stupidity, insensitivity and… Hang on, have I got this right? Is this not really the improving story that one would expect from the majestic pen of the august Jane Austen? Is she, can she be, joshing with us?
Well yes, of course, the term Austenesque encompasses so many aspects of her writing, wit being among the chiefest. But, this being one of the pieces she began in her mid-teens – sixteen, to be precise – the wit is unalloyed with the pathos we find in her more mature works; if anything, it is bathos that reigns supreme.
And it begins with the title. Evelyn raises hopes of it, as with Frances Burney’s Evelina (1778), being about a protagonist with that personal name, or a member of a family with that surname, but not with it being a village place name; and even that’s not certain, for all that (as she says) the young Jane knows to the contrary.
This is the premise: Mr Frederick Gower of Carlisle – whom we will learn is supposed to be on a quest which will take him if not overseas then over a stretch of water – gets waylaid by the rural beauty of a Sussex hamlet. After enquiring from Mrs Sarah Willis, the landlady of local alehouse the White Horse, that there might be a place he could let, he is entertained by the Webbs in what is to his eyes the perfect symmetrical House in its circular paddock surrounded by a boundary fence, with its uniform shrubbery, rose trees, and strategically placed cows.
The generous Mr and Mrs Webb graciously offer him food, money, the House, and the elder daughter Rose in marriage, and after he graciously accepts they depart forthwith, the first real indication that this tale is a burlesque, from an Italian word meaning something ludicrous. And so it proceeds, with Frederic after some time elapses being reminded of his urgent quest to seek a portrait at a picturesque but forbidding Castle ‘abroad’ – namely, on the Isle of Wight.
There are deaths, and quasi deaths, and ungenerous aristocrats, and travels to and from Cumbria, and effusive correspondence, and new suitors and remarriages, and – ooh, oodles more, all narrated with a perfectly straight face. It’s all a foretaste, albeit on a smaller scale, of the equally ludicrous parody Austen was to outline in later years in Plan of a Novel according to Hints from Various Quarters (1816) and of the blistering criticism which George Eliot was even later to lavish on Victorian romances in ‘Silly Novels by Lady Novelists’ (1856).
Evelyn appeared, together with the unfinished Catherine, or the Bower, in the last of Austen’s teenage notebooks, Volume the Third. There’s evidence that she may have collaborated with a nephew and a niece to add the finishing touches to the burlesque because although the story begins by saying the events apparently happened twenty years before – that is, in the 1770s – one of the epistles with which the narrative concludes has the year 1809 attached to it, indicating when the collaboration produces the bathetic end to Frederic’s saga.
"Mr and Mrs Gower resided many years at Evelyn enjoying perfect happiness the just reward of their virtues …" Certain types of humour often work best by eschewing silly voices and knowing winks to the audience, achieving the required results by being delivered with a po face and a serious demeanour. This far from cautionary tale may well – as I found myself – repay being read in an equally earnest fashion.
September 7, 2025
Brevissimo scritto giovanile dell'autrice inglese che ho trovato irriverente e simpatico. Lasciato incompiuto e affidato alle conclusioni dei nipoti della scrittrice, sicuramente quella di James Edward Austen è più in linea con l'atmosfera del racconto austeniano. Apprezzato più di quello che pensavo.
May 14, 2023
Questo è uno degli scritti giovanili di Jane Austen, molto breve ma lasciato incompiuto - ma due diversi e possibili finali sono stati scritti da due nipoti della Austen.
Come al solito la Austen prende in giro la sua società contemporanea e i suoi usi e costumi e Frederick, il nostro protagonista, è un personaggio decisamente sopra le righe - così come sono tutti gli altri comprimari.
Evelyn si presenta quasi come una storia dalle connotazioni surreali, una pantomima, una presa in giro ai massimi livelli di tutto ciò che la Austen ha sempre criticato e di cui si è sempre presa gioco.
Ogni personaggio è così portato all'estremo che quasi non si riesce a credere a cosa si stia leggendo ed è naturale non prendere per vera e reale ogni singola parola e ogni singola situazione che vengono messe in scena.
In quanto ai finali, ho preferito quello scritto dal nipote James Edward Austen piuttosto che quello scritto dalla nipote Anna Lefroy - l'ho trovato più in linea con il materiale originale.
Come al solito la Austen prende in giro la sua società contemporanea e i suoi usi e costumi e Frederick, il nostro protagonista, è un personaggio decisamente sopra le righe - così come sono tutti gli altri comprimari.
Evelyn si presenta quasi come una storia dalle connotazioni surreali, una pantomima, una presa in giro ai massimi livelli di tutto ciò che la Austen ha sempre criticato e di cui si è sempre presa gioco.
Ogni personaggio è così portato all'estremo che quasi non si riesce a credere a cosa si stia leggendo ed è naturale non prendere per vera e reale ogni singola parola e ogni singola situazione che vengono messe in scena.
In quanto ai finali, ho preferito quello scritto dal nipote James Edward Austen piuttosto che quello scritto dalla nipote Anna Lefroy - l'ho trovato più in linea con il materiale originale.
June 4, 2023
Clearly it's not my cup of tea, i prefer coffee.
July 30, 2025
3 stars. This was almost too ridiculous to bear! It's the story of a young man who falls madly in love with a village, and meets some overly generous people who are simply thrilled to give him their house (and eldest daughter as wife), and then his crazy adventures. I enjoyed seeing a glimpse of Austen's early manuscripts, including spelling, erasing, and abbreviations, and, as usual, there was some good humour.
September 20, 2017
Evelyn è un volumetto decisamente imperdibile per i fan di Jane Austen...
http://www.piegodilibri.it/recensioni...
http://www.piegodilibri.it/recensioni...
October 5, 2020
I am truly astonished that no one stabbed the main character. And that is rather funny.
December 30, 2015
Prima di "Evelyn" non avevo mai letto nulla di Jane Austen e appena mi è capitato questo raccontino giovanile – tra l’altro lasciato incompiuto dalla stessa Jane Austen – contenuto nel terzo volume dei racconti giovanili "Juvenilia", ho accettato con un misto di curiosità, entusiasmo e incertezza.
Purtroppo, non avendo letto mai letto nulla prima d’ora di Jane Austen - cercherò comunque di recuperare - non possiedo un vero e proprio metro di paragone per misurare "Evelyn" ma leggendolo nella sua lampante brevità, ho compreso che Jane Austen possiede uno forte senso dell’ironia e una voglia matta di ribaltare e dissacrare gli schemi e i preconcetti dell’epoca e in qualche modo il libro riesce a fare tutto questo, ovviamente a suo modo.
Purtroppo, non avendo letto mai letto nulla prima d’ora di Jane Austen - cercherò comunque di recuperare - non possiedo un vero e proprio metro di paragone per misurare "Evelyn" ma leggendolo nella sua lampante brevità, ho compreso che Jane Austen possiede uno forte senso dell’ironia e una voglia matta di ribaltare e dissacrare gli schemi e i preconcetti dell’epoca e in qualche modo il libro riesce a fare tutto questo, ovviamente a suo modo.
November 20, 2024
So odd and yet somehow seemed more usual maybe in its language but then the events were so odd.
Spoilers:
The beginning with please let us pay you to put us out of house and home, eat all our food, marry our daughter when we've all literally just met you. Then oh right, I have a sister who's heartbreak is the reason I traveled to this place, but then ultimately my sister (who didn't after all die from heartbreak) claims she's only just heard her fiancé died, even though it was supposedly months ago, and of course she's now going to marry the man who brought her the news of her dead fiancé. And oh again, the woman he married the day after meeting, died of heartbreak when he went away for a night, he then only remembered to inform her parents after he'd been to the other end of country to his family and remet and married the pub landlady.
Reading the "Juvenilia" or teenage writings to follow Reclaiming Jane podcast. They're reading from a collection in one book, but I've been finding them separately online. I read from janeausten.co.uk janeausten.co.uk where it was a blog post, but with no indication it was anything but Jane Austen's writing. Based on the podcast ep the story ended with Mr. Gower riding away from the castle and didn't include his wife's death, his visit back to his family and the confusing drama there, and then his remarriage. According to a Jane Austen Summer Program blog that ending may have been one by a family member.
Spoilers:
The beginning with please let us pay you to put us out of house and home, eat all our food, marry our daughter when we've all literally just met you. Then oh right, I have a sister who's heartbreak is the reason I traveled to this place, but then ultimately my sister (who didn't after all die from heartbreak) claims she's only just heard her fiancé died, even though it was supposedly months ago, and of course she's now going to marry the man who brought her the news of her dead fiancé. And oh again, the woman he married the day after meeting, died of heartbreak when he went away for a night, he then only remembered to inform her parents after he'd been to the other end of country to his family and remet and married the pub landlady.
Reading the "Juvenilia" or teenage writings to follow Reclaiming Jane podcast. They're reading from a collection in one book, but I've been finding them separately online. I read from janeausten.co.uk janeausten.co.uk where it was a blog post, but with no indication it was anything but Jane Austen's writing. Based on the podcast ep the story ended with Mr. Gower riding away from the castle and didn't include his wife's death, his visit back to his family and the confusing drama there, and then his remarriage. According to a Jane Austen Summer Program blog that ending may have been one by a family member.
March 28, 2022
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
EVELYN by Jane Austen
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Jane Austen continues with the satire, or outrageous humour, however deceptively the piece begins, with a stranger enquiring if he can find a suitable house to let in the village of Evelyn in Sussex.
................................................................................................
"To Miss Mary Lloyd,
"The following novel is by permission dedicated,
"By her obedient humble servant,
"The Author"
................................................................................................
"Mr Gower rang — the door was soon opened.
"'Are Mr and Mrs Webb at home?'
"'My good sir, they are' — replied the servant; and leading the way, conducted Mr Gower upstairs into a very elegant dressing room, where a lady rising from her seat, welcomed him with all the generosity which Mrs Willis had attributed to the family.
"'Welcome best of men — welcome to this house, and to everything it contains. William, tell your master of the happiness I enjoy — invite him to partake of it —. Bring up some chocolate immediately; spread a cloth in the dining parlour, and carry in the venison pasty —. In the meantime let the gentleman have some sandwiches, and bring in a basket of fruit — send up some ices and a basin of soup, and do not forget some jellies and cakes.' Then turning to Mr Gower, and taking out her purse, 'Accept this, my good sir. Believe me you are welcome to everything that is in my power to bestow. — I wish my purse were weightier, but Mr Webb must make up my deficiencies —. I know he has cash in the house to the amount of a hundred pounds, which he shall bring you immediately.' Mr Gower felt overpowered by her generosity as he put the purse in his pocket, and from the excess of his gratitude, could scarcely express himself intelligibly when he accepted her offer of the hundred pounds. Mr Webb soon entered the room, and repeated every protestation of friendship and cordiality which his lady had already made. The chocolate, the sandwiches, the jellies, the cakes, the ice, and the soup soon made their appearance, and Mr Gower having tasted something of all, and pocketed the rest, was conducted into the dining parlour, where he ate a most excellent dinner and partook of the most exquisite wines, while Mr and Mrs Webb stood by him still pressing him to eat and drink a little more.
"'And now my good sir,' said Mr Webb, when Mr Gower's repast was concluded, 'what else can we do to contribute to your happiness and express the affection we bear you. Tell us what you wish more to receive, and depend upon our gratitude for the communication of your wishes.'
"'Give me then your house and grounds; I ask for nothing else.'
"'It is yours!' exclaimed both at once; 'From this moment it is yours.' The agreement concluded on and the present accepted by Mr Gower, Mr Webb rang to have the carriage ordered, telling William at the same time to call the young ladies.
"'Best of men,' said Mrs Webb, 'we will not long intrude upon your time.'
"'Make no apologies, dear Madam,' replied Mr Gower, 'you are welcome to stay this half hour if you like it.'
"They both burst forth into raptures of admiration at his politeness, which they agreed served only to make their conduct appear more inexcusable in trespassing on his time."
................................................................................................
"'Give me leave to assure you, Sir,' said Miss Webb, 'that I am highly sensible of your kindness in this respect, which from the shortness of my father's and mother's acquaintance with you, is more than usually flattering.'
"Mr Gower bowed — 'You are too obliging, Ma’am — I assure you that I like the house extremely — and if they would complete their generosity by giving me their eldest daughter in marriage with a handsome portion, I should have nothing more to wish for.' This compliment brought a blush into the cheeks of the lovely Miss Webb, who seemed however to refer herself to her father and mother. They looked delighted at each other. — At length Mrs Webb breaking silence, said, —
"'We bend under a weight of obligations to you which we can never repay. Take our girl, take our Maria, and on her must the difficult task fall, of endeavouring to make some return to so much beneficence.' Mr Webb added, 'Her fortune is but ten thousand pounds, which is almost too small a sum to be offered.' This objection however being instantly removed by the generosity of Mr Gower, who declared himself satisfied with the sum mentioned, ... "
................................................................................................
Austen continues in the outlandish strain, with no sensible explanations.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 18, 2021 - August 18, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
EVELYN by Jane Austen
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Jane Austen continues with the satire, or outrageous humour, however deceptively the piece begins, with a stranger enquiring if he can find a suitable house to let in the village of Evelyn in Sussex.
................................................................................................
"To Miss Mary Lloyd,
"The following novel is by permission dedicated,
"By her obedient humble servant,
"The Author"
................................................................................................
"Mr Gower rang — the door was soon opened.
"'Are Mr and Mrs Webb at home?'
"'My good sir, they are' — replied the servant; and leading the way, conducted Mr Gower upstairs into a very elegant dressing room, where a lady rising from her seat, welcomed him with all the generosity which Mrs Willis had attributed to the family.
"'Welcome best of men — welcome to this house, and to everything it contains. William, tell your master of the happiness I enjoy — invite him to partake of it —. Bring up some chocolate immediately; spread a cloth in the dining parlour, and carry in the venison pasty —. In the meantime let the gentleman have some sandwiches, and bring in a basket of fruit — send up some ices and a basin of soup, and do not forget some jellies and cakes.' Then turning to Mr Gower, and taking out her purse, 'Accept this, my good sir. Believe me you are welcome to everything that is in my power to bestow. — I wish my purse were weightier, but Mr Webb must make up my deficiencies —. I know he has cash in the house to the amount of a hundred pounds, which he shall bring you immediately.' Mr Gower felt overpowered by her generosity as he put the purse in his pocket, and from the excess of his gratitude, could scarcely express himself intelligibly when he accepted her offer of the hundred pounds. Mr Webb soon entered the room, and repeated every protestation of friendship and cordiality which his lady had already made. The chocolate, the sandwiches, the jellies, the cakes, the ice, and the soup soon made their appearance, and Mr Gower having tasted something of all, and pocketed the rest, was conducted into the dining parlour, where he ate a most excellent dinner and partook of the most exquisite wines, while Mr and Mrs Webb stood by him still pressing him to eat and drink a little more.
"'And now my good sir,' said Mr Webb, when Mr Gower's repast was concluded, 'what else can we do to contribute to your happiness and express the affection we bear you. Tell us what you wish more to receive, and depend upon our gratitude for the communication of your wishes.'
"'Give me then your house and grounds; I ask for nothing else.'
"'It is yours!' exclaimed both at once; 'From this moment it is yours.' The agreement concluded on and the present accepted by Mr Gower, Mr Webb rang to have the carriage ordered, telling William at the same time to call the young ladies.
"'Best of men,' said Mrs Webb, 'we will not long intrude upon your time.'
"'Make no apologies, dear Madam,' replied Mr Gower, 'you are welcome to stay this half hour if you like it.'
"They both burst forth into raptures of admiration at his politeness, which they agreed served only to make their conduct appear more inexcusable in trespassing on his time."
................................................................................................
"'Give me leave to assure you, Sir,' said Miss Webb, 'that I am highly sensible of your kindness in this respect, which from the shortness of my father's and mother's acquaintance with you, is more than usually flattering.'
"Mr Gower bowed — 'You are too obliging, Ma’am — I assure you that I like the house extremely — and if they would complete their generosity by giving me their eldest daughter in marriage with a handsome portion, I should have nothing more to wish for.' This compliment brought a blush into the cheeks of the lovely Miss Webb, who seemed however to refer herself to her father and mother. They looked delighted at each other. — At length Mrs Webb breaking silence, said, —
"'We bend under a weight of obligations to you which we can never repay. Take our girl, take our Maria, and on her must the difficult task fall, of endeavouring to make some return to so much beneficence.' Mr Webb added, 'Her fortune is but ten thousand pounds, which is almost too small a sum to be offered.' This objection however being instantly removed by the generosity of Mr Gower, who declared himself satisfied with the sum mentioned, ... "
................................................................................................
Austen continues in the outlandish strain, with no sensible explanations.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 18, 2021 - August 18, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
March 3, 2023
A silly little tale, I know not what was the material point. Perhaps Jane wished to make a scathing commentary on things that work out so swimmingly for some people for no reason...especially when they act for the selfish benefit of themselves with little to no care for anyone else.
A favorite passage: "From the clearness of her skin and the brilliancy of her eyes, she was fully entitled to all their partial affection. Another circumstance contributed to the general love they bore her, and that was one of the finest heads of hair in the world."
I don't know who this tale was dedicated for. Perhaps no one but Jane herself.
A favorite passage: "From the clearness of her skin and the brilliancy of her eyes, she was fully entitled to all their partial affection. Another circumstance contributed to the general love they bore her, and that was one of the finest heads of hair in the world."
I don't know who this tale was dedicated for. Perhaps no one but Jane herself.
September 5, 2019
I confess, at first I thought I would be reading about a person named Evelyn, not a place.
I was slightly annoyed with the ridiculous preposterousness of the characters, but I just had to remind myself that the story was written when Jane was very young. It was amusing, but ridiculous.
I was slightly annoyed with the ridiculous preposterousness of the characters, but I just had to remind myself that the story was written when Jane was very young. It was amusing, but ridiculous.
January 30, 2023
Degli Juvenilia non mi è mai piaciuto niente e la tradizione prosegue.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews