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Catharine, or The Bower: And The Beautiful Cassandra
Jane Austen, one of the nation's most beloved authors, whose face adorns our currency, surely needs no introduction, but while many are familiar with her groundbreaking novels, few have come across her brilliantly funny unfinished novella, Catharine, or The Bower.
Written when Austen was only around seventeen, Catharine, or The Bower is a short but important work, as it shows Austen's preoccupation changing from short burlesques to the satirical novels which her name is so inextricably linked with. This edition also contains The Beautiful Cassandra, a very short 'novel in twelve chapters' that maps out a parody of the melodramatic novels of Austen's day – in many ways the prototype for the legacy she left behind.
Written when Austen was only around seventeen, Catharine, or The Bower is a short but important work, as it shows Austen's preoccupation changing from short burlesques to the satirical novels which her name is so inextricably linked with. This edition also contains The Beautiful Cassandra, a very short 'novel in twelve chapters' that maps out a parody of the melodramatic novels of Austen's day – in many ways the prototype for the legacy she left behind.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2024
About the author
Jane Austen
4,333 books77.3k 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 9, 2026
oh, to be an austen heroine 💔
January 3, 2026
This is a charming story of a young woman whose two closest friends are sent away after their father dies and they are left without any means. One of is sent to family and the other is sent out to India to be married* (to someone she has never met). They write to each other and Catharine (or Kitty as she is also known) hears how unhappy they are.
Catharine lives with an aunt after her parents died. Her aunt is kindly yet strict particularly with regard to men. Still Kitty has a special place in the garden – the bower – where she goes to chat with her friends and since they have now both left it is where she finds some solace and comfort. It is a place she can think and consider things.
When visitors arrive to stay they come with their daughter a young woman around Kitty’s age but they don’t have the same relationship as with her two other friends. Kitty finds her somewhat superficial. Nevertheless when an invitation to a ball arrives both young women are happy and cannot wait for the day to arrive. However, not everything will happen as expected.
In Catharine or the Bower you really do see the start of the mature writing of Jane Austen. The beginning of a subtlety along with that very keen eye for observation and the more sophisticated sense satire for which she is known.
I found the fact that women travelled to India to get married fascinating and found a couple of interesting articles* with regard to that. The loss of home for wife and daughters is something that Jane Austen would write more on in Pride and Prejudice.
I love these small but mighty books that Renard Press publishes and Catharine or the Bower is no exception. They often have forewords and notes to aid the reader. In this book it also has The Beautiful Cassandra ‘a novel in twelve chapters’ as a delightful bonus. They can be a great way, at an affordable price, to introduce readers to an author they don’t know. For those readers that do know an author they are often some of the less well known writings they may not have had an opportunity to read previously.
Catharine lives with an aunt after her parents died. Her aunt is kindly yet strict particularly with regard to men. Still Kitty has a special place in the garden – the bower – where she goes to chat with her friends and since they have now both left it is where she finds some solace and comfort. It is a place she can think and consider things.
When visitors arrive to stay they come with their daughter a young woman around Kitty’s age but they don’t have the same relationship as with her two other friends. Kitty finds her somewhat superficial. Nevertheless when an invitation to a ball arrives both young women are happy and cannot wait for the day to arrive. However, not everything will happen as expected.
In Catharine or the Bower you really do see the start of the mature writing of Jane Austen. The beginning of a subtlety along with that very keen eye for observation and the more sophisticated sense satire for which she is known.
I found the fact that women travelled to India to get married fascinating and found a couple of interesting articles* with regard to that. The loss of home for wife and daughters is something that Jane Austen would write more on in Pride and Prejudice.
I love these small but mighty books that Renard Press publishes and Catharine or the Bower is no exception. They often have forewords and notes to aid the reader. In this book it also has The Beautiful Cassandra ‘a novel in twelve chapters’ as a delightful bonus. They can be a great way, at an affordable price, to introduce readers to an author they don’t know. For those readers that do know an author they are often some of the less well known writings they may not have had an opportunity to read previously.
June 29, 2025
i was confused as hell trying to differentiate who “catharine” and “kitty” were until i realized halfway through the book they were the SAME PERSON. and i thought to myself “well im just stupid for not realizing that / paying closer attention” until i read the note at the end which read:
“the author seems to have changed her mind about the character’s name — whether she should be ‘catharine’ or ‘kitty’, and the manuscript has several crossings out. we have retained the inconsistency in this edition, as it forms part of the book’s charm”
in conclusion i was gaslit.
“the author seems to have changed her mind about the character’s name — whether she should be ‘catharine’ or ‘kitty’, and the manuscript has several crossings out. we have retained the inconsistency in this edition, as it forms part of the book’s charm”
in conclusion i was gaslit.
June 21, 2025
I'd read The Beautiful Cassandra (funny story) but Catharine was new to me. It was underwhelming, for sure, and didn't end super hopefully. But I did relate to poor Kitty. She just wants to have an intellectual conversation but Camilla just wants to talk about fashion! I so relate. I read the majority of this book sitting across the street from Jane's house in Chawton last week.
March 7, 2026
2,5/5
Catharine or the Bower feels more serious than Austen’s other juvenile works and thus it’s missing some of the charm for me - as I wasn’t finding the story particularly fun but also not as well developed as Austen’s adult work, I didn’t get much out of it. The Beautiful Cassandra on the other hand is great fun for the three pages it lasts.
Catharine or the Bower feels more serious than Austen’s other juvenile works and thus it’s missing some of the charm for me - as I wasn’t finding the story particularly fun but also not as well developed as Austen’s adult work, I didn’t get much out of it. The Beautiful Cassandra on the other hand is great fun for the three pages it lasts.
July 11, 2025
catharine or the bower : 4.5⭐️ omg!!! i think i have just found my favourite austen short story!!! i wish it was so much longer!!!
the beautiful cassandra : 3.5⭐️ make it longer jane it’s funny!!!!
the beautiful cassandra : 3.5⭐️ make it longer jane it’s funny!!!!
January 13, 2026
Jane does it again! Can’t believe she wrote this at 16.
February 13, 2026
si tan solo hubiera tenido tiempo para acabarlo… qué obra nos perdimos. rip miss austen
August 1, 2026
her name was kitty. or was it catharine? not even austen is sure.
the beautiful cassandra was very sweet. i wish i had the same 24 hours in a day as she does.
the beautiful cassandra was very sweet. i wish i had the same 24 hours in a day as she does.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews