Today in 1775, Jane Austen was born in Steventon. The Reverend George Austen, Jane’s father, wrote what I consider to be one of the nicest letters of announcement the following day:
You have doubtless been for some time in expectation of hearing from Hampshire and perhaps wondered a little we are in our old age grown such bad reckoners but so it was, for Cassy (Mrs Austen-jfw) certainly expected to have been brought to bed a month ago: however last night the time came and without a great deal of warning, everything was soon happily over. We have now another girl, a present plaything for her sister Cassy and a future companion. She is to be Jenny, and seems to me as if she would be as like Henry, as Cassy is to Neddy. Your sister, thank God is pure well after it and sends her love to you and my bother not forgetting James and Philly…
I thought you might like to know that today there have been some interesting announcements which might interest you…
First the Jane Austen’s House Museum Blog is holding its First Anniverasry Giveaway. The prize is rather spectacular, and the Giveaway is open to everyone, wherever you are in the world. All the details can be found, here.
And finally, in preparation for the year of Pride and Prejudice that is fast approaching, the Jane Austen’s House Musuem at Chawton in conjunction with the Jane Austen Society, the Jane Austen Society of North America and the Jane Austen Society of Australia, has just launched a special website, Pride and Prejudice 200, which will be the repository for all information about all the many and varied events that are going to be held to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s most celebrated novel. If you go here, you will be able to access it.
13 comments
December 16, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Reina
Thanks for sharing that charming letter! It was a glad day, it seems, and certainly in perpetuity for all of us who enjoy her books. :) And now I’m going to bookmark the P&P site. :)
December 18, 2012 at 10:29 am
jfwakefield
It most certainly was!
December 16, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Elizabeth
Did the family call her Jenny do you know? Or was she always Jane?
December 18, 2012 at 10:31 am
jfwakefield
I think Jenny appears to have been short-lived, though it is a diminutive form of the name”Jane”. Two of JAs godmothers are named “Jane”: Jane, wife of Francis Austen of Sevenoaks, and Jane Musgrave wife of Mrs Austen’s cousin who was the Rector of Chinnor in Oxfordshire.
December 16, 2012 at 9:41 pm
olnicki
Reblogged this on olnicki.
December 17, 2012 at 12:18 pm
imogen88
What a beautifully written letter by JA’s father, so special and a pleasure to read on this special occasion. No wonder she loved him so much! The other items are of interest too, so have shared. Thank you Julie!
December 18, 2012 at 10:32 am
jfwakefield
Yes, if I could have met now member of that family, it really would have been Mr Austen.( honestly!)
December 18, 2012 at 11:54 am
imogen88
Yes!!!
December 17, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Tina
Such a warm note. I have the impression that Jane’s father was a very warm and caring person. His firm support to Jane’s writting is I think another example. No wonder they had such a close relationship. Am I barking up the wrong tree, or was Jane more her father’s little girl than her mother’s?
And whyle I’m at it, congrats Julie for the Museum House Blog too! How do you do it?? Your passion is very productive, and catching!!
December 18, 2012 at 10:34 am
jfwakefield
I think Jane Austen appears to have had an easier relationship with Mr Austen: he let her have the freedom of his library, and was as you say, very encouraging, and helped her in her early attempts to get published.I think he was an exceptional man and I would have loved to have known him.
And thank you for your kind comments about the Museum blog. It is my way of volunteering, in the only practical way I could envisage.
December 17, 2012 at 8:02 pm
cathyallen
All good news, thank you, Julie. I’ll enjoy the “200″ website, too, thanks. I have wondered about the “Jenny” part for several years now; is there any answer to that question?
December 18, 2012 at 10:35 am
jfwakefield
Just that it didn’t seem to catch on: the evidence from the family correspondence is that “Jane” appears to have been used rather more than “Jenny”, I think.
December 18, 2012 at 6:05 pm
cathyallen
Thank you Julie; I thought so, but it’s good to have it confirmed. I appreciate it.