The plan had been to write a nice, lengthy book review last night but, after a 13-hour work day, I just could not attempt that level of coherent thought. Instead, I bring you something else entirely.
Over the last few weeks, Jane Austen has been making frequent and unexpected appearances in my reading material, proving that everyone, real or fictional, has something to say about her and her work. And because I loved coming across these references, I thought you might enjoy them too. There’s something very wonderful about finding authors and characters who share your reading tastes.
Did I expect a Jane Austen reference in an Angela Thirkell book? Well, yes, that’s not particularly surprising but the wonder is the wealth of them (Mrs Norris and Frank Churchill both come up in separate conversations) and the charming novelty of a young man bemoaning Janeites in conversation with his beloved:
‘Well, it does my heart good to hear you say Miss Austen like that,’ said Laurence, ‘…people who say Jane or talk about Janeites revolt me. The sort that can walk with kings and not lose the common touch. ‘Miss Austen to you’ is what I feel inclined to say.’
– August Folly by Angela Thirkell
And I certainly didn’t expect Austen to show up in Jo Walton’s alternate, fascist-friendly version of 1940s England, but there she is:
Mummy looked restless and I thought she was about to quote, ‘Mary has delighted us long enough,’ the way she used to do with me when she was tired of my recitals…
– Farthing by Jo Walton
But my favourite Austen intrusion of all comes from Sylvia Townsend Warner, musing in a letter to William Maxwell about her long-standing acquaintance with Pride and Prejudice and the insight such familiarity gives in her:
…I go early to bed & read Pride and Prejudice. Because I know it so well, I read it, so to speak, peripherally. I realise that as time went on Wickham began to have a fellow-ly feeling towards his father-in-law. But also, as I heard the wind out-crying the owls, that there were advantages about Mrs Bennet which Jane Austen was too young to appreciate. She saw to it that there were good fires kept going, and no lack of rich soups, whereas Charlotte’s housekeeping grew bleaker & bleaker till poor Mr Collins lost all his sleekness & eventually was henpecked.
– The Element of Lavishness edited by Michael Steinman
She’s everywhere.
It’s true! Still, if I’m going to have one author finding her way into every book I read, I couldn’t think of anyone better!
She even cropped up during a luncheon conversation yesterday with a friend who wondered what she could wear to a “regency” ball she’s been invited to.
I imagine she might in that context! Who on earth is your friend hanging out with that she gets to go the Regency-themed balls? What a strange and wonderful world.
She gets everywhere! Lovely excerpts, Claire, and a wonderful idea for a post.
Just after I’d written this post, I came across two more Austen-references. She just does not quit! Glad you liked this, Simon. It was fun to share.
OK, I’m officially jealous. I need to dig out my Angela Ts. (And thank you, also, for the Library Loot notice of the Adam Gopnik book. I love his writing and didn’t know about this one.)
There’s a book of WIlliam Maxwell – Eudora Welty letters too – that’s how I fell for him!
Audrey
Heck yes, you need to dig out your Thirkells! I can’t be reading her all the time and the perfect solution is to be reading other bloggers’ reviews of her books to fill the void…I’ve apparently yet to convince everyone else that this is what needs to happen. Still, where better to start than with you, who already enjoys Thirkell?
One of the wonderful discoveries I made while reading The Element of Lavishness is just how many other volumes of letters and diaries there are for both authors. I could fill a shelf (and many happy hours) with those alone!
The Thirkell reference reminds me of another one – something about a dance at an inn, as in Emma. I know that if I try to track it down, I’ll spend all evening reading Thirkell 🙂
What could be better than an evening spent reading Thirkell? The handy Angela Thirkell Society website leads me to suspect that the book you’re thinking of might be Happy Returns, if that saves you any time searching!
Thanks for the quotes. It’s a woonderfull idea and I’m glad to read about Jane Austen quotes. It’s always fun.
It is always fun, I completely agree! Who could be a more welcome intruder than Miss Austen?
I had no idea the term “Janeites” had been around so long!
Oh yes, and it had already been around about forty years by the time Thirkell got around to using it!