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May 16, 2006
500 Volumes, 114 Souls
Watching the opening scene of Pride & Prejudice is painful. My vision is blurred. I am sniffing and snuffling. Finally, I hit the PAUSE button, run to the bathroom--Karen and Offspring #3 groan--where I yank a fistful of tissues, honk! blow my nose, and wipe the silvery strings dripping down my cheeks.
The reasons:
1. Well, simply put, it's just so darn good to be back with Jane again, to be in the comforting embrace of a masterful storyteller. After the painful two-hours plus of The New World, gosh, Jane Austen is... home.
2. Karen is sitting right beside me on our little bedroom couch. Pride & Prejudice is the ultimate story of the desperate need for love and marriage in a proper middle class family.There is so much of Karen in Lizzie. There is so much of me in Darcy's desperate love of Lizzie. Karen is sitting right beside me on our little couch and a major part of me just wants to fall to the ground, grab my wife's knees and thank her, thank her, endlessly express my gratitude for loving me,for marrying me, for putting up with me all these years...
3. Ariel ZT'L, loved this book. Ariel adored the BBC mini-series Pride & Prejudice version. We had a great time in the hospital watching the film, hitting PAUSE, opening the book, and comparing the text to the film. It's not that we demanded purity in the adaptation, no, we were just interested in seeing what we remembered and what we got wrong.
"Daddy," Ariel said with his shy and mischevous smile, Pride & Prejudice, it's just like, well, they're like sooooo Jewish, desperately looking for shidduchim." Austen's clever language, best expressed through Lizzie's wickedly perfect dialogue, never failed to delight Ariel. He giggled and covered his mouth when he laughed.
4. Offspring #3 has read the novel. She has seen the BBC version. She knows what's going to happen in the end. There is no suspense. The soundtrack has no modern music, the dance sequences feature some pretty formal moves, and here the young ladies curtsy and the young men bow. And yet all this formality, I suspect, is something our children unconsciously yearn for. The respect between the sexes is something we all ache for.
These are the reasons tears smear my vision during the very first scene. What a baby am I.
A Few Things About Jane
Jane Austen was born, the seventh of eight children, to the rector of Steventon, George Austen, and his wife, Cassandra Leigh, on December 16, 1775.
The Austens had about five-hundred volumes in the family library. In contrast, there were only 114 people in the village where Jane spent the first twenty-five years of her life.
Think of it: 500 books, 114 souls.
Jane lived during the Napoleonic Wars.
Think of it: The Ogre was trying to destroy civilization as Jane knew it.
Jane's eldest brother, Reverand James Austen (1765-1819) had two wives. Caroline Lefroy, daughter of the second wife, was very close to Jane, and wrote a lovely memoir, My Aunt Jane Austen.
The second son, George Austen (1776-1838) did not grow up with his family. He may have been deaf; he may have had cerebral palsy; he may have suffered from epilepsy. In any case, poor George was shipped away and sent to live with another family. This fate reflects the general treatment afforded "defectives" during the 18th century. George Austen died of dropsy at the age of seventy-two and was described on his death certificate as a "gentleman."
Edward Austen (Knight) (1768-1852) was a charming young lad. He must have been for when he was twelve-years old, Thomas Knight II, a distant cousin of the Austen family, and Knight's young bride, Catherine, requested Edward's company on their--get this--honeymoon.
Believe me, I'm as puzzled as you are.
Anyway, Edward was such a hit on said honeymoon that the young couple formally adopted Edward, and he became heir to their considerable fortune. Lucky Eddie!
Henry Thomas ( 1771-1850) also entered the Church. He wrote of his sister Jane: "Her voice was extremely sweet. She delivered herself with fluency and precision. Indeed she was formed for elegant and rational society, excelling in conversation as much as in composition." Henry was Jane's favorite brother. This is quite funny considering that Henry was feckless and in frequent financial difficulty. When he was well into his fifties he ran out of money and moved back in with his mother. It looks as if Jane had a weakness for her brother the slacker
Brother Francis, (1774-1865) became Sir Francis an Admiral of the fleet.
Jane's baby brother Charles, (1779-1852) became a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy.
Jane Austen never mentions Napoleon or the wars in any of her books. Though, of course she does mention "officers" and their presence in society is taken for granted.
A note about all these brothers becoming Ministers. These are members of the High Church, Episcopalians, and as such, they lead normal lives, they get married, and have children. In Jane's day if a young man was not in line to inherit money or property from his family, and if he was not hooked up to a wealthy wife, well, going into the Church was not so much a sign of religious piety but a bit like Jewish men becoming accountants--a decent way to make a buck.
Jane's beloved sister, the fifth child in the family, Cassandra Elizabeth (1772-1845) was the most important person in Jane's life. Whenever the sisters were separated they wrote long letters to each other, and virtually all of Jane's letters that we have are those she wrote to Cassandra.
Undoubtedly, the biggest tragedy of Cassandra's life was the death of her fiance the Reverand Thomas Fowle in early 1797. Fowle, probably acting as a private chaplain to one Lord Craven, accompanied Craven to help put down a slave revolt in the West Indies. Tragically, Fowle contracted Yellow Fever, died and was buried at sea. Cassandra never again entertained the thought of marriage; she never really recovered.
In many respects, Cassandra and Jane were "married" to each other. The sisters shared a bedroom for most of their lives. I suspect that their relationship is pretty much similar to that of Jane (Cassandra) and Lizzie (Jane) Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.
Golly, it seems I've spent all this time on my whacky emotional state, and charting Jane's extended family, and have not yet said a word about the film.
It's a fine film.
But too few people, even Jane lovers, Janeites, know the details of Jane Austen's very ordinary life; and her ordinary life bears directly on her novels, how she wrote them, why she wrote them, and why these perfect novels speak so vividly and so passionately to each and every generation of readers that has been blessed to read her words.
"What calm lives they had, those people! No worries about the French Revolution, or the Napoleonic Wars."
--Winston Churchill, on Jane Austen's novels
To be Continued Tomorrow: The Film (At Last)
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at May 16, 2006 01:29 PM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Thank you so much for this interesting information. I really didn't know much about Jane Austen at all!
Posted by: Irina at May 16, 2006 05:02 PM
I'm almost ashamed to say that I never studied or read any Jane Austen. In my university English courses, I tried to stay as contemporary as possible.
I think it's high time that I tighten my bodice strings, and make sure I always carry a Jane Austen novel in my reticule. It would be so easy to enjoy Jane's writing over tea-cakes and a snifter of brandy. I'd be considered a true bluestocking.
Even without Jane in my life, I certainly can throw around some Regency terms! ;)
Posted by: Pearl at May 16, 2006 05:33 PM
No matter how many times you blog about this novel, I still feel I've just an inkling of how precious it is to you (which maybe is for the best). I guess I need to open myself to it.
Posted by: Jeremiah at May 16, 2006 06:36 PM
Ahhh, this post was sheer eye candy for me. I am an avowed Jane Austen fan. I have read each of her books. Her writing and her characters are profoundly moving. Her words and plots speak to me. They move me.
I love the era. I love the dresses. I love the formality and respect.
I knew a little about her, but was fascinated to read about her family members here.
I truly loved this movie. And I hope you did, too.
Posted by: Stacey at May 16, 2006 08:29 PM
The only movie that made me cry even before the first scene was the first Superman movie in 1978... but that was because the opening credits literally took a half hour and my 8-year-old bladder needed to go to the bathroom already.
Posted by: Jake at May 17, 2006 06:27 AM
Bless you -- I don't feel so alone. Finding another male who loves P&P is wonderful! I suspect that there are many more.....just feeling the chill of concern about their manhood if they confess! :-)
Have you read Pamela Aidan's three novels telling the story from Darcy's point of view? Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman - Aidan does a great job of maintaining the sensibility and the tone of the originals.
Posted by: Earl at May 17, 2006 09:19 AM
Irina:
You are very welcome. Now that you are graduating college, you can start your Jane Austen education. What day is your graduation?
Posted by: Robert Avrech at May 17, 2006 10:05 AM
*Sigh*. Saturday, unfortunately. I simply don't understand why. All the previous graduations have been on Sundays.
Posted by: Irina at May 17, 2006 10:21 AM
I also greatly enjoyed all the Great Jane's novels, and thought this film version was wonderful. An even stronger plug for the film - Daniel ("Mr. Sara") also had a great time, even though as a rule he tends not to enjoy movies.
I cried through the opening credits of "Broken Wings," an absolutely beautiful Israeli film made several years ago. If you haven't seen it, do. Actually, I - and the rest of the audience - cried pretty much all the way through. There was literally not a dry eye in the house. But the film is delicate and sensitive, not a tearjerker.
Timora would have loved both films. Perhaps she and Ariel are discussing them right now, in that other dimension.
Posted by: Sara at May 17, 2006 11:01 AM
Pearl:
Let me get this straight: you have not read any of Jane's books? Is that what you are saying?
Posted by: Robert Avrech at May 17, 2006 11:16 AM
Jeremiah:
You wrote: "...I guess I need to open myself to it."
Do I sense reluctance? And if so, pray tell, why?
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 17, 2006 11:37 AM
Stacey:
I'm delighted that a Janeite was able to glean some new information about Jane and her family form this post.
And yes, relax, I did love the film. I only have to choose which aspects of the film to focus on.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at May 17, 2006 12:34 PM
Hope you don't need smelling salts, Robert. Don't faint on me, but yes, I have not read ANY Jane Austen titles, nor seen the films adapted from the novels.
Will you still consider me a bluestocking, though?
Posted by: Pearl at May 17, 2006 12:44 PM
Believe it or not, I have a big literary skeleton in the closet: I have an antipathy to the English novel. If it was written in English prose before 1900 - except for some Dickens and the Brontes (love the Brontes!) - I probably haven't read it.
Posted by: Jeremiah at May 17, 2006 12:46 PM
Sara:
I have not seen "Broken Wings," but will now look for it.
An Israeli film that did make us cry and deeply was "Adjusting Sights," based on the Israeli novel of the same name.
Did you see it?
I will blog about it soon.
This is a deeply moving film about the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War. Adjusting sights refers to what gunners in tanks have to do to "zero" their guns so they can fire accurately. Some units went into combat so quickly that they didn't even have time to adjust their sights.
Posted by: Robert Avrech at May 17, 2006 12:54 PM
You asked why? I guess I aimed for Contintental, not island-nation, assimilation - red wine not gin, espresso not tea, a Parisian scarf not a trench coat, Catholicism not Protestantism, even "Helas!" (French) rather than "Alas!" Also, spoken French, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, and even Arabic are more pleasureable to my ear than English.
Go ahead, skewer me.
Posted by: Jeremiah at May 17, 2006 12:54 PM
And I will look for "Adjusting Sights."
Unfortunately, I know quite a bit about the Yom Kippur War, from a first-hand source; Daniel fought and lost two friends in it, and remembers its aftermath as if it were yesterday.
Posted by: Sara at May 17, 2006 01:03 PM
Earl:
Glad to keep you company on your deserted island. Though it's probably not as deserted as you imagine. There are some morons who will label Jane Austen's work: chick-lit. Needless to say, this is like calling Dicken's work soap opera.
It's never even occurred to me that my manhood is on the line because of my love for Jane.
Anyone who would even suggest such a thing, well, I'll just adjust sights and kill 'em.
"Have you read Pamela Aidan's three novels telling the story from Darcy's point of view?"
Nope.
But I'll give it a shot, you tell me which one to start with.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at May 17, 2006 01:08 PM
Jeremiah, Pearl:
I envy the two of you: you have before you the whole world of Jane Austen to be mined and discovered.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at May 17, 2006 05:12 PM
Amazon has all three books - here is the URL for the first (two and three appear down below):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972852905/sr=8-1/qid=1147910845/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-6992312-4217412?%5Fencoding=UTF8
There are a couple of folk who hated these books, but I can't figure out why -- of course, taste varies and you may not like them. Your privilege, but perhaps you'll explain.....we found them a real delight - all three.
I wonder if Bookfinder.com (I MUCH prefer the "classic search display") would save you money on these.....
Don't neglect to review each of these books as you finish them, please.
Posted by: Earl at May 17, 2006 05:13 PM
Not everyone can dress up a confident imperative as modest praise.
Posted by: Jeremiah at May 17, 2006 08:20 PM