Jane Austen's HomeTown-Steventon

The village of Steventon lies nestled in a quiet spot between two main routes from Basingstoke: the Andover road at Deane to the north, where stage coaches to and from London halted twice a day, and the Winchester road to the south near Dummer, which was known as Popham Lane. Like Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, Jane was a keen walker and often walked to Popham Lane, where the family collected their letters at what is now known as the Wheatsheaf Inn.
The late 17th century house, repaired in the 1760s for the Austens' occupation, had seven bedrooms. Its flat facade was broken up by evenly placed windows, and a trellised porch almost more suited to a cottage formed a centrepiece.

Outside there were fields where Mr Austen farmed and his wife grew potatoes (at that time quite an innovation), formal gardens with a turf walk, sundial, strawberry beds, and a grassy bank down which the young Jane, possibly enjoyed rolling as a child, like Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey. There was also a carriage sweep, and a barn used for private theatricals except in winter, when the dining room had to suffice. Later, a double hedgerow with mixed shrubs and wild flowers was added, for use as a private footpath to the church. At the side of the Rectory were chestnut, fir and elm trees. The elms met with a violent end on 8 November 1800, when one of the "great winds" that recurred throughout the 18th century blew down all but one under Jane's very eyes:

"I was sitting alone in the dining room, [she wrote to Cassandra, her elder sister, who was away from home] when an odd kind of crash startled me - in a moment afterwards it was repeated; I then went to the window, which I reached just in time to see the last of our two highly-valued Elms descend into the Sweep!!!!! The other ... sunk amongst our screen of chestnuts and firs, knocking down one spruce fir, beating off the head of another, & stripping the two corner chestnuts of several branches, in its fall. - This is not all. - One large Elm out of two on the left hand side, as you enter what I call the Elm walk, was likewise blown down, the Maypole bearing the weathercock was broke in two, and ... all the three Elms which grew in Hall's meadow and gave such ornament to it, are gone."
Jane's very full social life at Steventon provided her with much of the material for her novels, and most of her life-long friendships were cemented during her time at Steventon. Here she wrote Northanger Abbey, Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice, although there were not published at that time. Her father offered Pride & Prejudice to a publisher in 1797 who turned it down without reading it.
Jane attended social gatherings in Basingstoke at the Assembly Rooms. Barclays Bank in the Market Place in Basingstoke stands were the Assembly Rooms used to be. A plaque on the wall of the bank commemorates Jane. She liked shopping, and is known to have gone shopping in Andover, Alton, Alresford, Basingstoke, Whitchurch and Overton during the years she lived at Steventon.
She spent the first 25 years of her life in Steventon, before the family moved to Bath because her father wanted to retire there. Unfortunately the rectory where she lived was demolished soon after her death. If you visit Steventon, however, you can still see the railings around an iron pump in a field which replaced the wooden pump which served the Austens' house.

Steventon Church

The 12th century Steventon Church where Jane worshipped, stands almost unchanged from those days. Here there are memorial tablets to James Austen, Jane's eldest brother, who took over the parish from her father, his two wives and some of his relations. Their graves are in the churchyard.

There is also a bronze plaque dedicated to Jane Austen. Another plaque recognises the generous support from members of the Jane Austen Society of North America who paid for the refurbishment of the church bells in January 1995.

As a daughter of the Rector, Jane Austen would have had easy access to the parish registers, hence her mischievous completion of the specimen marriage entry in the front of the register for 1755-1812 (below and signature right).

The Vyne

Cassandra and Jane attended many dances at nearby large houses, some of which are still standing today. The most notable is The Vyne, a National Trust property, near Basingstoke.

James Austen was vicar of Sherborne St John from 1791-1819. During that time, his son became friendly with the Chute family of the Vyne, and there the young man met Emma Smith, whom he went on to marry in 1828. Emma was niece to Mrs Chute.

James Edward, known as Edward within the family, was a favourite nephew of whom Jane Austen once said: "his Aunts … love him better & better, as they see the sweet temper & warm affections of the Boy confirmed in the young Man"

We learn about the love the two elder Austens had for each other, and what a close-knit family they had created; how Henry championed Jane's career and bragged about his sister's authorship; how Edward waited just a tad long to invite his mother and sisters to live in Chawton Cottage; how close Jane felt to Anne Lefroy, who was 27 years her senior; and which character flaws Jane might have had in common with the spoilt and indulged Emma, whose picnic at Box Hill (below) resulted in Mr. Knightley scolding her for humiliating poor Miss Bates.

My favorite section in Part II is Lori's description of the British Library. Its fascinating contents were a revelation on her part (See the previous post), especially the variety of rare and original manuscripts. This section of the books ends with Lori's visit to GodmershamPark (below). She describes a horrendous journey on the A road that ended with the kind gesture of a cabby and a breathtaking view of Edward's fabulous mansion. Lori's next stop is Winchester, which begins the last part of the book. I can't wait to read it.

Becoming Jane Review

by Hashani Samaraweera

An untold tale of celebrated British author Jane Austen, Becoming Jane is a tale of love, sacrifice and constancy. Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility – considered jewels of English Literature – was said

to be inspired by true happenings in her life to write her novels. However, the movie is fic

tional and happenings are purely assumed. Based on Jon Spence’s biography Becoming Jane Austen, this imaginative version of Jane Austen’s life captures the theory that the author may have once been in love with a young Irish lawyer named Thomas Lefroy. It is apparent from Austen’s letters to her sister Cassandra, that Austen and Lefroy spent considerable time together and that they may

have had strong feelings for each other.

Director Julian Jarrold effectively portrays the gentle era wonderfully by capturing the lush scenery

and the witty banter. American actress Anne Hathaway portrays Austen with a commendable English accent, and charming James McAvoy gi

ves life to Thomas Lefroy. James Cromwell and Julie Walters who play Mr. and Mrs. Austen mirror Mr. and Mrs. Bennett of Pride and Prejudice as Mr. Austen is portrayed as a very lenient father who always gave way to his daughter’s happiness w

hile Mrs. Austen was obsessed with the idea that her daughter should marry as rich as possible. Again, this similarity might have been purely fictional, but if true, this may have led Austen to create some of the most talked about characters of English Literature.

In a time when women were expected to marry for wealth and connections, Austen was a non-conformist who believed in passion and marrying for true affection, which she constantly portrays through her novels. The story is beautifully woven where initially Austen dislikes arrogant Lefroy who seems to be an “insolent, arrogant, impudent” young man. One can’t help but be reminded of the engaging battles of wits and witticisms between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice while watching the movie. Gradually, their feelings for each other change, and the actors show the passion they feel for one another beautifully through their eye contact and body language.

No one will ever know just how much the happenings in her real life inspired Austen to write her novels, but one thing remains for certain – her knowledge of human nature and human foibles ring true even today. I for one enjoyed the movie and believe that the love between the unsuccessful lovers was depicted in a heartbreakingly real manner.

Austen never married in real life and if she had a relationship with Thomas Lefroy as assumed, she might have remained constant in her love and did not think of marriage even though Lefroy got married and went ahead to become the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.

This reviewer believes that creating a story about one of the world’s much loved authors is a risk, as devoted fans would have many expectations and could possibly be outraged at historically inaccurate events that are assumed in the film. However, it’s a bittersweet tale of love and fans looking for a representation of how Austen’s real life might have had an impact in her writing will find the movie enjoyable.

In Jane Austen’s Own Words: Emma

Written by Vic

It is ironic that a novel filled with clues similar to those found in a good mystery tale can spin off a film whose clues stand out like a red cape in front of a bull. Jane Austen deftly sprinkled hints about Jane Fairfax’s relationship with Frank Churchill throughout Emma. One has to read the novel twice to find her subtle inferences, and even then one might miss a few. The 1996 film version of Emma, written by Andrew Davies, leaves no stone unturned and drops its clues with such a heavy hand that midway through the film you want to shout – “enough!” Jane and Frank exchange frequent glances, are seen at the piano together in Mrs. and Miss Bates’ apartment, and argue on the terrace at Donwell Abbey. We even see Jane crying after their tiff as she walks through a field hatless. Tsk. Tsk. At least Mr. Davies did not sex up this particular film adaptation.

While I like this film overall, and gave it a favorable review when it was shown during PBS’s presentation of The Complete Jane Austen earlier this year, it did have a cringe worthy moment. Mr. Knightley, forcefully played by Mark Strong, proposes to Emma and says afterwards: “I held you in my arms when you were three weeks old”. Kate Beckinsale as Emma replies before they kiss: “Do you like me now as well as you did then?” Eww! The unfortunate image these words evoke are not at all what Jane intended. Here is how her Mr. Knightley proposes, which is just as it ought to be:

“My dearest Emma,” said he, “for dearest you will always be, whatever the event of this hour’s conversation, my dearest, most beloved Emma—tell me at once. Say ‘No,’ if it is to be said.”—She could really say nothing.—”You are silent,” he cried, with great animation; “absolutely silent! at present I ask no more.”

Emma was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment. The dread of being awakened from the happiest dream, was perhaps the most prominent feeling.

“I cannot make speeches, Emma:”—he soon resumed; and in a tone of such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing.—”If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am.—You hear nothing but truth from me.—I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it.—Bear with the truths I would tell you now, dearest Emma, as well as you have borne with them. The manner, perhaps, may have as little to recommend them. God knows, I have been a very indifferent lover.—But you understand me.—Yes, you see, you understand my feelings—and will return them if you can. At present, I ask only to hear, once to hear your voice.”

Jane DID bring up the differences in ages, but earlier in her novel, when 21-year-old Emma and 37-year-old Mr. Knightley attended a family gathering soon after Mr. & Mrs. John Knightley arrive for a visit. The conversation occurs some time after Mr. Knightley had chastised Emma for influencing Harriet in declining Mr. Martin’s marriage proposal. In this scene, Emma and Mr. Knightley speak as long-standing friends and as relations through marriage:

Emma: “What a comfort it is, that we think alike about our nephews and nieces. As to men and women, our opinions are sometimes very different; but with regard to these children, I observe we never disagree.”

Mr. Knightley: “If you were as much guided by nature in your estimate of men and women, and as little under the power of fancy and whim in your dealings with them, as you are where these children are concerned, we might always think alike.”

Emma: “To be sure—our discordancies must always arise from my being in the wrong.”

Mr. Knightley: “Yes,” said he, smiling—”and reason good. I was sixteen years old when you were born.”

Emma: “A material difference then,” she replied—”and no doubt you were much my superior in judgment at that period of our lives; but does not the lapse of one-and-twenty years bring our understandings a good deal nearer?”

Mr. Knightley: “Yes—a good deal nearer.”

Emma: “But still, not near enough to give me a chance of being right, if we think differently.”

Mr. Knightley: “I have still the advantage of you by sixteen years’ experience, and by not being a pretty young woman and a spoiled child. Come, my dear Emma, let us be friends and say no more about it. Tell your aunt, little Emma, that she ought to set you a better example than to be renewing old grievances, and that if she were not wrong before, she is now.” – Emma, Chapter 7, Volume One

Since watching this film adaptation, I have often wondered why Mr. Davies inserted those words about Emma as a baby into the script at what should have been a supremely romantic moment. Thankfully the Harvest Ball almost made up for his faux pas, almost, but not quite. Although the scene ends the movie on a perfect note, Jane never wrote it for her novel.
Score: Jane Austen, 100; Andrew Davies, Good try.

Life of Jane

The Life of Jane Austen on Dipity.

YEAR	DATE	DETAILS	AGE
1775	Saturday, December 16th	Jane Austen is born to George and Cassandra Austen at Steventon rectory. She is the eight child and second daughter behind brothers James, George, Charles, Francis, Henry, Edward and sister Cassandra (not to be confused with her mother, also named Cassandra.	0
1782		The first home theatrical presentation is performed by the Austen family in their home.	6
1783		Jane and elder sister Cassandra leave for Mrs. Crawley's boarding school in Oxford for their formal education. The school is then moved to Southampton where Typhoid Fever breaks out. The girls are returned home.	7
1784		The Austen family performs Sheridan's The Rivals.	8
1785		Jane and Cassandra arrive at the Abbey School in Reading.	9
1786		Jane and Cassandra arrive back home from school, having completed their formal education.	10
1787		It is believed that at about this time, Jane begins to write short stories and poems that later are collectively referred to as the Juvenilia and consist of three bound notebooks of works.	11
1790		Jane pens Love and Friendship and dedicates the work to cousin Eliza . It is believed that at about this time, she makes the conscious decision to write for profit and become a professional writer.	14
1793		Jane begins to write and later abandons a short play entitled Sir Charles Grandison or the Happy Man, a six act comedy.	17
		Jane pens Lady Susan, an epistolary novel.	17
	Monday, June 3	Jane pens the poem "Ode to Pity" for her Juvenilia.	17
1795		It is believed that before 1796, Jane read aloud to the Austen family her story entitled Elinor and Marianne. The discerning Austen reader would know these to be the main characters in Sense & Sensibility.	19
	December	Nephew of nearby neighbors Tom Lefroy places a visit to Steventon. It is believed that Jane very much fell in love with Tom based on her letters to Cassandra, indicating that the two had been spending a lot of time in one another's company. Tom is studying in London to become abarrister.	20
1796	January	Tom Lefroy is taken away from Steventon and Jane by his family as the marriage arrangement is deemed highly impractical as both have no money. Jane will never see Tom again in her life.	20
	August	Jane begins penning First Impressions. This work would go on to become her most famous piece known more as Pride & Prejudice.	20
	December	Jane and sister Cassandra arrive back home for good from their formal education at boarding school.	21
1797		Work is completed on the first draft of First Impressions.	22
	Wednesday, November 1st	Jane's father George Austen attempts to have one of Jane's works published for the first time. It is unknown whether Jane knew of this attempt but the request is denied by the publisher Thomas Cadell (of London).	22
	November	Jane returns her efforts to revise Elinor and Marianne.	22
	November	The Austen girls pay a visit to their brother James and his wife in Bath.	22
1798		Jane completes her revisions of Elinor and Marianne. The revision removed the epistolary point of view and stages the story more in the 3rd person.	23
		Begins work on Northanger Abbey though initially known as Susan and later Catherine .	23
1799		Continues writing and eventually revises Northanger Abbey.	24
	May	Mother and Jane visit Bath.	24
1800		Jane returns to and completes her short play Sir Charles Grandison or the Happy Man.	25
		Work is completed on Susan.	25
	December	Jane's father George Austen unexpectedly announces his retirement from the ministry. He uproots the family from Steventon and settles in Bath.	26
1801	January	Jane visits good friends Catherine and Alethea Bigg in Hampshire at Manydown Park.	26
	May	Mr Austen moves the family (mother, Jane and Cassandra) to Bath.	26
	October	The Austen's return from holiday in Sidmouth, Colyton and Steventon.	26
1802	September	Charles, Jane and Cassandra leave for Godmersham.	27
	October	Charles, Jane and Cassandra arrive home from their trip to Godmersham.	27
	Thursday, November 25th	Jane and Cassandra visit good friends Catherine and Alethea Bigg at Manydown Park.	27
	Thursday, December 2nd	Jane Austen receives her only proposal of marriage from Harris Bigg-Wither, an unattractive Oxford educated young man and childhood friend and heir to a large family estate. Jane accepts the proposal for practical reasons. The very next day, however, Jane withdraws her acceptance, feeling it to be a mistake.	27
	December	Jane works on revising Susan.	28
1803		With Jane's permission, brother Henry submits Susan to publisher Benjamin Crosby of Crosby & Company in London who buys the copyright for the work for 10 pounds. Crosby promises the book will be published but never fulfills his obligation.	28
	September	Mr. Austen and family (mother, Jane and Cassandra) once more spend time at Godmersham.	28
	October	The Austen's return to Bath from Godmersham.	28
1804		Jane begins work on the novel The Watsons. It would go unfinished.	29
		Jane and family spend the summer months in Lyme Regis.	29
	Sunday, December 16th	Friend and mentor, Madam Lefroy, is killed in a freak horse riding accident on Jane's 29th birthday.	29
1805	Monday, January 21st	Jane's father George Austen dies suddenly from illness taking the family by surprise. Jane consciously stops work on The Watsons. The Austen brothers agree to help support the mother and sisters. The Austen girls are forced to rent living quarters.	29
	March	Mrs. Austen, Jane and Cassandra move to 25 Gay Street.	29
		Jane finishes writing Lady Susan.	29
1806	February	Austen and Cassandra revisit Manydown Park.	30
	Wednesday, July 2nd	The Austen girls leave for Bath.	30
	Friday, August 5th	The Austen girls join Mrs. Austen's cousin in Warwickshire.	30
	Thursday, August 14th	The Austen women leave Warwickshire.	30
	October	The Austen sisters and mother, along with friend and widow Martha Lloyd, move to Southampton to live with newly married brother Frank.	30
1807	March	The group moved within Southampton to the Castle Square house.	31
1808	January	Yet another visit to the Bigg family. Jane takes part in one of the family theatricals "School for Scandal" .	32
	Tuesday, June 14th	Jane is in Godmersham.	32
	Friday, July 8th	Jane leaves Godmersham.	32
	Monday, October 24th	Frank offers up a six-bedroom cottage (known as Chawton House) in Chawton near his estate for the women to permanently move into as their own home.	32
1809	Wednesday, April 5th	Jane writes an angry letter (under the pseudonym Mrs. Ashley Dennis = M.A.D.) to publisher Benjamin Crosby and offers up a revised version of the manuscript for Susan to force Crosby's hand in publishing the work or returning to her possession. Crosby claims that no timeline was ever set for the books publication and as such Ms. Austen can continue waiting or purchase back the copyright for the novel. Without the means to do so, Jane cannot purchase the copyright.	33
		Edward has Chawton Cottage remodeled for the Austen girls.	33
	May	The Austen women visit Edward in Godmersham.	33
	Friday, July 7th	Mother Cassandra, sister cassandra and Jane move into Chawton House to a more quiet and settled life.	33
	August	Jane tackles Sense & Sensibility once more.	33
1810	July	Jane and Cassandra visit the Biggs in Manydown once more.	34
		Sense & Sensibilityis accepted for publishing by Thomas Egerton.	34
1811	February	Jane works on Mansfield Park.	35
	March	Jane visits Henry and wife Eliza in London.	35
	Wednesday, October 30th	Sense & Sensibility is published by Thomas Egerton with Henry Austen acting as literary agent. The novel is greeted with favorable reviews.	35
		Last additions to the Juvenilia notebooks are thought to have been made.	35
		Extensive revisions take place on First Impressions.	35
1812		Much of the year is spent revising First Impressions.	36
	November	The copyright to First Impressions is sold to Thomas Egerton for publication for the sum of 110 pounds.	36
1813	Thursday, January 28th	Pride & Prejudice is published by Thomas Egerton with Henry Austen acting as literary agent. Thanks to a large amount of resources put into advertising the piece, the novel is an instant success.	37
	Thursday, April 22nd	Jane leaves for London to nurse an ailing Eliza. Eliza dies just three days later, leaving Austen brother Henry a widower.	37
	Saturday, May 1st	Jane departs her brother's side.	37
	June	Mansfield Park is completed around this time.	37
	September	Jane places her last visit to Godmersham.	37
	October	A second edition of Pride & Prejudice is printed.	37
	Saturday, October 2nd	Sense & Sensibility in first edition form sells out completely, forcing a second edition to be printed.	37
		Egerton takes on Mansfield Park for publication.	37
1814	January	Jane begins writing Emma.	38
	March	Jane is escorted by brother Henry to London and they catch "The Merchant of Venice" at the theater.	38
	Monday, May 9th	Mansfield Park is Published by Thomas Egerton. Largely ignored by professional reviewers, the novel is nonetheless another success to the public square. The first edition sells out in a short six months.	38
		Jane writes a letter to her niece, Fanny Knight, in response to relationship advice. She advises not to marry if the affection is not there.	38
	October	All copies of Mansfield Park are sold making this the most profitable work of Austen's career thus far.	38
1815	Wednesday, March 29th	Jane completes Emma.	39
	Tuesday, August 8th	Jane begins writing Persuasion.	39
		Henry and Jane head to London to negotiate with famed publisher John Murray for the publication of Emma.	39
	Monday, November 13th	Jane is invited to admirer Prince Regent's London residence at Carolton House by his librarian, James Stanier Clarke. The Prince makes a mention that Jane should include him in the dedicated of her next work despite her (private) disgust of his moral character. With little choice, she reluctantly agrees to do so.	39
	Saturday, December 16th	Jane returns to Chawton.	40
	December	Emma is published by John Murray. The book is well received and sales thrive. The novel is dedicated to the Prince.	40
1816	January	Henry Austen repurchases the copyright to Susan back from Benjamin Crosby. The title is changed to Catherine.	40
		A second edition of Mansfield Park is published by John Murray.	40
	February	John Murray publishes a second edition of Mansfield Park. Sales do not meet expectations negating the earnings from Emma that same year.	40
	Saturday, March 16th	Henry Austen's bank venture fails, forcing the Austen family into financial uncertainty and delaying the publications of The Elliots andSusan. In addition to this, investments in the venture by brothers Edward, James and Frank are also lost.	40
		At some point in this year, Jane becomes ill, but disregards it to continue her work, namely The Elliots.	40
	May	Cassandra takes Jane to Cheltenham to seek medical care.	40
	June	Cassandra and Jane return from Cheltenham. Jane continues work onThe Elliots.	40
	Thursday, July 18th	Jane completes a first draft of The Elliots (later to become Persuasion).	40
		Jane's health declines enough for her family to begin noticing she is unwell.	40
	Tuesday, August 6th	Jane rewrites the concluding two chapters of The Elliots and finishes the work.	40
1817	January	Jane begins work on The Brothers (later published under the name ofSanditon).	41
	Tuesday, March 18	Despite completing some 12 chapters of The Brothers, Jane is forced to stop due to her ever-increasing illness. Walking becomes a chore and nothing can be done without great difficulty and loss of energy.	41
	April	Jane's illness ultimately confines the author to her bed.	41
	Sunday, April 27th	Jane pens a short will.	41
	Saturday, May 24th	Cassandra takes Jane to Winchester for treatment.	41
	Friday, July 18th	Jane Austen dies in Winchester during the early part of the day.	41
	Thursday, July 24th	Jane is buried, at her brother Henry's doing, in an aisle of the nave at Winchester Cathedral.	--
	December	Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are published through John Murray as a set thanks to the direction of Henry and Cassandra. Henry pens a biographical note for the piece identifying for the first time that Jane Austen is the author of these works. Sales start strong but tail off.	--
1820		John Murray destroys the remaining unsold copies of Northanger Abbeyand Persuasion.	--
1832		Richard Bentley purchases all of the remaining copyrights to Jane Austen's works.	--
	December	After a twelve year hiatus of no Austen works in publication, Bentley publishes all of the works in a collection of illustrated five-volume series known as the Standard Novels.	--
1833	October	Bentley publishes the collected works of Jane Austen for the first time. Jane Austen's novels would never go out of print again.	--
1870		Nephew James Austen publishes his memoirs entitled "A Memoir of the Life of Jane Austen" and brings Jane Austen's life and works to a greater audience, solidifying her place in history.