What was the last book you purchased just because of Instagram? Frozen River for me!
A Jane Austen Year celebrates Jane Austen’s 250th
birthday year by exploring her life through her letters, objects, and manuscripts. This is put together by the curators of Jane
Austen’s house in Chawton – a place that is on my bucket list to visit.
The introduction talks about how this book was written
from Jane Austen’s house in Chawton and how it has “an unparalleled collection
of Austen treasures including items of furniture, paintings, and household
objects. Visitors can discover Jane’s personal
letters and first editions of her novels, items of jewelry, portraits of her
friends and family, and the tiny writing table at which she wrote.”
This book shows us fragments of Jane Austen’s
life. It is split up into twelve
months. Each month details events from
her books and life that happened in that month.
For example, in January:
· The Dashwood sisters take a trip to London the first week of January. Artwork is shown of this trip and an excerpt from the novel.
· A picture of the miniature of Tom Lefroy and a written description of Jane dancing with Tom in January.
· Pride and Prejudice was published on January 28, 1813.
· On January 14, 1817, Jane wrote a friend asking for her orange wine recipe. The recipe is shown as well as a beautiful picture.
· A letter is written out that was sent from Jane to Cassandra on January 29, 1813.
· A picture of Jane’s piano and a description of the two books of sheet music that were copied by Jane.
· A picture and description of the French Revolution including snippets of a letter Jane wrote to her cousin Phila Walter about her poor cousin Eliza’s husband, the Comte de Feuille, who was executed in France during the revolution.
I loved all the Christmas information that was listed
in the month of December. The book is both
informative and beautiful. There is also
a great index at the end of the book and more detailed information about Jane
Austen’s house.
Overall, A Jane Austen Year is a fantastic book for
any Jane Austen lover in your life (including yourself). It would be fun to read throughout a year but
was also great to read all at once. It’s
a nice conservation book for like minded Jane Austen loving friends.
Book Source:
Review copy from @janeaustenshouse @batsfordbooks as part of the
Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
This beautifully illustrated book charts the life of one of the world’s most beloved authors through the letters, objects, and manuscripts that shaped her life.
Published in partnership with the curators of Jane Austen’s House, the enchanting Hampshire cottage where Jane Austen’s genius flourished that now attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Arranged over the course of a calendar year, from snowy scenes in January to festive recipes in December, specially commissioned photography of Austen’s home and possessions are brought together with extracts from her books, reproductions of her letters, and stories of her life throughout the seasons. Highlights include the first time Austen read a published copy of Pride and Prejudice to an enraptured audience in her drawing room, affectionate letters to her sister Cassandra reproduced in full and an exquisite miniature portrait of Tom Lefroy, the man she nearly married.
Read this book for a unique and intimate insight into Austen’s world. Dip into it as you will, or visit each month, and enjoy a full year of Austen—her life, works and letters, people and objects she knew, and of course her idyllic, inspiring home.
CURATOR BIO
Jane Austen’s House is the inspiring Hampshire cottage where the beloved author lived for the last eight years of her life. It houses an unparalleled collection of Austen treasures. Highlights include Jane’s jewelry, letters, first editions of her novels, and the table at which she wrote her much loved novels. Visitors can step back in time to 1816 and follow in Austen’s footsteps as they explore the rooms where she lived and wrote. It has been open to the public as a museum since 1949 and is an international center for Jane Austen studies.
