Cassandra Austen courtesy the National Portrait Gallery viaWikimedia Commons// Public knowledge base
Jane Austen , chronicler of 18th 100 social norms , was more sensory to criticism from her know ones than most . The novelist actually encouraged her friends and family to publish her with opinions on her work , and her own notes on those letter are about to go on exhibit at the British Library , The Guardianreports .
" Jane Austen Among Family and Friends " celebrates the writer on the 200 - class anniversary of her end . It features limited review by Austen ’s acquaintance and family on her third novel , Mansfield Park , which was published in 1814 , just a few years before her 1817 decease . And many of those reviews were not favourable . Austen ’s own mother told her the novel was n’t as good asPride and Prejudiceand call its main eccentric , Fanny Price , “ insipid . ” Others tended to agree , like her niece , Anna Lefroy , who like the book but hated the character of Fanny . Another letter of the alphabet writer aver it “ want incident , ” and one , according to Austen , thought her first two record book were “ nonsense , ” but hoped the new novel would be dependable .
A mockery story featured in the exhibition , written by Austen and illustrated by her sister Cassandra . Image Credit : Courtesy the British Library
Not all the reviews were so raw . Austen ’s sister Cassandra ( who drew the sketch of the generator above ) “ thought it quite as clever , tho ’ not as brainy asP. & P. ” She was adoring of Fanny and establish the stupidity of the part Mr. Rushworth delightful .
Regardless of the opinions of those close to her , the novel would sell out withinsix monthsof its issue .
The exposition also includes notebooks of written material by a teenaged Austen as well as her authorship desk and some of her memorabilia . They will be on display at the British Library from January 10 to February 19 , 2017 .
[ h / tThe Guardian ]
