Letter #12, Post #7

Wednesday 22 August 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "We have got 'Fitz-Albini'; my father has bought it against my private wishes, for it does not quite satisfy my feelings that we should purchase the only one of Egerton's works of which his family are ashamed. That these scruples, however, do not at all interfere with my reading it, you will easily believe. We have neither of us yet finished the first volume. My father is disappointed-I am not, for I expected nothing better. Never did any book carry more internal evidence of its author. Every sentiment is completely Egerton's. There is very little story, and what there is told in a strange, unconnected way. There are many characters introduced, apparently merely to be delineated. We have not been able to recognise any of them hitherto, except Dr and Mrs Hey and Mr Oxenden, who is not very tenderly treated." - Jane Austen, Sunday  25 November 1798

This is not a great review for this book is it. I would be curious to peruse it just because it sounds so bad, or at least check it out of the library.

There is a Revd Dr Thomas Hey in the Biographical Index at the back of the Jane Austen's Letters book. he was the Rector of Wickhambreux, vicar of Eastchurch, and Prebendary of Rochester, and the Oxenden family, who were baronets of Deane Park, Wingham, and Broome House, Kent. They must be who she is referring to here as characters in the book, "merely to delineated."

Here is a little peak into Jane Austen's personality, "my father has bought it against my private wishes, for it does not quite satisfy my feelings that we should purchase the only one of Egerton's works of which his family are ashamed. That these scruples, however, do not at all interfere with my reading it, you will easily believe." (I think I should not, but... I cannot resist.) And that Cassandra would easily believe it says a lot also. How amusing... and charming of her to admit it.

I hope you are having a good day today!
Terrie