Jane Austen：A Life

BookDescriptionHere,firmlyrootedinherownsocialsettingforthefirsttime,istherealJaneAusten--theshywomanwillingtochallengeconvention,thewomanofnopretensionswhoneverthelesscalledherself"formidable,"awomanwhocouldbefrivolousandyetsufferfromblackdepressions,whoshowedunfailingloyaltyand,intheconductofherownlife,unfailingbravery.Inanactofunderstandingandbrilliantsynthesis,ClaireTomalinrevealsJaneAustenwithaclarityneverbeforeachieved,onewhichmakesuslookuponhernovelswithfreshandevengreateradmiration.Theworldshewroteabout--thatplaceofcivilityandreassuringstability--wasneverquiteherown.AsTomalinshows,JaneAusten'sfamilyexistedontheveryfringeoftheworldshedescribedinherfiction,strugglingtogetaheadwithlittlemoneyandnolandinthecompetitivesocietyofGeorgianEngland,sometimessucceedingbutoftenfailingwithpainfulconsequences.Newresearchinfamilypapershasyieldedarich,tragicomicpictureoftheAustenclan--theirambitions,theirmatrimonialalliances,theirexoticconnectionswithIndiaandFrance.Atthesametime,Tomalin'sexplorationsinlocalarchivesrevealasurprisingviewoftheneighborsthefamilylivedamonginHampshire,moreextravagantandeccentricbyfarthananyonedepictedinAusten'sbooks.Werealizehowmuchcloserhergeniuslies,initssplendidartifice,tothegreatcomicoperasofMozartthantothemaintraditionoftheEnglishnovel.