truth, however, was that before she had completed Persuasion , she had begun to develop the symptoms and signs of a chronic illness. This will be discussed shortly). Also, Jane’s brother Francis’s adventures are reflected by Jane in her character Admiral Croft who had taken part ‘in the Trafalgar action’ – although, as already mentioned, Francis had narrowly missed the Battle of Trafalgar.
In the debate about love, Anne Elliot is surely echoing Jane’s own thoughts when she says that although her heart had previously been broken (in Jane’s case by both Tom Lefroy and probably by Samuel Blackall), she still loved, even when all hope was gone. Unlike Jane, however, Anne Elliot achieves a happy ending to her story.
Jane’s brothers were never far from her thoughts. For instance, she speaks of the many people ‘whom Edward’s charity has reached’. She also takes a lively interest in his activities, as inher mention of ‘some very fine chestnuts [trees]’ which he had selected for planting at Godmersham Park.
Her other brother Henry’s physician, Dr Matthew Baillie, was also physician to the Prince Regent. Not only did Baillie inform Jane that the Prince was a great admirer of her novels, but a request was subsequently made to Jane that she dedicate her novel Emma to the Prince – which, of course, she did. It was published in December 1815.
In 1816 Henry’s banking house of Austen, Maunde and Tilson collapsed, and on 15 March he was declared bankrupt. He then took holy orders, whereupon his brother Edward presented him with the gift of a curacy at Bentley, near Chawton. (Henry subsequently became Rector of Steventon).
Jane was by now aged 40 and still a single woman – as was her sister Cassandra. Meanwhile, of her six brothers, five had married (but not George), and four had children. And yet, there was no jealousy on Jane’s part – only regret, that thus far she had been unfortunate enough not to find a partner. Instead, she rejoiced at the happiness of her married brothers, together with that of her nephews and nieces (with the possible exception of James and his family, whom she considered to be money-grabbing). She also had to bear the brunt of looking after her ageing mother – who suffered from chronic ill health – and did occasionally complain when she believed one or other of her siblings were not pulling their weight in family matters.
23
Sanditon
Jane’s last (and unfinished) novel Sanditon was written between 27 January and 18 March 1817, by which time her health had deteriorated alarmingly. (It was not published until 1925). At that time, there was a school of thought, which Jane was aware of, to the effect that sea water and sea air had curative or restorative properties. It is no coincidence, therefore, that the book’s setting is the fictitious town of Sanditon, described as ‘a young and rising bathing-place, which everybody has heard of’. By contrast, the story also implies that the medical profession is, as often as not, ineffectual when it comes to the treatment of disease. In fact, the novel begins with an immediate attack on that profession.
Mr Parker and his wife are travelling along the coast road near Tonbridge in Kent, when their coach overturns in a rough lane, in the course of which Mr Parker sprains his ankle. The accident has been seen by local man Mr Heywood who, when asked if there is a surgeon nearby replies: ‘The surgeon sir! I’m afraid you’ll find no surgeon at hand here, but I dare say we shall do very well without him’.
When Lady Denham of Sanditon hears that Parker has requested a doctor, she is equally scathing about the medical profession:
Going after a doctor! – Why, what should we do with a doctor here? It would be only encouraging our servants and the poorto fancy themselves ill, if there was a doctor at hand – Oh! pray, let us have none of the tribe at Sanditon. We go on very well as we are. Here have I lived seventy good years
In the debate about love, Anne Elliot is surely echoing Jane’s own thoughts when she says that although her heart had previously been broken (in Jane’s case by both Tom Lefroy and probably by Samuel Blackall), she still loved, even when all hope was gone. Unlike Jane, however, Anne Elliot achieves a happy ending to her story.
Jane’s brothers were never far from her thoughts. For instance, she speaks of the many people ‘whom Edward’s charity has reached’. She also takes a lively interest in his activities, as inher mention of ‘some very fine chestnuts [trees]’ which he had selected for planting at Godmersham Park.
Her other brother Henry’s physician, Dr Matthew Baillie, was also physician to the Prince Regent. Not only did Baillie inform Jane that the Prince was a great admirer of her novels, but a request was subsequently made to Jane that she dedicate her novel Emma to the Prince – which, of course, she did. It was published in December 1815.
In 1816 Henry’s banking house of Austen, Maunde and Tilson collapsed, and on 15 March he was declared bankrupt. He then took holy orders, whereupon his brother Edward presented him with the gift of a curacy at Bentley, near Chawton. (Henry subsequently became Rector of Steventon).
Jane was by now aged 40 and still a single woman – as was her sister Cassandra. Meanwhile, of her six brothers, five had married (but not George), and four had children. And yet, there was no jealousy on Jane’s part – only regret, that thus far she had been unfortunate enough not to find a partner. Instead, she rejoiced at the happiness of her married brothers, together with that of her nephews and nieces (with the possible exception of James and his family, whom she considered to be money-grabbing). She also had to bear the brunt of looking after her ageing mother – who suffered from chronic ill health – and did occasionally complain when she believed one or other of her siblings were not pulling their weight in family matters.
23
Sanditon
Jane’s last (and unfinished) novel Sanditon was written between 27 January and 18 March 1817, by which time her health had deteriorated alarmingly. (It was not published until 1925). At that time, there was a school of thought, which Jane was aware of, to the effect that sea water and sea air had curative or restorative properties. It is no coincidence, therefore, that the book’s setting is the fictitious town of Sanditon, described as ‘a young and rising bathing-place, which everybody has heard of’. By contrast, the story also implies that the medical profession is, as often as not, ineffectual when it comes to the treatment of disease. In fact, the novel begins with an immediate attack on that profession.
Mr Parker and his wife are travelling along the coast road near Tonbridge in Kent, when their coach overturns in a rough lane, in the course of which Mr Parker sprains his ankle. The accident has been seen by local man Mr Heywood who, when asked if there is a surgeon nearby replies: ‘The surgeon sir! I’m afraid you’ll find no surgeon at hand here, but I dare say we shall do very well without him’.
When Lady Denham of Sanditon hears that Parker has requested a doctor, she is equally scathing about the medical profession:
Going after a doctor! – Why, what should we do with a doctor here? It would be only encouraging our servants and the poorto fancy themselves ill, if there was a doctor at hand – Oh! pray, let us have none of the tribe at Sanditon. We go on very well as we are. Here have I lived seventy good years
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