Okay, a
delightful Jane Austen quiz to usher in the summer solstice (here in the
Northern Hemisphere):
Clue #1:
There is a 2-sentence passage in Henry Austen’s (pretty short) 1818
Biographical Notice of Jane Austen… http://www.austen.com/persuade/preface.htm …which is the common thread that unites ALL
EIGHT of the following seemingly unconnected passages written by Jane Austen
over a period of 21 years. Can you locate the passage in the Biographical
Notice, and then explain the concealed connection to each of the eight passages?
Clue
#2: There is another, ninth passage in JA’s writings which has long been universally
acknowledged to be part of that same concealed connection:
1793:
“Henry VIII: in The History of England:
“…a
slight sketch of the principal Events which marked his reign. Among these may be ranked Cardinal Wolsey's
telling the father Abbott of Leicester Abbey that "he was come to lay his bones among
them,"
…Nothing
can be said in his vindication, but that his
abolishing Religious Houses & leaving them to
the ruinous depredations of time has been of infinite use to the landscape of
England in general, which probably was a principal motive for his doing it…”
1811: S&S
Chapter 18:
"I am convinced," said Edward,
"that you really feel all the delight in a fine prospect which you profess
to feel. But, in return, your sister must allow me to feel no more than I
profess…I do not like crooked, twisted, blasted trees. I admire them much more
if they are tall, straight, and flourishing. I do not like ruined, tattered
cottages….”
1813 P&P
Chapter
11: “…My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My
temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost
forever."
Chapter
29: Elizabeth found herself quite equal
to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly…"…It
is wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that way.
I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces of Mrs.
Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means…”
Chapter
35: "Two offenses of a very
different nature, and by no means of equal magnitude, you last night laid to my
charge. The first mentioned was, that, regardless of the sentiments of either,
I had detached Mr. Bingley from your sister, and the other, that I had, in
defiance of various claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the
immediate prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham…”
Chapter
42: “…The
walk here being here less sheltered than on the other side, allowed them to see
him before they met. Elizabeth, however astonished, was at least more prepared
for an interview than before, and resolved to appear and to speak with
calmness, if he really intended to meet them. For a few moments, indeed, she
felt that he would probably strike into some other path. The idea lasted while
a turning in the walk concealed him from their view; the turning past, he was
immediately before them. With a glance, she saw that he had lost none of his
recent civility; and, to imitate his politeness, she began, as they met, to
admire the beauty of the place; but she had not got beyond the words "delightful,"
and "charming," when some unlucky recollections obtruded, and she fancied
that praise of
Pemberley from her might be mischievously construed….”
1814: Letter 97 to Cassandra Austen “I have seen nobody in London yet
with such a long chin as Dr. Syntax, nor Anybody quite so large as
Gogmagoglicus.”
1814: Letter
107 to Anna Austen Lefroy: “You describe a sweet place, but
your descriptions are often more minute than will be liked. You give too many
particulars of right hand and left. Mrs. Forester is not careful enough of
Susan's health. Susan ought not to be walking out so soon after heavy rains, taking
long walks in the dirt. An anxious mother would not suffer it. I like your
Susan very much; she is a sweet creature, her playfulness of fancy is very delightful.
I like her as she is now exceedingly, but I am not quite so well satisfied with
her behavior to George R. At first she seems all over attachment and feeling,
and afterwards to have none at all; she is so extremely confused at the ball,
and so well satisfied apparently with Mr. Morgan. She seems to have changed her
character. You are now collecting your people delightfully, getting them
exactly into such a spot as is the delight of my life. Three or four families in
a country village is the very thing to work on, and I hope you will do a great
deal more, and make full use of them while they are so very favourably
arranged.”
As usual, I will reveal the answer
in about two days, but I hope that I will receive some correct answers before
then.
Cheers, ARNIE
@JaneAustenCode on Twitter
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