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Book review
Jane and Her Gentlemen:
Jane Austen and the Men
in her Life and Novels
by Audrey Hawkridge
Reviewed by Julie Sparks
In keeping with the spirit of the book I have decided to do this review of Jane and
her Gentlemen on the lines of meeting one of Jane’s Gentlemen, considering
Appearance, Intellect, Character and the all-important Financial Consequence (although not
in that order). Will this book turn out to be a Mr Darcy – handsome, powerful,
opinionated? Will it resemble John Willoughby, be handsome but lack honesty and integrity?
Heaven forbid it should be Edmund Bertram or Mr Collins!
Appearance: Jane and Her Gentlemen is a handsome, slim volume (and I have to
admit I couldn’t resist Pam Nutt’s description of it as the book with the ‘feel
good’ cover). It has a nice collection of black and white pictures, a good index
and notes, the Jane Austen Family Tree and a brief chronology of Jane’s life. The
book is fairly short, less than 200 pages, is very easy to read and the print is not too
small.
Financial Consequence: Those who were at the Country Weekend will probably recall
Susannah recounting how expensive the book was (nearly $80), mainly as a result of the
devaluation of the Australian dollar and the cost of postage from England. But then, as in
true Jane Austen tradition, money is a very important topic and again the book lives up to
its reputation as being of financial consequence.
Intellect and Substance: The book looks at the men in Jane’s family, social circle
and novels – what she thought of them and how they affected her life. The Foreword
recognises that there is very little to add to what is already known about Jane and her
life, but the quotes, references and presentation make this an enjoyable book to read,
without requiring great intellectual concentration. The book is divided into four parts.
Part I – Jane – looks at Jane’s life and her relationship with
men and women within her family and more broadly in her social circle. Parallels are drawn
between events in Jane’s own life and how this influenced her writing and the
characters in her novels. Jane’s novels are more focussed on the snobbery that
pervaded Georgian life, financial matters and health rather than tragedy, but two of
Jane’s brothers fought in the Napoleonic Wars, her cousin Eliza’s husband was
executed in France and a good friend (Mrs Lefroy) was killed in a fall from a horse. These
types of events do not occur in Jane’s novels, however, perhaps to avoid
‘distressing those closest to her heart’.
Part II – The Men at Home – begins the real discussion on the
men in Jane’s life and the fact that the heroes in Jane’s major works are two
landed gentlemen, two clergymen and a Naval Officer. (Which completed novel doesn’t
have a male character who could be called a hero?)
Jane’s father and brothers and their wives are described in an interesting way.
Each of Jane’s older brothers lost his first wife and remarried except Edward, whose
wife Elizabeth died at the age of 35 having their eleventh child. Frank’s first wife,
Mary, also died following the birth of their eleventh child. Obviously these events would
have had an impact on Jane’s views of marriage and childbirth.
Part III –Cameos – looks at Jane’s male acquaintances, through
Jane’s letters to Cassandra. Possibly because Jane is writing to a beloved sister her
descriptions and observations are not generally flattering: writing of Mr Rob. Mascall:.
‘He talks too much and is conceited – besides having a vulgarly shaped
mouth.’
Jane is also quoted as having written, ‘Anything is to be preferred or endured
rather than marrying without affection’. Part III also covers the comic
figures in the novels such as Mr Rushworth, Mr Woodhouse, Sir John Middleton and the
unforgettable Mr Collins. Anti-heroes and false heroes such as George Wickham, John
Willoughby, Henry Crawford and Frank Churchill are also dissected.
Part IV – Romance in Fiction and Fact – Tall, handsome,
wealthy, strong willed, powerful, opinionated, aristocratic and haughty – Mr Darcy is
the romantic male lead personified. Other heroes such as Captain Frederick Wentworth and
Henry Tilney are also described. But it is the author’s assessment of George
Knightley as the perfect man for Jane herself that I found interesting (and I have to
admit to his being one of my favourites as well). Jane’s own search for love is
detailed, starting with a youthful infatuation with Edward Taylor, then Thomas Langlois
Lefroy, a proposal of marriage from Harris Bigg-Wither as well as possible other romantic
attachments. The book draws out Jane’s personal life through her letters, and
describes an intelligent, observant young woman very much involved in social activities
and contact with eligible young men. However, it is Jane’s mystery lost love who
fascinates – the nameless and dateless man that she falls in love with, who allows
her to indulge in love and then sorrow at his untimely death. Ultimately she is able to
take up a ‘balanced, cheerful life again – wiser and a little sadder’.
Character and Style: This book is easy to read, interesting, doesn’t require great
intellectual concentration, likes to see the good in Jane’s motives and most of all
is entertaining. I would definitely recommend it as a good overview of exactly what the
book is called ‘Jane Austen and the Men in her Life and Novels’.
You will be pleased to hear that within a few minutes of starting the book I was able
to quickly form an opinion (First Impressions?) of whom the book most resembles and I am
happy to say that I kept this good opinion through the entire work. So have you guessed
who the book is personified as? To me it represents Mr Bingley, but I’ll let you
judge for yourself.
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