In her own time, Austen’s novels received praise, including a review from Sir Walter Scott and a commendation from the Prince Regent himself. Still, Austen remained relatively unknown, her books never earning their potential. I imagine the praise helped, but it must have been discouraging that her novels weren’t more widely read. This made me wonder: What did Austen think of her own writing?
First, let’s look at how Austen described herself as an author.
Austen did not write romance
Austen is often called a romance writer, but she did not consider herself one. In a letter to the Prince Regent’s librarian (pretty fancy correspondence, Jane!), she wrote:
I could no more write a Romance than an Epic Poem. – I could not sit seriously down to write a serious Romance under any other motive than to save my Life, & if it were indispensable for me to keep it up & never relax into laughing at myself or other people, I am sure I should be hung before I finished the first Chapter. – No – I must keep to my own style & go on in my own Way. And though I may never succeed again in that, I am convinced that I should totally fail in any other. (Apr. 1, 1816)
“I must keep to my own style & go on in my own way.” Isn’t that a great line?
This site is ending, so I moved this post. Read the rest here and find out what Austen thought about Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma.
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