Because the Title 'Pride and Prejudice' Was Already Taken ~ A Book Review of 'Becoming Jane Austen' by Jon Spence

For anyone who has ever read a biographical description of Jane Austen, it is a wonder that she never wrote anything under the title of 'A Room of One's Own'.  Although eventually, 1929, Virginia Woolf does examine the life of Austen, along with others under said title.  In 2003 Jon Spence tries to delve further into the Austen mystique with 'Becoming Jane Austen' of which the 2007 movie, 'Becoming Jane' was based.  Unlike the movie which focuses on an alleged romance of which the major evidence for its existence is innuendo, 'Becoming Jane Austen' covers the Austen family a few generations before Jane is even born, but ends abruptly as soon as she dies in 1817.  I do wish more detail was given in this regard. 

          I confess that as a reviewer of this book, I started to read it during chemo when it was difficult to read anything that required the focus above that of a child in a candy shop.  Suffice to say I have read this book in chunks.  Although I have enjoyed it, and would recommend it, my total recall of it is incomplete.

            The one thing that has struck me about the earlier part of the book is how the social structure of British families of the Austen economic/cultural class seems so different from that of today (and I don't think that is just because I am American that it seems a bit odd).  A generation or two before Jane was born some of her family tree had money, and if I remember correctly a title.  The particular man with the bulk of the inheritance had no children so he went to the siblings of either his wife or himself and picked out a boy then legally adopted the child after a financial arrangement had been agreed upon.  The crux of the situation, as if selling one of your children to a relative doesn't seem strange enough, was that the boy was not to have any contact with his biological mother or siblings.  Oh no, this wasn't done in order for the lad to not know he is adopted, the kid was already younger school age, this was done so that when he inherited he wouldn't squander the money on helping his family of origin.  I know what you are thinking; when is Disney going to make a fun for all the family film out of this? 

           Jane Austen spent her childhood in a family of six boys and one sister.  Her father was a rector who also taught students that the Austens then boarded.  If the family had not so many children they would have been prosperous, but as it was money was tight and as described above, some of the Austen children visited wealthier relatives in hopes of gaining some favor...or an adoption.  Overall, Jane grew up in a family that valued each other's company and encouraged her with her writing if for no other reason, but to entertain themselves. 

          As far as the romance that inspired the movie, if that is the reason you pick up this book then you are going to be severely irritated.  As I remember the movie there is a huge climax that involved the choice of love versus uncertainty and possible poverty - in literary form it is not so near exciting. 

          I have to admit that I did feel vindicated once the book delves into Jane Austen's novels.  A few years ago I wrote a harsh review about how one of those numerous 'P & P' sequels that are in print had the Darcy daughters commenting about Napoleon.  Someone corrected me by saying that the story had been written in the 1790's which would than make the historic events possible - well after all this time all I have to say is HA!  When Jane Austen finally started to publish her books she wanted them to be read as current and NOT in the timeframe of when they were originally written.  Thank you Jane Austen and Jon Spence!

          'Becoming Jane Austen' is an excellent read that would please not only the most ardent Austen admirers, but also history buffs and women of all stripes.  It really is interesting the metamorphosis she goes through in the way she regards her writing.  She couldn't help but view how limited her resources were since she was an unmarried woman of a certain social standing.  She didn't want to be dependent on her brothers and at the end of her life, when she had some taste of fame, she had some security but even then still lived with uncertainty. 

          At the end of the book, one of the more interesting things that I took away was how Austen viewed marriage.  At the end of some of her popular books marriage seems to be the end of struggle for her young heroines, but as Austen witnessed young women having too many children in too small a time period (sometimes permanently injuring their health) she started to rethink the institution of matrimony.  In fact, she made the love interest in her later book, 'Persuasion' a sea captain, because she wanted Captain Wentworth to have a dangerous profession - i.e. a profession as dangerous as marriage was for young women. 

          Overall, if you are a Jane Austen fan, this book is a must read. 

Westerfield © 2009