Becoming Jane Austen
The True Love Story That Inspired
the Classic Novels
by John Spence
Part of a continuing series.
When they returned home at Christmas 1786, Steventon must have seemed almost empty to Jane and Cassandra. Henry and Charles were the only two boys still at home. Frank had left in April to attend the Royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth. The sturdy and enterprising twelve year old was preparing to become a sailor. He was expected home for a short visit during the Christmas holidays. James and Edward had both gone abroad, though James's travels were less extensive and on a much more modest scale than his brother's.
Jane Austen
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The Knights had decided a Grand Tour would be more in keeping with Edward's talents and expectations than a stint at a university. During this time he had his portrait painted in Rome. What we see in the picture is a slightly foppish and disdainful young milord. Edward was now a potentially rich young man, heir to Godmersham Park. But the painter depicted the stereo type of his position in life, not Edward himself.
Edward spent the month of August 1786 in Switzerland, and kept a journal of his impressions and adventures, a small volume bound in cardboard with the title written on the spine and the cover in the author's hand. It does not read like a journal you write for yourself - it is much more like a letter, written with a recipient in mind. He probably sent it back to England for the amusement of his family and the Knights. Perhaps Jane read it when she got home from the Abbey School. Edward is the first of her brothers whose voice we hear, and in it ring distinctly characteristic notes of Jane's famous style. After Jane, Edward was the most talented writer in the family, based on the evidence we have, and she must have appreciated his skill and learned from him.
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