MINOR AUSTEN: The History of England

[Melissa_W Moderator]

The History of England was likely completed around 1791 and is subtitled "by a partial, prejudiced, and ignorant Historian."  I think Miss Jane was firmly on the side of Mary, Queen of Scots.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

JA is convinced that she's easily "proved" her argument that Mary, Queen of Scots, and Charles I were innocent of their crimes (for which they were beheaded).

My thinking is that her arguement isn't well-supported and takes a rather romantic view of history (and I'm sure she'd be up in arms about that statement).

[Melissa_W Moderator]

Did anyone else catch the bit in James I's section where JA says she's "partial to the roman catholic religion"?  I don't think I've come across that partiality in any of her books - she's not a religious writer but I can't recall an instance where Catholicism is even mentioned.

Given that JA's father was a CofE clergyman, do you think she was pulling his leg a bit?

[dulcinea3]

I'll try to glance over this over the weekend.  From what I remember, Jane certainly was a huge fan of Mary Queen of Scots and hated her rival Elizabeth!  Maybe that's why she found a partiality for Roman Catholocism?  I also loved the way she said she wouldn't use dates, and then relented and gave one - but it was just the day and month, without the year!  I believe there are footnotes in my edition on what is the probable inspiration for this work, and that I have another book that is also inspired by that - a hilarious misstelling of history called 1066 and All That.  The original inspiration also avoided dates, as I recall.

So I will brush up and get back to you!  Don't worry, Melissa, you're not alone!  I really hope that someone else will be interested enough to join us.  Austen has usually been a good draw in the past, but I guess this could be a little bit obscure, unless you're a rabid fan, like me!  It is really a treat, so I hope someone gets inspired to read it.

[dulcinea3]

Apparently, this work was based on The History of England from the Earliest Times to the Death of George II by Oliver Goldsmith.  This was written in 1771 (twenty years before Austen's history, although the date in the note below is 1764) and used as a school textbook.  According to the notes in my edition, the date that Austen gives for the letter written by Anne Boleyn ("Anna Bullen") to Henry VIII, the 6th of May, is "the only date which Goldsmith gives in The History of England (1764), in his account of the eight reigns from Henry IV to Henry VIII.  Jane Austen's great play of mentioning this precise date is probably a reminder of Goldsmith's 'dateless' history."  The beginning to Austen's work states, "N.B. There will be very few Dates in this History."  Then during her account of Henry VIII, she says, "Tho' I do not profess giving many dates, yet I think it is proper to give some & shall of course make choice of those which it is most necessary for the Reader to know, I think it right to inform him that her letter to the King was dated on the 6th of May."   I see, though, that she gives the full date for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots!  She reverts to just the day and month for the execution of Essex.

As I mentioned, I have a hilarious book called 1066 and All That, written by W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman and published in 1931.  It is very much in the same vein as The History of England by Austen, and was also meant to be a parody of British schoolroom texts on history.  It may even have been somewhat inspired by Austen and Goldsmith, as a subtitle to the work is, "A Memorable History of England, comprising, all the parts you can remember including one hundred and three good things, five bad kings, and two genuine dates".  The dates are 55 BC, when the Romans invaded England, and, of course, 1066.  I find it interesting, given Austen's tendency to give just the day and month, that they say of the Gunpowder Plot, "... the day and month of it (though not, of course, the year) are well known to be utterly and even maddeningly MEMORABLE."  However, they don't even give the day and month!

Here is a link to an online manuscript of Austen's history, including the illustrations by her sister Cassandra:

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/austen/accessible/introduction.html

Note the difference between the looks of Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots!!!

There seems to be some speculation that Cassandra based Mary on Jane herself, and Elizabeth on their mother.

Another note: the passage where Jane speaks of the greatness of Sir Francis Drake and then continues: "Yet great as he was, & justly celebrated as a Sailor, I cannot help forseeing that he will be equalled in this or the next Century by one who tho' now but young, already promises to answer all the ardent & sanguine expectations of his Relations and Friends, amongst whom I may class the amiable Lady to whom this work is dedicated, & my no less amiable Self." refers to her brother Francis, who was at the time a midshipman, and eventually did become Admiral of the Fleet.