Memoire of Jane Austen ~ James Edward Austen - Leigh

 

"It was not what she knew but what she was, that distinguished her from others." So says her nephew in his book Memoire of Jane Austen ~ James Edward Austen - Leigh.

The total earning from her books during her life time was 700 pounds, she had more fame and earned more revenue gradually over the years. Her father tried to help her with publishing, but initially it did'nt work out. Her initial books said 'Written by a Lady' instead of the author name and subsequent books had reference to the earlier book in the author name. As she held the first copy of Pride and Prejudice, she wrote to her sister, "I have got my own darling child"

When she was unwell and bedridden and her attended asked her "what you want" her response was "Nothing but death".

7th of 8 children. At the age of 32 her father died, her first book was published when she was 38 years of age, she died when she was 44 years. How long was her author career? -  7 years during this period 6 of her books were published. She lived from 1775 to 1817. 

It is said that the first book she wrote was Northhanger Abbey in 1798 which was her last published book in her lifetime, published in 1817. She started writing for her own amusement and for family plays. She first finished writing as a novel Pride and Prejudice but her first published book was Sense and sensibility in 1811.  Third came Mansfield part in 1814. These three were published by Egerton. then came Emma in 1816, followed by Northhanger Abbey and persuasion, these three were published by Murray. 

She was the product of her time, with no classical education, no extensive acquaintance with English Literature and not in any company of literary circle. She came from a well bread and closely knit family. 

She showed women as intelligent, capable and witty. She had unpublished poems as well, which were published in the book. She had a clear good handwriting, and was always cheerful. 

To write one need to have intellectual freedom. Be oneself more than anything else. Be the inheritor and originator of your work. 

Her advise to her nephew was to read until 16 and start writing only after 16. 

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Got this to speak at Chinnmaya school to celebrate her 250th mam, where Kairali mam began her talk with this slide:

Imagine scrolling through your social media feed and seeing someone post: "Just got ghosted by a guy who seemed perfect - great job, good family, rich, handsome and charming in person. Found out he was convinced by his best friend to leave me. Now everyone's talking about it." #brokenheart #meandfriends #datingishard #relationshipworries #overbeforeitbegan."

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AI helps edit it as below:

“It was not what she knew but what she was, that distinguished her from others.”

So wrote James Edward Austen‑Leigh, Jane Austen’s devoted nephew, in his Memoir of Jane Austen. That single line captures the essence of a woman whose quiet life produced some of the most enduring works in English literature.

Jane Austen lived from 1775 to 1817, the seventh of eight children in a close‑knit, well‑bred family. She had no classical education, no extensive acquaintance with English literature, and no access to the literary circles of her time. Yet, she became one of the most celebrated novelists in history. Her strength lay not in privilege but in her originality, wit, and ability to observe human nature with piercing clarity.

Her writing journey began as amusement—stories for family plays and private reading. The first novel she wrote was Northanger Abbey in 1798, though it was the last to be published during her lifetime, in 1817. Her first published work was Sense and Sensibility in 1811, followed by Pride and Prejudice in *1813, which she lovingly called her “own darling child” in a letter to her sister. Then came Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1816), and finally Persuasion and Northanger Abbey (both published in 1817). In just seven years, from age 38 to 44, she published six novels—an extraordinary achievement considering her circumstances.

Financially, her success was modest. During her lifetime, she earned about £700 from her books. Her father tried to help her publish early on, but those attempts failed. When her works finally appeared, they bore the anonymous credit “Written by a Lady.” Later editions referenced her previous titles rather than her name. Fame and revenue grew gradually, long after her death.

Austen’s life was marked by resilience and candor. When bedridden and asked what she wanted, she replied simply: “Nothing but death.” She died at 44, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to shape modern storytelling.

What made her remarkable? She was a product of her time yet ahead of it. Without formal schooling or elite connections, she wrote with intellectual freedom—being herself, more than anything else. Her novels portrayed women as intelligent, capable, and witty, challenging stereotypes of her era. She believed that to write well, one must be both the inheritor and originator of one’s work. Her advice to her nephew was clear: read until sixteen, and write only after sixteen.

Her style was sharp yet graceful. She captured the drama of everyday life—love, pride, prejudice, persuasion—with humor and insight. Imagine translating her themes into today’s world: scrolling through social media and seeing a post like this—
“Just got ghosted by a guy who seemed perfect—great job, good family, rich, handsome, and charming. Turns out his best friend convinced him to leave me. Now everyone’s talking about it. #brokenheart #datingishard.”
Sounds familiar? That’s the timeless relevance of Austen. Her stories of relationships, choices, and social pressures resonate even now.

Beyond her novels, Austen left unpublished poems and letters, all marked by her cheerful spirit and neat handwriting. She showed that creativity thrives not in privilege but in authenticity. Her career reminds us: to write, you need freedom of thought and courage to be yourself.

Two centuries later, Jane Austen still speaks to us—not through grand declarations, but through the quiet power of observation and truth. Her life teaches that greatness is not about what you know, but who you are.