This is a family tree of Jane Austen’s immediate family — another image from Jane  Austen’s Chawton Cottage.  There are a lot of interesting things about her family.  She had two brothers who became naval officers and one who was adopted into a noble family and inherited a very nice estate.  But what strikes me the most about the family tree is how long some of her siblings lived.  She had one brother who lived until 1865 and her only sister, Cassandra, died in 1845 — deep into the reign of Queen Victoria.  Poor Jane, of course, died in 1817.

It’s astounding to think of how many novels she wrote during her short time on earth (all without Microsoft Word!).  But then imagine what she could have written if she’d lived as long as most of her brothers or her sister.  It makes me sad to think about what could have been.  Scholars are not sure what killed her, but it would probably be curable today.  Just think about all the works of art which wouldn’t be created today without the benefits of modern medicine!

In my recent visit to the Jane Austen house in Chawton (a charming village) and the Austen Museum in Bath, I learned a lot about Austen and her writing process.  She disliked Bath, despite having used it as a setting in more than one novel. During her time in Bath, she moved households several times and lived with constant uncertainty about her family and financial situation. Not surprisingly she wrote little during this time.  However, when she, her sister and mother established a permanent household in Chawton, she resumed writing in earnest. Undoubtedly, while she was in Bath she was thinking about the writing she had done before arriving at Bath and her time there provided fruitful material for her novels.  But uncertainty blocked her writing while stability enabled it.

I can empathize, not just because my family recently moved households.  Whenever there’s a disruption I find it hard to find the time and concentration to really focus on my writing.  I might be thinking about my writing, but it’s hard to muster the energy to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).  Like Austen, I find that when things settle down again it is much easier to focus on the writing.  And when I do start writing again, it is better for my peace of mind. 

Good to know I share something with Jane!

Below is a table from Austen’s Chawton Cottage where she did a lot of her writing.  It makes me thankful for my desk and laptop!