THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND
Jane Austen, the Quince Tree Press (Carr’s pocket book), US$3.71
Don’t be scared away by the grand title or the classic author who is more famous than the word “famous” itself. The book, probably more appropriate to call it a parody work, is just perfect to read for killing time during a short flight.
Firstly, it is absolutely short and can perfectly fit into your pocket. Secondly, it is Austen’s fun writing at the age of 15 or 16, for nothing but teasing in a comical tone the serious history textbook’s saying at that time. Last and the best, as Austen declared herself as “a partial, prejudiced and ignorant Historian” on the author line, emperors and empresses under her pen are no longer poker-faced holy authority but ludicrous figures performing repetitive plays on the history stage.
From the reign of Henry IV to the death of Charles I, Austen was obviously not writing their epic stories, but instead, spilling out her own lovely thoughts to shape her own version of historic figures. “The Events of Monarch’s reign are too numerous for my pen”, as she wrote, “and indeed the recital of any events (except what I make myself) is uninteresting to me”. This is echoed by Morland’s words in Northanger Abbey that “history, real solemn history... I read it as a duty, but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me”.
Our young lady Jane was also quite honest with her dislike of Queen Elizabeth, as she put it clearly that “my principal reason for undertaking the History of England being to prove the innocence of the Queen of Scotland, which I flatter myself with having effectually done, and to abuse Elizabeth”. However, Elizabeth was still lucky having been the subject of our young writer’s longest discussion, though a sarcasm rather than eulogy, while some monarch was treated with less than two lines – ie for Edward V, “this unfortunate Prince lived so little a while that nobody had time to draw his picture. He was murdered by his uncle’s contrivance, whose name was Richard the 3rd”.
Maybe a long critique is better than only two lines of a rash summary because at least, the length shows somehow the importance of the subject being criticised?
Another really value-added feature is that the book is nicely illustrated with funny portraits of the kings and queens, which is said to be done by Austen’s elder sister, Cassandra. The British Library now keeps the original manuscript and thanks to its generosity, Austen’s handwriting and the lovely illustrations are now accessible online for all.
Sylvia Wu
