Letter from Jane Austen to Cassandra Austen, 4 February 1813
Object name: Letter from Jane Austen to Cassandra, 4 February 1813
Object number: CHWJA:JAHLTR.6
Category: Letters
Description: The first page of a letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra, written from Chawton on 4 February 1813. A single sheet measuring 22.4cm x 18.4cm, written on both sides. The first side is headed ‘3’ and ‘Chawton Thursday Feb: 4.’
Made: 1813
Context: Jane wrote this letter to her sister shortly after the publication of Pride and Prejudice. In it she discusses her own feelings about the novel and how she thinks it could be improved. She also discusses printing errors in the novel, before moving on to discussion of their neighbours, friends and household business.
The letter ends abruptly at the end of the second side; at some point the second page (sides 3 and 4) has been separated. This may have been done by Cassandra, after Jane’s death, possibly to remove remarks that the family did not want to be seen publicly.
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