The History of England (Austen)

The History of England (English The History of England from the reign of Henry the 4th to the death of Charles the 1st) is an early work of the English novelist Jane Austen ( 1775-1817 ), which wrote the then fifteen year old to entertain the family circle and to was her lifetime never published. It is an exaggeration of klamaukhafter embossed, comic - satirical imitation of the historiography of their time. The date at the end is " Saturday, November 26, 1791 ".

The History of England from the reign of Henry the 4th to the death of Charles the 1st.

By a partial, prejudiced, & ignorant Historian

To Miss Austen, eldest daughter of the Revd George Austen, this work is inscribed with all due respect by all due respect by --- The Author N.B. There will be very few Dates in this History.

Even the cover makes the parodic nature of the work are clear. Jane Austen referred to it as " biased, prejudiced and ignorant historian, " and calms the reader a precaution ". In this story, very few data exist " is dedicated to the history of England " with all due respect " Miss Austen, eldest daughter of the Reverend George Austen - that is two years older sister Cassandra, who also contributed the illustrations, thirteen watercolor miniatures.

"I suppose that my readers [ ... ] know about, and if not, then they did best in reading another historical work, because I do not intend me about skipping too much because it's me located at nothing other than because those who do not harmonize their parties or principles with mine to shower with venom and not to convey knowledge about. "

The obtained in a handwritten version and thirty-five -page history of England is divided into thirteen chapters. Starting IV and ending with Charles I are English monarchs portrayed with Henry in an unconventional and very subjective manner. So does the youthful author of their abhorrence of Elizabeth I not hide, while the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots and the House of York their special sympathy applies.

The early works of Jane Austen are - most of it in fair copy of Austen's own hand - collected in three notebooks: Volume the First, Volume the Second, and Volume the Third. The history of England is contained in Volume the Second, the second notebook that has dedicated writer and later her cousin sister in law Eliza de Feuillide. Volume the Second and the Third Volume are now in the British Library, Volume the First, the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The History of England is made ​​available as a virtual book online.

" [ ... ] Then the king [ Henry VI. ] Made a long speech, for which I must refer the reader to Shakespeare's plays, and the prince gave a lot longer. "

" I can not say much good about the mind of that monarch [ Henry VI. ] - And did not do it, I could, because he was a follower of the House of Lancaster. "

"The events [ ... ] are too numerous for my pen, and this without me telling all events (except those that relate to myself ) of no interest; as I fancy I have reason to believe - - my main effort in writing this history of England to prove the innocence of the Queen of Scotland, what was I have done with all the thoroughness [ ... ] "