Calling on Jane: N M Browne

IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a history girl in possession of a good blogspot must be in want of a subject and what better than our dear Jane? I am very far from being an expert though I have read the novels endlessly since I discovered them as an eleven year omnivorous reader. They satisfy a particular need: just as I occasionally discover a yen for lemon sorbet so I crave the acerbic wit of Miss Austen.

Imagine my delight on discovering that Mr Browne was persuaded to take rooms in Bath if only for the Bank Holiday weekend. Bath - to arrive with hope and then to visit the Jane Austen museum! How gravely disappointed did I feel to apprehend the venality of the establishment; the paucity of its material, and inadequacy of the exhibits. It cannot be doubted that should  Miss Austen have had the misfortune to find herself in its vicinity, she would have been shocked and mortified, found it a deal less than tolerable and certainly unsuitable for any person of sense or sensibility.
 

In short it was a rip off and twenty minutes of Googling would have told me more. A man in a waistcoat gave a short lecture, there was a mannikin wearing reproduction naval uniform and a selection of jumble sale quality headgear to try on; we were encouraged to watch a crackly poor quality video on Jane Austen in Bath presented by Amanda Root, and of course avail ourselves of the opportunity to buy souvenirs and consume overpriced cream teas.

Jane Austen lived in Bath between 1801 and 1806 first at Sydney Place and then, when the lease expired, to Green Park Buildings. After her father’s death, when money became increasingly short, the family took lodgings  at 25 Gay St ( The museum is at number 40)  a location mentioned in ‘Persuasion’ as the address of Admiral Croft. It is suitable for a Miss Anne Elliot, the daughter of a Baronet to visit, but not inappropriately grand, ‘perfectly to Sir Walter’s satisfaction.  He was not at all ashamed of the acquaintance, and did, in fact, think and talk a great deal more about the Admiral than the Admiral ever thought or talked about him.' (Persuasion.)

As the Austens' position became more precarious even these lodgings became too expensive and they moved closer to the Westgate Buildings a place which in her fiction is associated with the poor and infirm widow Miss Smith: '"Westgate Buildings!" said he, "and who is Miss Anne Elliot to be visiting in Westgate Buildings? A Mrs Smith. A widow Mrs Smith; and who was her husband? One of five thousand Mr Smiths whose names are to be met with everywhere. And what is her attraction? That she is old and sickly. Upon my word, Miss Anne Elliot, you have the most extraordinary taste! Everything that revolts other people, low company, paltry rooms, foul air, disgusting associations are inviting to you." '  (Persuasion)

In fact Jane Austen’s own view of the place was more generous. As she writes in her letter to her sister, Cassandra: ‘Westgate Buildings, though quite in the lower part of the town, are not badly situated themselves. The street is broad, and has rather a good appearance.’ She also adds ‘In the meantime she [their mother] assures you that she will do everything in her power to avoid Trim Street, although you have not expressed the fearful presentiment of it which was rather expected.’ Trim Street was not however avoided and the family stayed there until they went to live with Jane's brother Frank and his family in 1806.

Mr Browne and I found the architecture of Bath Pump Rooms and the Assembly rooms more to our taste and, for me at least, much more evocative of our dear Jane. The Fashion Museum has some fantastic examples of Georgian costume, well displayed in its historic collection. I finally I got to see some sprigged muslin  as well as an example of the longer sleeved gown Austen mentions in her letter to Cassandra of 1814 ‘I  wear my gauze gown to-day, long sleeves and all. I shall see how they succeed, but as yet I have no reason to suppose long sleeves are allowable. I have lowered the bosom, especially at the corners, and plaited black satin ribbon round the top’ 

Bath is very much Austen’s city for me, but Mr Browne, who has always maintained a keen interest in the Peninsular War, finds himself quite unable to forgive its omission from her novels. As she wrote in 1799, "How horrible it is to have so many people killed! And what a blessing that one cares for none of them!"