Becoming Jane Monologues

A biographical portrait of a pre-fame Jane Austen and her romance with a young Irishman.

No sensible woman would demonstrate passion, if the purpose were to attract a husband.

"... that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. "

Presumably as the most disagreeable

"... insolent, arrogant, impudent, insufferable, impertinent of men. "

Too many adjectives.

Yes, well, others have detected more. It is celebrated. There's even a book about Selborne Wood.

Novels? Being poor, insipid things, read by mere women, even, God forbid, written by mere women?.

As if the writing of women did not display the greatest powers of mind, knowledge of human nature, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour and the best-chosen language imaginable?

This, by the way, is called a country dance, after the French, contredanse. Not because it is exhibited at an uncouth rural assembly with glutinous pies, execrable Madeira, and truly anarchic dancing.

Are there no other women in Hampshire?

Well, I call it very high indeed, refusing to dance when there are so few gentleman. Henry, are all your friends so disagreeable?

Forgive me if I suspect in you a sense of justice.

What value is there in an introduction when you cannot even remember my name? Indeed, can barely stay awake in my presence.

Cassie, his heart will stop at the sight of you, or he doesn't deserve to live. And, yes, I am aware of the contradiction embodied in that sentence.

"The boundaries of propriety were vigorously assaulted, as was only right, but not quite breached, as was also right. Nevertheless, she was not pleased."

"She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was a union that must have been to the advantage of both. By her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved, and from his judgment, information and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance. But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what connubial felicity really was."

My characters shall have, after a little trouble, all that they desire.

A novel must show how the world truly is, how characters genuinely think, how events actually occur. A novel should somehow reveal the true source of our actions.

You asked me a question. I am ready to give you an answer. But there is one matter to be settled. I cannot make you out, Mr Wisley. At times, you are the most gentlemanlike man I know and yet you would...

It's something I began in London. It is the tale of a young woman. Two young women. Better than their circumstances.

And two young gentlemen who receive much better than their deserts as so very many do.

By a very dangerous young man, one who has, no doubt, infected the hearts of many a young… young woman with the soft corrup…-tion...

What value will there ever be in life, if we are not together?

I have no money, no property, I am entirely dependent upon that bizarre old lunatic, my uncle. I cannot yet offer marriage, but you must know what I feel. Jane, I'm yours. God, I'm yours. I'm yours, heart and soul. Much good that is.

How can you, of all people, dispose of yourself without affection?

Swifts, on a fine morning in May, flying this way, that way, sailing around at a great hight, perfectly happily. Then -

Then, one leaps onto the back of another, grasps tightly and forgetting to fly they both sink down and down, in a great dying fall, fathom after fathom, until the female utters…

The female utters a loud, piercing cry...

… of ecstasy.

Is this conduct commonplace in the natural history of Hampshire?

Good God. There's writing on both sides of those pages.

I have been told there is much to see upon a walk, but all I've detected so far is a general tendency to green above and brown below.

I would regard it as a mark of extreme favour if you would stoop to honour me with this next dance.

Vice leads to difficulty, virtue to reward. Bad characters come to bad ends.

What rules of conduct apply in this rural situation? We have been introduced, have we not?

If you wish to practice the art of fiction, to be considered the equal of a masculine author, experience is vital.

Your ignorance is understandable since you lack... What shall we call it? The history?

Condemns you to it and your writing to the status of female accomplishment. If you wish to practice the art of fiction, to be the equal of a masculine author, experience is vital.