Last week we looked at Charles Dickens, the author often credited with inventing Christmas. (Spoiler alert: he did not…) This week we are turning to one of my favourite authors for our Literary Christmas series. While it may not seem it at first when you are reading her novels, Jane Austen featured Christmas in all six of her novels. And December is often associated with Austen, as she was born on 16 December. The Regency holiday season might look quite different than what we are used to but it was still a winter highlight for Austen, her family, and her characters. It is time for Literary Christmas: Jane Austen!
Who Is Jane Austen?
Jane Austen was a nineteenth-century author best known for her novel, Pride and Prejudice. She only completed six full-length novels; in addition to Pride and Prejudice, she also wrote Northanger Abbey, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion. Austen did see some small amounts of success while she was alive, but much of her acclaim came after her death in 1817.
Regency Christmas
The holiday season that Austen would have been familiar with would be quite foreign to us. It started with Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day and would end with Twelfth Night, aka Epiphany. The season was less about gifts and more about spending time with friends and family. Those who could afford to would attend balls and different social events; afternoons and evenings at home would feature card games and readings.
Moreso than now, charity is heavily featured in the Regency holiday season. The people who are in what we would call the middle class in Austen’s novels (ie. the Bennets, the Woodhouses, etc) would have focused on donating to those in the parish who were in need. These donations could take the form of used or new clothing (often sewn by the women of the house), money, food, and more.
Christmas in Austen’s Novels
Before we delve into this, it must be stated: Austen’s novels are not feel-good, Christmas books. They are excellent novels and I believe everyone should read Austen at least once, but it is not what you grab for a festive read. That being said, the holidays do crop up in Austen’s novels.
In Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet’s brother and sister-in-law came to spend Christmas at Longbourn (noted “as usual”, Chapter 25, Pride and Prejudice). It’s simply noted in passing, but we can see that the emphasis is on family.
On the other hand in Northanger Abbey, Christmas is not that fun of a time for her. Her Christmas consists of lectures including, “Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim. Catherine knew all this very well; her great aunt had read her a lecture on the subject only the Christmas before.” (Chapter 10, Northanger Abbey). This may be a literary version of Austen’s sometimes difficult family…
Persuasion, though overall quite a serious novel in tone, gives a lighter picture of the holiday season. “On one side was a table occupied by some chattering girls, cutting up silk and gold paper; and on the other were tressels and trays, bending under the weight of brawn and cold pies, where riotous boys were holding high revel; the whole completed by a roaring Christmas fire, which seemed determined to be heard, in spite of all the noise of the others… Mr Musgrove made a point of paying his respects to Lady Russell, and sat down close to her for ten minutes, talking with a very raised voice, but from the clamour of the children on his knees, generally in vain. It was a fine family-piece.” (Chapter 14, Persuasion).
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I hope you’ve enjoyed Literary Christmas: Jane Austen! Another of my favourite authors will feature next week…
Cheers,
The Historian
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