Jane Austen Quote of the Week 147

This week's quote was, once more, taken from Pride & Prejudice. Chapter 18 of Volume III (Chapter 60) in which Elizabeth and Darcy had confessed their love towards each other and Lizzy wrote a letter to Mrs Gardiner.

``I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to have done, for your long, kind, satisfactory, detail of particulars; but to say the truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than really existed. But now suppose as much as you chuse; give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford, and unless you believe me actually married, you cannot greatly err.''

The context of this week's quote is the bolded phrase. Indulge your imagination in every possible flight. I feel it very relatable to me, for I had several problems last week (among others the final break down of my personal laptop) which made me cry big time today (well, not because of the laptop). But I felt better afterwards and started to look forward for better days. As my partner wisely put: when you have a bad day, just know that tomorrow will definitely be better.

Well, let's hope so. And that's what imagination is for.


Pic: found it over the internet last year, but I was careless not to note the source. Will search for it later... my apologies...

Jane Austen Quote of the Week - Week 146

Since we are on the subjects of cakes, I did a bit more research on ‘sponge cakes’. The word ‘cake’ is mentioned once in Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion. Emma has 3 mentions and Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey does not have any. Here is the one from Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 45 where Elizabeth finds herself visiting at Pemberley:

The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the entrance of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the finest fruits in season; but this did not take place till after many a significant look and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been given, to remind her of her post. There was now employment for the whole party -- for though they could not all talk, they could all eat; and the beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon collected them round the table.

The fruit is interesting also, especially the nectarines. I would not have thought that they were around way back then.

Next I did find a recipe for “Aunt Norris’ Spunge Cake” in the on line magazine from the Jane Austen Centre seen here: Recipe. This recipe is said to be from Raffald’s book quoted below, but I could not find that recipe in the original edition.

The reference on that page led me to look it up and here is the complete title “The Experienced English House-keeper, For the Use and Ease of Ladies, House-keepers, Cooks, &c. Wrote purely from PRACTICE, And dedicated to the Hon. Lady Elizabeth Warburton” by Elizabeth Raffald, and published in 1769. It has a recipe for ‘Spunge Biscuits’ and just to give you some idea of what all is involved, I’ll copy the recipe here from the Google copy of 1769:

Beat the Yolks of twelve Eggs half an Hour, put in a Pound and a half of Sugar beat and sifted, Whisk it well up ‘till you see it rise in Bubbles, beat the Whites to a strong Froth, Whisk them well with your Sugar and Yolks, beat in fourteen Ounces of Flour, with the Rinds of two Lemons grated, bake them in Tin Moulds buttered, or Coffins; they require an hot Oven, the Mouth must not be stopped, when you put them into the Oven, dust them with Sugar; they will take half an Hour baking.

This is beginning to sound like what we call “sponge cake” today, but please don’t ask me to explain ‘Coffins’ or ‘the Mouth must not be stopped’ because I have no idea. Whew, what a journey, and they did all this without the benefit of our electric kitchen gadgets.

Linda the Librarian

Pic: Period Dramas website

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 145

This weekend’s quote was taken from Jane Austen’s letter in 1808 which was written for Cassandra Austen. It was a simple, no-brainer quote that I searched for because today I just tried a new green tea cake recipe. I am pleased to report that the cake did not disappoint me, although a slightly more moist texture would be preferable. The quote was directly taken from Pemberley.com.

Godmersham: Wednesday (June 15)

Your account of Anna gives me pleasure. Tell her, with my love, that I like her for liking the quay. Mrs. J. A. seems rather surprised at the Maitlands drinking tea with you, but that does not prevent my approving it. I hope you had not a disagreeable evening with Miss Austen and her niece. You know how interesting the purchase of a sponge-cake is to me.

So there you go. Miss Jane Austen loved sponge cake. I’m not certain that we can find a sponge cake recipe here in the Jane Austen Cookbook , but it’s always worth a try. Anyone has an award-winning sponge cake recipe they'd like to share?

Pic: Cover of the Jane Austen Cookbook (by Maggie Black & Deirdre le Faye)

Tom Lefroy Quote Week 7

Since it seems to be the season for birthdays, I thought a quote from our own Tom Lefroy in “The Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy” about his ninetieth birthday might be appropriate to celebrate Icha’s birthday today even though I am fairly certain that she is not 90.

Leeson Street, Jan. 9th, 1866

My Dearest Jeffry, - I have just received the congratulations of yourself, and your dear companions on God’s wonderful mercy in permitting me to see the ninetieth anniversary of my birth-day. It fills my heart with joy and thankfulness of no ordinary degree, when I find those I love ascribing praise for all our family mercies, to Him to whom all praise is due. I think I cannot do better in return than pray that the blessing which old Jacob gave to his loved son Joseph, may rest on my dear Jeffry, and his no less dear wife, who may well claim to be “a fruitful bough, and even a fruitful bough by a well.”

“May the God of thy fathers keep thee, may He bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, and bless thy progeny to the utmost bounds of the Everlasting Hills.” With fondest love from all the dear ones around me to you and yours, T.L.

I have to say that I admire his Godly expressions. They remind me of what I want to believe he discovered from our dear Jane at their ‘encounters’ at the dances. My beliefs are based on his notes at the beginning of the Memoir which I have quoted before. I especially want to wish our Icha the same blessing: “May the God of thy fathers keep thee, may He bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, and bless thy progeny to the utmost bounds of the Everlasting Hills.”

Happy Birthday, dear Icha from Team Jane. And I send Love from Linda the Librarian

Pic: Community live journal

Jane Austen Quote - Week 144

In light of Icha's quote last week and the fact that it was International Women's Day last tuesday (8th March 2011), I would like to use a related quote from Northanger Abbey. This quote has been mentioned before on the blog when we wrote a review of Anne Newgarden's book The wit and wisdom of Jane Austen but not in the context of quote of the week.


This is taken from a conversation between Henry Tilney and Catherine Morland:

Henry: “As far as I have had the opportunity of judging, it appears to me that the usual style of letter-writing among women is faultless, except in three particulars.”

Catherine: “And what are they?”

Henry: “A general deficiency of subject, a total inattention to stops, and a very frequent ignorance of grammar.”

I shudder at the thought of the gender discrimination Jane Austen must have faced when she revealed herself as a 'female' authoress.
Icha commented in last weeks quote about how the wonderful gift of education is now offered to many more women in the world with each passing year. Things have come so so far in the 200 years since Jane Austen's time but lets hope that they can go further, and a time will come when men and women are truly viewed equally by all.

Happy International Women's Day!

Pic: Felicity Jones as Catherine Morland from The Lit Connection

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 143

This week’s quote is taken from Persuasion, chapter 23 on the conversation between Capt Harville and Anne Elliot (Wentworth was writing THE love letter to Anne in the same room).

Capt Harville: “But let me observe that all histories are against you -- all stories, prose and verse. If I had such a memory as Benwick, I could bring you fifty quotations in a moment on my side the argument, and I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps, you will say, these were all written by men.”

Anne Elliot: “Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything.”

Two centuries have passed by since Miss Austen’s era, and so many had changed in the way education is conducted in many countries. Many women now have the same chance of enjoying education like men, such that I have nothing but utter gratitude for my luxury. However, at the same time, in many places too remote culturally, emotionally or geographically from where I am now, so many women are still without proper access to education, and if they do, they might have to do that in fear that it will be cut short one way or another, usually from the lack of fund in the family (forcing the parents to choose only the boys in the family to go to school and leave the girls to help in the kitchen) or from the lack of security (Afghanistan is an example popping into my mind now, but not the only one for sure).

So here’s to the hope that one day, sooner than later, any girls and boys in every spot in this planet will have equal opportunities to enjoy education and hence better their lives.

Pic: Art by Hugh Thompson on the scene where Wentworth gave Anne his love declaration letter, from Heritage Image. The conversation between Anne and Harville took place before this scene.

March desktop calendar from Maria!

Sorry for the belated posting; I was a bit under the weather last week (and Maria sent it on 27 Feb!). But thanks a lot Maria!

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Jane Austen Quote - Week 142 - From Linda

In Chapter 14 of Emma we find Emma mentally berating Mr. Elton in a very long paragraph, but in the very next paragraph we find her thoughts turning to Mr. Frank Churchill and marriage in our quote for this week:


"Now, it so happened that in spite of Emma's resolution of never marrying, there was something in the name, in the idea of Mr. Frank Churchill, which always interested her. She had frequently thought - especially since his father's marriage with Miss Taylor - that if she were to marry, he was the very person to suit her in age, character and condition. He seemed by this connection between the families, quite to belong to her. She could not but suppose it to be a match that everybody who knew them must think of. That Mr. and Mrs. Weston did think of it, she was very strongly persuaded; and though not meaning to be induced by him, or by anybody else, to give up a situation which she believed more replete with good than any she could change it for, she had a great curiosity to see him, a decided intention of finding him pleasant, of being liked by him to a certain degree, and a sort of pleasure in the idea of their being coupled in their friends' imaginations."

Please pardon me for dwelling on the subject of ‘marriage’ and the ‘how to do it’ ideas, but when you have been around as long as I have, one does learn a little something. And just as Emma has a tendency to do, I find myself wishing to pass on the bits that I did learn.

The crux of the matter is in those underlined words in the quote. I have previously commented on that subject a year ago in my post HERE. You may wish to read that one again to get the context. There are some books now that cover this topic in detail, so I admonish you all to do your ‘homework’ so as to not make any great mistakes and save yourself a lot of heart aches.

Yrs aff’ly,

Linda the Librarian – who’s been there, done that

Pic: Frank Churchill in BBC TV series of Emma (2009)

Tom Lefroy Quote - Week 6

The quote I have chosen represents Tom's dedication to his religious faith and how it comforted him in times of need.

The following was written in 1852 (Tom was 76 years old) in a letter to his wife:


"Amidst all the gossiping rumours of the last few days these sweet words have kept my mind very quiet 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you : not as the world giveth, give I unto you - let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' I cannot delay but a moment longer, except to send my love to all the dear ones around you."

The quote within the quote is taken from the bible - John 14:27.


We all have methods which comfort us in situations of unease and in my opinion the words which keep Tom's 'mind quiet' are quite beautiful. The fact that he shares them with his wife is very charming.

Pic: JamesMcAvoy.com

Quiz from The Jane Austen Centre

There is an exciting new quiz on The Jane Austen Centre website for you to try.
There are 10 questions and the theme is Love. Your results are posted straight back to you.



The Jane Austen Centre Quiz

Give it a go and let us know how you do. Which questions did you find particularly hard?

The picture provides help with one of the answers ...

Happy quizzing



Pic: BBC website

And a new Valentine edition banner!

Thanks a lot Maria! You are so valuable here!

And some love for Jane's brother George...

I have been meaning to post this one, but I kept forgetting it. Last January, Jane Austen Centre of UK adopted one of our old articles about George Austen (Jane's brother, not her father), the deaf in the family. Laura of the JA Centre expanded it by adding a lovely letter from Jane that depicted her ability to use sign language. The letter is below, and the link to George in JA Centre is here.

"We spent Friday evening with our friends at the boarding-house, and our curiosity was gratified by the sight of their fellow-inmates, Mrs. Drew and Miss Hook, Mr. Wynne and Mr. Fitzhugh; the latter is brother to Mrs. Lance, and very much the gentleman. He has lived in that house more than twenty years, and, poor man! is so totally deaf that they say he could not hear a cannon, were it fired close to him; having no cannon at hand to make the experiment, I took it for granted, and talked to him a little with my fingers, which was funny enough. I recommended him to read Corinna." ~Jane Austen to Cassandra, December 27, 1808


Thanks so much Laura for thinking of George too. He is usually rather forgotten, and it's nice to give love to someone like that.

Pic: Jane (Anne Hathaway) and George (Philip Culhane) from Becoming Jane the movie

And a very lovely Valentine wallpaper from Maria!

Thanks so much dearest!

Download here:

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Wallpapers by Maria from Sweden

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 141

This week I ventured into Sense & Sensibility again to find anything for tomorrow's Valentine's Day. I found this passage and I hope it serves us all. Volume III Chapter 12, last paragraph. It was when the Dashwoods finally found out that Edward Ferrars was not married to Lucy Steele.

Elinor could sit it no longer. She almost ran out of the room, and as soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first she thought would never cease. Edward, who had till then looked anywhere rather than at her, saw her hurry away, and perhaps saw - or even heard, her emotion; for immediately afterwards he fell into a reverie, which no remarks, no enquiries, o affectionate address of Mrs. Dashwood could penetrate, and at last without saying a word, quitted the room, and walked out towards the village; - leaving the others in the greatest astonishment and perplexity on achange in his situation, so wonderful and so sudden;- a perplexity which they had no means of lessening but by their own conjectures.

Most of us feel for Elinor. Yes, of course we feel for Marianne too (and I am very happy that she was eventually married to my fave hero Col Brandon). However, Elinor never uttered a word about her own suffering, thus her happiness to me was somewhat special.

A friend of mine told me recently of an unfortunate engagement that was broken a few months ago; leaving her wings clipped. She asked me how I got over my own broken heart more than a year ago before I met my current partner. I told her, "With many tears and catharsis. But also by trying to truly enjoy being me and just live for the moment."

I hope what I said helped her. I think Elinor and Marianne would agree. Marianne would cry herself to sleep and Elinor would busy herself with anything around the house. And somehow, as Elinor (in this case) was ready to let go of the past and walk her life alone... somehow things changed rapidly around her for her benefit. I bet she had not expected that Edward would walk in with such a confession when she woke up that morning.

And there's the line of the week: we never know what's around the corner, so just do our best and enjoy the ride. Afterall, before we love someone else, we have to be totally in love with ourselves first. And there maybe something sweet as we turn around the corner which we might fail to see if we are too busy looking at the past.

Happy Valentine, everyone. Love and Peace for us all.

Pic: Elinor (Emma Thompson) and Edward (Hugh Grant) from Sense & Sensibility 1995

February Calendar

To match the wonderful header, Maria has also produced a stunning calendar for this month. I can only apologise that we are already 7 days into the month.


Thanks Maria.

Update 8 Feb11:

Links to the high resolutions of the wallpaper:

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New Header from Maria

Thank you so much Maria for taking the time to produce such a wonderful new header.

Jane Austen Quote - Week 140- by Linda

This quote is so very appropriate for this season’s weather conditions that I simply had to use it!

From Emma, chapter 13:

"What an excellent device," said he, "the use of a sheep-skin for carriages. How very comfortable they make it; impossible to feel cold with such precautions. The contrivances of modern days indeed have rendered a gentleman's carriage perfectly complete. One is so fenced and guarded from the weather, that not a breath of air can find its way unpermitted. Weather becomes absolutely of no consequence. It is a very cold afternoon -- but in this carriage we know nothing of the matter. Ha! snows a little I see."


What really struck me is the phrase “contrivances of modern days” – modern days, indeed! And then “snows” – wow, we have certainly had more than our share of snow this season, to be sure. I would love to see their reactions if they were able to see all our ‘modern contrivances’ of today!

Linda the Librarian

Pic: Emma-missvintagegirl blog

Tom Lefroy Quote - Week 5

I hope she does not mind telling our readers but Linda is celebrating a very special birthday today. Happy Birthday Linda!!
I have picked a Tom Lefroy quote, taken from his memoirs. It is from a letter written to his wife in the year of 1846 (when Tom was 70 years old).

Page 240 of the Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy

To his wife

Parsontown,
Saturday Night.

I fly about, as you will see, with great agility. I slept in Cork on Thursday night, at Mitchelstown Castle last night, and here I am to-night nearly seventy miles on my way to Carig-glas. I hope to-morrow to spend a quiet day with Lord Rosse, and mount to the skies by the help of his wonderful telescope, but in a better sense also by a quite Sunday passed as it ought to be in thanksgiving and praise for all the mercies of the last five weeks.

We wanted to highlight Tom's great commitment to activity, both mental and physical. He was a very strong, determined man and an inspiration to many. In his positivity and grace, he never forgot to be thankful for what he had.

I hope that this year is very special for you Linda.

Pic: Thomas Langlois Lefroy, circa 1855

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 139

This week's quote is taken from Jane Austen's Letters (Le Fay 1995), p. 305.

Letter 132(D). To James Stanier Clarke

Monday 11 December 1815

Dec: 11.

Dear Sir

My Emma is now so near publication that I feel it right to assure You of my not having forgotten your kind recommendation of an early Copy for Cn H.-& that I have Mr Murray's promise of its being sent to HRH. under cover to You, three days previous to the Work being really out.-

I must make use of this opportunity to thank you dear Sir, for the very high praise you bestow on my other Novels - I am too vain to wish to convince you that you have praised them beyond their Merit.-

I am glad I found this letter, for it reminds me that every step of our success has been made with the help of others. Case in the point: I am to have my pre completion seminar for my postgraduate degree in a few days' time. While I was preparing my powerpoint slides yesterday, I realised that none of these would happen, I would have not been there to write my slides, had my respondents not allowed me to interview them. Had I not have amazing volunteers to help me, amazing supervisors to guide me, caring friends to comfort me... and my partner to catch me when I fell.

I realise now that when I stand to present my findings next Friday, I actually can only do so in the kindness of others. And for that, I sincerely thank them all. And I thank you all, dear friends, for accompanying us Team Jane this far.

Pic: My favourite Emma cover from Wordsworth edition

Tom Lefroy Quote Week 4 by Linda

My Tom quote this week comes from a footnote explaining the Lefroy lineage in Chapter 1 of the Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy:

"Antoine Loffroy came from Flanders about the year 1569, in the time of the Duke of Alva's persecution. He brought with him a considerable sum of money and jewels; but his estate shared the same fate with that of many other refugees who left France on account of their religion, being confiscated, and all the family writings, papers &c., destroyed. His wife was a Flanderine lady of the first quality, and very rich, of the family of the Du Hoorns. He had two sons, Isaiah, born in Flanders, and David, born after his arrival in England. He, finding a number of refugees in Canterbury, and induced by the convenience of the French church, resolved to fix there."

I quote this because I am on a mission to see if there is any truth to the belief of so many biographers of Jane and Tom that Tom was poor and found it necessary to marry "money". So far I have not found this to be true, but my mission is not completed as yet. As the old saying goes, "follow the money". So, if there is anyone out there with more time on their hands than I have to do research, you may want to look into this book on line: "Notes and Documents Relating to the Family of Loffroy, by a cadet [J.H. Lefroy]"

My personal opinion is that Tom and Mary Paul had some type of "understanding" before he met Jane, since he had known her a couple of years already. Because Tom was the gentleman that he was, he would not abandon Mary. So we shall see. More later.

Linda the Librarian

Pic: James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy in 'Becoming Jane'