takes a very Whig, Protestant line ,Jean.

Its a odd sort of history book. No sources are quoted,very few dates indeed, but many, many opinions, that are,IMHO, very partial and prejudiced.....

I think most of JA's strong opinions in her history are a direct result of the opposite being stated by Goldsmith.

Frankly I can almost hear her grinding her teeth as she read the somewhat biased passages, which are presented as gospel truth ;-)

I also like to thikkn that this is another Austen family joke.They were obviously all brought up on the book.They all knew its strengths and failings.Anyone in the family would therefore "get" the jokes, and I can just imagine her reading out the passages one evening at Steventon.To howls of laughter.