] Personally, I think Tomalin is way too harsh here. I think the Austens had a permanent nanny in Movie, and perhaps saw the Littleworth family as an extension of their own- trusted family retainers, if you wish. I wonder if, had they lived in larger accomodation, whether the Littletons wouldn't have lived in with them, or at least daily visited the Austen house to look after the children. I guess we'll never know.

] At least the kids got their three month's worth of breastfeeding before being fed spooned pap (mushed up bread and milk or water)!

I agree. I think Tomalin is making a mistake we all make when looking at the past - judging by our own modern standards. The other thing I found interesting is that most books refer to MRS Austen's way of rearing children, as though her husband had nothing to do with it. It's something I've just been looking at in the Psychology course (child development this year) - the text books are at pains to say that fathers count too. But that's a very recent discovery ;-)