But What did Jane Austen think?
Posted by Caroline on January 07, 1998 at 09:51:13:
In response to Rabbie Burns - irregular life, written by Lizard on January 06, 1998 at 04:59:30
Well, I could dispute whether Mr. Burns had anything to do with broken engagements (he certainly didn't break off any), and whether he really did have a roving eye ,(perhaps you could say the same for Charles Bingley). But I'll accept that what Jane Austen knew of him came from the first two of his biographies, which were both awful, and decried as hopelessly inaccurate by the likes of Sir Walter Scott, who met him, and Carlyle, his great Victorian biographer. That brings me back to my original point...
Do you think that Jane Austen, like Charlotte, would not have enjoyed his poems and his music simply because the writer was not a sterling character? Was Charlotte speaking for Jane herself? Would Jane's family have known the song, at all? my personal feeling is that a lady who could play and sing "La Marseillaise" wouldn't care too hoots about not singing a love-song or a song of friendship because it was written by someone she didn't approve of.
Another point (since you brought it up....!) When referring to Burn's 'Irregularites' was she really referring to his love-life, or to his ideas on democracy, religion and universal education? Were they not more 'irregular' in the georgian world than his lifestyle?
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