Jane Austen in Real Life: A Life in Small Things Review

Review of Jane Austen in Real Life:  A Life in Small Things

By: Paula Byrne

         Last year, for Jane Austen July, I read Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters by William Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh, which was a sort of biography composed of letters written by Jane Austen or letters written to her.  Each section centered around her main novels and the progress of her life and career. It was one that showed Jane Austen’s real voice through the surviving letters. While Jane Austen in Real Life is a work that does something different by focusing on items that were used by her and the family members such as shawls from India, miniature portraits, Barouche carriages, writing desks etc.….  Byrne introduces each chapter talking about that item and then using it to lead into talking about the family and the author herself.  It is a fun take on exploring who Austen was, because these objects are things that she would use and reflect her world, literally.  Most biographies state the facts, but this one went from a specific and narrow point of view bringing you closer to her through learning about these items.  Byrne includes sketches made by Cassandra Austen or other family members showing what these objects looked like, even sketches of the family.  Byrne also describes them before she does a deep dive into the history of the family.  I enjoyed this take on Jane Austen, though it did talk about stuff that was included in Her Life and Letters as well but did it in a different way.