...is simply masterful, if that isn't too paradoxical. And I indeed think it isn't. My hesitation comes only from the fact that while we often speak of prodigies in music or painting, we don't really do so when it comes to literature. And maybe we should start. Regardless, this stuff is amazing, and while I've known this for a while (having even written on The Beautiful Cassandra before), I am feeling so fortunate to have finally got the time read it all through recently. Just think of the level of skill required not only to compose such unbelievably precise, balanced sentences at that age (14ish), to dare to make out of them a whole novel, and to include and parody every one of the essential devices--but also to do so in three pages! And hilariously! It is just unbelievable:
AMELIA WEBSTER
an interesting and well written Tale
is dedicated by Permission
to
Mrs Austen
by
Her humble Servant
THE AUTHOR
Letter the first
TO MISS WEBSTER
My dear Amelia, You will rejoice to hear of the return of my amiable Brother from abroad. He arrived on thursday, & never did I see a finer form, save that of your sincere freind
MATILDA HERVEY
Letter the 2d.
TO H. BEVERLEY ESQre.
Dear Beverly, I arrived here last thursday & met with a hearty reception from my Father, Mother, & Sisters. The latter are both fine Girls -- particularly Maud, who I think would suit you as a Wife well enough. What say you to this? She will have two thousand Pounds & as much more as you can get. If you don't marry her you will mortally offend
GEORGE HERVEY
Letter the 3d.
TO MISS HERVEY
Dear Maud, Beleive me, I'm happy to hear of your Brother's arrival. I have a thousand things to tell you, but my paper will only permit me to add that I am yr. affect. Freind
AMELIA WEBSTER
Letter the 4th.
TO MISS S. HERVEY
Dear Sally, I have found a very convenient old hollow oak to put our Letters in; for you know we have long maintained a private Correspondence. It is about a mile from my House & seven from yours. You may perhaps imagine that I might have made choice of a tree which would have divided the Distance more equally -- I was sensible of this at the time, but as I considered that the walk would be of benefit to you in your weak & uncertain state of Health, I preferred it to one nearer your House, & am yr. faithfull
BENJAMIN BAR
Letter the 5th.
TO MISS HERVEY
Dear Maud, I write now to inform you that I did not stop at your house in my way to Bath last Monday. -- I have many things to inform you of besides; but my Paper reminds me of concluding; & beleive me yrs. ever &c.
AMELIA WEBSTER
Letter the 6th.
TO MISS WEBSTER
Saturday
Madam, An humble Admirer now addresses you -- I saw you, lovely Fair one, as you passed on Monday last, before our House in your way to Bath. I saw you thro' a telescope, & was so struck by your Charms that from that time to this I have not tasted human food.
GEORGE HERVEY
Letter the 7th.
TO JACK
As I was this morning at Breakfast the Newspaper was brought me, & in the list of Marriages I read the following.
"George Hervey Esqre. to Miss Amelia Webster"
"Henry Beverley Esqre. to Miss Hervey"
&
"Benjamin Bar Esqre. to Miss Sarah Hervey".
yours, TOM
FINIS
2 comments:
It's so incredibly cute! And I think "masterful juvenilia" is a perfect paradox. It's even more precious and precocious because it's juvenile even where you can see what potential it promises.
I love that she included the letters-in-trees bit. How is that poor waif going to find the tree?
I don't know if it's so much "skill" at this point, but some kind of creative well that children tap into without having any idea they're doing anything out of the ordinary. It just comes out of them, and they have to do it. But literary prodigies should definitely be up there with the other artists. Seems the best juvenile work is still far better than that of what adults who ply the task of writing are capable!
I always think about that big hairy mess of what could fall under the somewhat outdated designation "literary sincerity," and I wonder if a 14 year old's (or younger) writing is closer to something we can accept as-is, without questioning it or qualifying it, and just letting it do what art can do.
It is cute--but I don't know if Austen then can even be considered a child here, so it's actually even pretty weird to call this juvenilia (as all the critics do). Claudia Johnson thinks this is so skillful, and so almost adult (though I'd like actually to disengage skill from biological growth) that she goes so far (and actually I think she's right) to call this "piracy": such a complete mastering of the epistolary novel (and other forms) that it basically takes the tradition over and does whatever it wants with this... one imagines how easily anyone who could write a novel in three pages could rape and pillage... just as much as show it to be ridiculous. I do think, in in sum, that there is definite skill here: the plotting (with the layering of narrative time going on in letters 5 and 6), the characterization (the delicate "save that of your sincere friend" making vanity apparent, along with the "I preferred it to one nearer your house"), the expert stylistic manipulation and real control of the sentence (the blunt "What say you to this?"), and just unbelievable telescoping ("I saw you thro' a telescope")... All capped off with so much of the ridiculous ("I have not tasted human food" ...the most wonderful facet of Austen, in my opinion) and even the hilarious dedication (deflating and empowering at the same time!)...
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