Happy belated birthday to Miss Jane Austen

[pegkerr]

Jane's birthday was Saturday. Rudyard Kipling wrote these lines in her honor:

Jane lies in Winchester--
Blessed be her shade!
Praise the Lord for making her,
And her for all she made!

And while the stones of Winchester,
Or Milsom Street, remain,
Glory, love, and honour
Unto England's Jane!

Jane is buried in Winchester, of course, and Milsom Street was (and still is) one of the fashionable shopping streets in Bath. Anne, Elizabeth, and Mrs. Clay in Persuasion are in Milsom Street when they duck into Molland's to escape the rain and Anne spots Captain Wentworth for the first time since the tragedy at Lyme.

In her honor, I have set up a feed to this blog, which every day publishes a quotation from her work, compiled by Lori Smith, author of A Walk with Jane (coming in September '07). Click on j_austen_quotes and add it to your friends page.

Comments

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Isn't that the creepy poem in which all she *really* wants is a boyfriend?

Not that I'm bitter.

I particularly pointed out her spot in Poet's Corner to my kids. Along with the new one for Edward Lear, hurrah!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is. You will note that I have not quoted the poem in full.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Well done!

I love Kipling. A lot. Sometimes I want to kick him. A lot.

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

I know just what you mean! Sometimes simultaneously!

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

Jane would approve of your tact and discretion.

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

YES, yes it is.