If you can bear one more Jane Austen post, then read on.
I stumbled across this article by Kate Hutchings in which she takes a look at ten books to keep Janeites entertained over the summer. The one book that I thought sounded fascinating was The Real Jane Austen by Paula Byrne. The subtitle is A Life in Small Things and the biography takes a look at Austen's life as "revealed through the small things - a scrap of paper, a gold chain, an ivory miniature - that held significance in her personal and creative life."
How refreshing! To examine the author's life through the items that she held dear. I now am next in line on the reserve list for the book from the library.
I wonder what 'small things' a biographer would use to examine my life (not that that is ever going to happen, but I wonder just the same). Would that collection include my fountain pen? the diamond ring inherited from my grandmother? my favorite childhood game of Spill and Spell, its letter cubes still in their original garish orange container?
Oh yes, these are idle thoughts for an idle day.
Have you read this book about Our Jane? What 'small things' would show up in your biography?
