Let me first speak briefly of the work itself and the least we can think is that it was prepared with love. It is small, simple and pretty and certainly get a privileged place in numbers Janeites libraries. An introduction presents the work, followed by the letters of Jane Austen to her nieces and three nephews of these texts on their aunt close an item. Finally, the translation is neat and pays tribute to the pen of this great lady we admire. My only regret is, in my reading, never having any letters nieces under the eyes but I'm not sure that they still exist.
Regarding the letters herself, I must say that I was seized again by the austenienne magic. This was the same delight when I read one of his books, ten thousand leagues from the best austeneries, it must be said. This book is savored and did prolong the pleasure of discovering as much as possible.
We discover a new facet of Jane Austen I think, different from the letters to his sister lets us see. All letters presented here were written in the last three years of his life and I personally see a strong and intelligent woman, happy, loving counsel others talking but very little of it eventually. She is in a role of counselor for almost maternal nieces some of which have experienced a few years with her. It is both benevolent and open-minded, the perfect confidante and it is understandable that these girls are open to it without reservation.
And what is particularly pleasing is that two of his nieces, Anna and Caroline, are experimenting with writing and sent their stories to the Board. Then unveils a Jane Austen very confident, that does not excuse of being an author and seems to consider as fully and guides his nieces while congratulating them and encouraging them. She speaks, as usual, as if the characters had met and it is a pity that the book she discusses with Anna was finally burned because it gives us more than willing to find out. It is also very precise and particular about detail and realism. She takes on Anne eg the length of a journey that is not consistent with the distance of the city or on the presentation of such a such as this should have been the opposite in respect of propriety and of their rank. The poor, she would tear their hair if she had read most current austeneries Regency !!!
Finally, no matter what you do to extend the deadline, we come to the last letters and we know how it all ends. This is a letter of Cassandra, her sister sent to Fanny, his favorite niece, who tells us about the last hours of Jane and, I confess without shame, I could not help but shed a tear for these words replayed a hundred times but that touch the heart:
"I lost a treasure, such a sister and friend that nothing will ever surpass it. She was the sunshine of my life, the spark of all pleasures, comfort for all the trouble, I hid him nothing it is as if I had lost a part of my being. "
