A fascinating collection of lesser known Austen: "Lady Susan," a short, epistolary novel, written when she was about 20 years old, and two unfinished novels, including Sanditon, the novel she was working on when she died.
Now, of course, "Lady Susan" and the fragments of Sanditon and The Watsons are not, in themselves, 5-star Austen. But as insights into Austen's evolution as a writer, and where she might have gone with her writing, had she not died so tragically young, this collection is priceless.
I guess you could say that the ultimate accolade is that I keep finding myself thinking "Oh, I must finish "Sandition," I must finish "The Watsons." And then I remember that they must remain unfinished, forever, and I am a little sad.
Now, of course, "Lady Susan" and the fragments of Sanditon and The Watsons are not, in themselves, 5-star Austen. But as insights into Austen's evolution as a writer, and where she might have gone with her writing, had she not died so tragically young, this collection is priceless.
I guess you could say that the ultimate accolade is that I keep finding myself thinking "Oh, I must finish "Sandition," I must finish "The Watsons." And then I remember that they must remain unfinished, forever, and I am a little sad.
