During these finanically challenging times, we can take note of Jane Austen's excellent advise on money and the lack of it! Visit Pecuniarities, a blog devoted to informing readers on how to pinch a penny and read Penelope Pince's informative homage to Jane Austen in the Carnival of Personal Finance: The Jane Austen Edition. She lists multiple links to teach you how to save money, flanked by beautiful images from Jane Austen movie adaptations with compelling quotes."A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of." Mary Crawford, Mansfield Park
Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose
5 comments:
I love Jane Austen but is she really an authority on money ? (I went to the site: clever and entertaining) Thanks !
Jane barely scraped by her whole life, hence her focus on love, marriage and money or lack thereof...if she were alive today, she would be a billionaire !
Money is at the center of all of her novels, and her life. She was not an authority on finances, but was keenly aware of them, or the lack of them.
The Dashwood sisters lives in S&S changed greatly after their father's death. They have little dowry's and must live in reduced circumstances. The five Bennet daughters have little dowry and must marry well. Fanny Price is a poor relation given to her cousins because her parents are poor. Emma Woodhouse is Austen's only heroine who is not driven by lack of money, but people like the Bates', Jane Fairfax and Harriet Smith are affected. Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey is sent packing when it is learned that she is not an heiress, and the Elliot family must retrench and economize deeply in Persuasion. Jane Austen was dependent on her family her entire life. Oh, I could go on, but don't want this to be a rant.
Cheers, Laurel Ann
I think we are saying essentially same thing but in different ways.
I'm sorry I had you on the verge of a rant too. That wasn't my intention at all. Just writing my opinion. Or am I mistaken on the theme of this blog ? Please let me know and I will be more careful !
I think it is a sad commentary on the lives of women in general during Jane Austen's lifetime. She was such a talented woman and yet she struggled her whole life and had very little monetary success. It must have been terrible for her to sink back into reality after the joy of writing such beautiful books !
I agree with you both. Jane Austen obviously knew the importance of financial security as this theme runs throughout her works. However, that doesn't necessarily mean she was good at managing finances as a modern "authority on money" would be.
As any family with limited financial resources, I'm sure she used skills of thrift and frugality. I imagine she would have been like Elinor Dashwood as she encouraged her family to cut back on expenses as necessary. This same character also told Edward about the frustration of the female, not even able to earn their fortune.
Just my opinion :o)
Thanks Cory and I think you are right with the Elinor Dashwood comparison to Jane Austen...very good !
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