CONTENTS. Chapter I. Introductory Remarks—Birth of Jane Austen—Her Family Connections—Their Influence on her Writings Chapter II. Description of Steventon—Life at Steventon—Changes of Habits and Customs in the last Century Chapter III. Early Compositions—Friends at Ashe—A very Old Letter—Lines on the Death of Mrs. Lefroy—Observations on Jane Austen’s Letter-writing—Letters Chapter IV. Removal from Steventon—Residence at Bath and at Southampton—Settling at Chawton Chapter V. Description of Jane Austen’s person, character, and tastes Chapter VI. Habits of Composition resumed after a long interval—First publication—The interest taken by the Author in the success of her Works Chapter VII. Seclusion from the literary world—Notice from the Prince Regent—Correspondence with Mr. Clarke—Suggestions to alter her style of writing Chapter VIII. Slow growth of her fame—Ill success of first attempts at publication—Two Reviews of her works contrasted Chapter IX. Opinions expr

Chapter IX. Opinions expressed by eminent persons—Opinions of others of less eminence—Opinion of American readers Chapter X. Observations on the Novels Chapter XI. Declining health of Jane Austen—Elasticity of her spirits—Her resignation and humility—Her death Chapter XII. The cancelled Chapter of ‘Persuasion’ Chapter XIII. The last work Chapter XIV. Postscript