Second frame of third chapter:

This is rather a delight. Kate Evans takes the well-known facts of Jane Austen’s life, providing copious footnotes explaining her sources and admitting where she has embellished or speculated, and has produced a beautiful exploration of Austen’s works, life and world. In particular she goes into the difficult process of getting the great novels written and published.

I also enjoyed Claire Tomalin’s biography when I read it in 2014, but different aspects struck me in Patchwork: women’s desperate economic dependence on marriage, whether their own or their relatives’; the instability of constantly moving home; the dependence of English wealth on colonial exploitation; all gorgeously illustrated in a kind of water-colour style.

Heretical to say, I’m not actually such a huge fan of Jane Austen. But this is a lovely book. You can get Patchwork here.

This was my top unread comic in English. Next on that pile is Palestine, by Joe Sacco.