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.

Third chapter, in full:

The first person she met, was the Viscount of——a young Man, no less celebrated for his Accomplishments & Virtues, than for his Elegance & Beauty. She curtseyed & walked on.

There’s not really much here!

Bechdel pass (if being generous) in the very last chapter (it is specifically stated that she does not have a conversation with either of two women characters mentioned earlier):

She entered it & was pressed to her Mother’s bosom by that worthy Woman. Cassandra smiled & whispered to herself ‘This is a day well spent.’

This was the shortest of the unread books that I had acquired in 2018. Next on that list is SFerics 2017, edited by Roz Clarke.