Jane Austen's Favourite Brother, Henry

Henry Austen, Jane Austen's favourite brother, was born into a large and lively clergy family in Hampshire. Of her seven siblings, Henry most shared Jane's mischievous wit and facility with words and his support enabled the publication of her novels. Henry's own life was much more incident-packed than his sister's. By turns he was an academic, magazine editor, soldier, financier and banker, bankrupt, and finally, clergyman. His career hit the heights of Regency society, becoming linked with the Prince Regent's set, before plummeting to the social disgrace and economic disaster of bankruptcy. Many of his activities hovered on the brink of illegality and his marriage to the enigmatic French countess, Eliza de Feuillide, also raised questions and eyebrows. Nevertheless, his kindness, charm and his loyalty to Jane never wavered. He ensured her burial in Winchester Cathedral, and he ended his days as a hard-working curate in a Surrey market town and in Hampshire villages. His life sheds a fascinating light on the vagaries of early nineteenth century society and this new and important study examines both his relationships within the Austen family and the many social milieux in which he worked, which, through his recounting of his experiences, may have provided inspiration for some of Jane's plots and characters. As Jane herself wrote to Cassandra, 'Oh, what a Henry!' AUTHOR: Dr Christopher Herbert, a former Bishop of St Albans, member of the House of Lords and Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey, is an experienced and widely read author. His books include Foreshadowing the Reformation: Art and religion in the 15th century Netherlands, plus others about the history of Farnham, Surrey where he now lives. His interest in Henry Austen began with the chance discovery of a curious note written in a church Register. The biography grew from there? See his website: www. threeabbeys.org.uk 20 b/w illustrations