JANE AUSTEN – THE WATSONS

Pubblicato in Italia con il titolo I Watson. Un romanzo incompiuto di Jane Austen, di cui sono rimasti pochi frammenti, che vede come protagonista una famiglia borghese e l’ossessione per il matrimonio tipica dei romanzi dell’autrice inglese.

Following Lady Susan, another less-known work by Jane Austen is The Watsons. This is an unfinished novel which she started writing probably in 1803, but she may have abandoned it after her father’s death in 1805. All it’s left is a fragmented manuscript of 7.500 words titled and published for the first time in 1871 by the author’s nephew, James Edward Austen-Leigh, in A Memoir of Jane Austen, which also includes how the story may have ended (thanks to the author’s sister, Cassandra). 

The Watsons is the story of the return of Emma to the family home in Surrey. Mr Watson is a widowed clergyman with two sons and four daughters. Emma is the youngest daughter, raised by a wealthy aunt. On returning home she discovers about her sisters’ obsessive search for a husband and she meets the Osbornes, Mrs. Blake, and Mr. Howard. Although brief, this was a great read and I wish the author had finished writing to see how it would have ended!