The graves of Cassandra Elizabeth Austen (elder sister of Jane Austen)and Cassandra Austen (nee Leigh) mother of Jane Austen in Chawton Hampshire
Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Cassandra Elizabeth Austen (9 January 1773 – 22 March 1845) was an amateur English watercolourist and the elder sister of Jane Austen. Austen was born in 1773 at a rectory in Steventon, Hampshire, to the Rev. George Austen (1731–1805), a rector, and his wife Cassandra, née Leigh (1739–1827). There were eight Austen children; as Cassandra and Jane were the only girls they maintained an especially close relationship throughout their lives. Over one hundred letters addressed to Cassandra from Jane have survived. Jane died in 1817 and Cassandra is reported to have destroyed two thirds of Jane's letters in 1843 - a couple of years before her own death. She passed the remainder on to relations as mementoes.[1] Austen continued living at Chawton, at first with her mother and a family friend, Martha Lloyd. Her mother died in 1827 and Martha left to marry her brother Frank in 1828. Cassandra lived on alone at the cottage but continued to visit friends and relations. On one such visit to her brother Frank in March 1845, she suffered a stroke. Frank, who was still a serving Admiral at the age of 71, was preparing to depart to take command of the Royal Navy's North American Station and was obliged to leave his stricken sister at his home, (Portchester House near Portsmouth) in the care of another brother, Henry. She died there a few days later on 22 March 1845, aged 72. Her body was returned to her home village of Chawton for burial at St. Nicholas' Church alongside her mother.[
Size: 4357px × 3485px
Location: Gaston Ln, Alton GU34 3EE, UK
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: abbey, austen, author, cassandra, chawton, elizabeth, emma, jane, mansfield, northanger, novelist, park, persuasion, prejudice, pride, sanditon, sense, sensibility
