Sixteen-year-old Austen's tale of prosperity, absurdity, and an abundance of luck.
Fashion plate, c. 1780s
Janeites, hello and welcome to the Austen 250 Reader series! Today, we focus on a story from "Volume the Third" of Austen's extensive adolescent portfolio.
"Evelyn" is dedicated to a "Miss Mary Lloyd", or, as she may be better known to Austen aficionados, Martha Lloyd. The rest of the inscription is as follows: "The following Novel is by permission Dedicated by her Obed[ient] humble Serv[ant]. The Author." If you do not happen to have a physical copy of the Juvenilia nearby, an online edition of "Evelyn" can be read on the Jane Austen Centre's blog. (Should the theatrical itch strike again, Janeites can also view a fully-staged production of "Evelyn" here, once again adapted by the brilliant Adam McCune and performed at last year's JASP symposium in Chapel Hill, NC.)
A Brief Summary of a Brief Work
"In a retired part of the County of Sussex there is a village (for what I know to the Contrary) called Evelyn, perhaps one of the most beautiful Spots in the south of England." So begins this tale. We are told that "a Gentleman" passed through the lovely town some twenty years before and, upon stopping at a "little Alehouse" asked if there were any available homes in the area. The landlady, Mrs. Willis, replies that there is none, but that there may be a family who would allow their house to be let by any inquirer. Frederic Gower– the aforementioned gentleman– is very happy at the prospect and "set[s] off immediately."
A lush description of the house and its idyllic grounds are described in great detail by the young authoress and the owners of this paradise– the Webbs– welcome Mr. Gower into their fold with open arms. (...and Chocolate, some venison pasty, sandwiches, a Basket of Fruit, Ices, a "bason" of Soup, Jellies and Cakes...) They apologize profusely for not being able to provide their guest with more comforts and thrust £100 upon Mr. Gower, then offer him their daughter's hand in marriage. Seventeen-year-old Maria Webb has "ten thousand pounds", which is, according to her father, "almost too small a sum to be offered."
Frederic Gower and Maria Webb are married immediately and live in bliss for a few months. Upon being presenting a rose by his wife, however, Mr. Gower is jolted back to reality and remembers his sister, Rose. The youngest, thirteenth daughter and favorite of the Gower family, Rose had experienced great heartbreak upon the death of her lover. (The two had been forced apart by the young man's severe Father.) This disastrous incident caused Rose's only brother to set out for her would-be-betrothed's family seat at –––– Castle. Mr. Gower was "not many miles" away when he came upon the town of Evelyn and all notions of the task that lay before him and sister's misfortune were dispelled from his mind.
Back in the present, with "Greif, Apprehension, and Shame" Mr. Gower composes and sends a letter home, dated July 14th. On the 17th of July he receives a reply from another one of his sisters, stating that Rose had died six weeks prior, weakened by heartbreak and anxious about her brother's silence. Shocked by the news, Mr. Gower is "attacked by a fit of gout" and upon his recovery decides to ride out to –––– Castle, as he had originally planned to do. Maria watches him ride away from a window and "[sinks] into her chair overwhelmed with Greif, f[inding] in his absence she c[an] enjoy no comfort."
Once at the castle, Mr. Gower asks for the late young man's father to reconsider his decree and instead allow the union of his heir and Rose. His Lordship is confused by this request, and rightly so, as both the parties in question are unfortunately deceased. When her son is mentioned, the Lady of the house becomes beside himself with sorrow and the rest of the family is entranced by the visitor, "almost persuaded that Mr. Gower was distracted" and later "unanimous in their opinion of his being mad." Frustrated by the encounter, Mr. Gower takes his leave and the tale ends abruptly as he"r[ides] on a full gallop all the way."
An Even Briefer Analysis
Jane Austen dishes out a truly commendable satire in "Evelyn", employing outrageous wit and beginning with a rather deceptively sensible beginning. In short, there is no notion of the absurdity to follow (or previous absurdity) when Mr. Gower arrives in the town of Evelyn. With each new sentence, Austen's readers find themselves assaulted with exaggeration or ridiculous interaction and her brilliance as a comic writer shines. Lamentably, while Austen's readers do not receive a satisfactory ending to this succinct story, it is important to note that not one but two relatives– a nephew and niece– tried their pens at an "Evelyn" conclusion.
Both secondary closings are lovely and shocking. Personally, this author is partial to the first version, written by James Edward Austen. (This is also the continuation adapted by Adam McCune, see here.) That being said, Anna Lefroy's completion adds a very admirable dash of eerie Gothic mystery. If you are curious to read them for yourself, the two endings can be found on pages 205-208 in the Oxford World's Classics edition of Austen's Teenage Writings.
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