Why publish anonymously? |
 Jan 2 2009, 08:36 PM
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One Half of the DDD  Posts: 8,959 Joined: 5:31pm August 30, 2006 Location: Siriusly Dreaming Somewhere   |
When her first book, Sense and Sensibility, was published in 1811 Jane Austen didn't put her name to it, the author was simply given as "A Lady". Throughout her life she continued to publish anonymously, despite the popularity of her books. After Jane's death in 1817 her sister, Cassandra, and brother, Henry, published Persuasion and Northanger Abbey and included a biographical introduction naming her as the author of those and earlier books published during her lifetime.
Why do you think she chose to remain anonymous, despite her initial success? What were the advantages and disadvantages of anonymity for her? --------------------  March's Book Nook: The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge/Skellig by David Almond "THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!" |
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Jan 3 2009, 05:34 PM
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Waiting for Wednesdays  Posts: 9,230 Joined: 7:57am January 28, 2005 Location: Hiding from Hurricanes  |
Awesome topic.
The choice to publish anonymously might have been a statement about the society of her time period. Austen used the pen name "A Lady" because no woman during her time period was to work or write. A woman who was a published writer (especially the daughter of a clergyman) would have received much unwanted attention. Since she enjoyed her privacy she was not recognized as the author of any of her books until after her death. If she would have published under her name, there is a good chance that the attention she would have received would have been uncomfortable for her family and their social situation. --------------------  My Avon Breast Cancer Walk Page and Blog! I'm In It to End It! |
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Jan 3 2009, 05:44 PM
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Sundae-Nut-Chopper at Florean Fortescue's  Posts: 921 Joined: 10:41pm March 2, 2007 Location: Entering the Ministry of Magic |
DorisTLC, I like your observations. I might just add a perhaps more selfish reason as well?....she was able to go on observing her surroundings without making people feel that if they had contact with her socially, they might wind up being in one of her books.
I don't honestly know how much of a problem this is for writers or whether her stories had a great deal of non-fictional depictions, but sometimes I think about people like David Sedaris, who tells family stories that are often embarrassing (how true they are I am not sure). Woody Allen is another notable who uses a lot of elements of his real life in his movies. If I lived with or associated with a writer who used a lot of actual details of his life in his stories, I might be a little nervous about my association with him in some ways. It could cause discomfort for some people. Just a thought.... This post has been edited by chloe squibbulus: Jan 3 2009, 05:45 PM -------------------- "I would like to say a few words. Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! And now before we go to bed, let us sing the school song! Everyone pick their favorite tune...and off we go!" Dumbledore; Sorcerer's Stone. |
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Jan 3 2009, 10:17 PM
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Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 2 Joined: 10:12pm January 3, 2009 |
Jane Austen took her inspiration from the society around her, but she never wrote about specific people in her life. Although she did name a few characters after people she knew. She published anonymously mostly because of privacy. After a time people started to find out who she was and it was said she wasn't very happy with it. Especially when the crown prince wanted her to dedicate Emma to him as she really wasn't a fan. There were plenty of other female novellists in the day though, some of whom she mentions in Northanger Abbey and all of them were using pen names. Especially if they were married (although some still used women's names). It was controversial, but not unheard of, for there to be female writers. But it was thought to be a hobby more than a way to bring in the money (although that's why Miss Austen wrote).
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Jan 4 2009, 08:58 PM
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Doctor Filibuster's Junior Assistant Posts: 1,963 Joined: 8:57am March 12, 2005 Location: at Home or somewhere in between |
I think I agree with the idea that being anonymous let Jane Austen be more honest in her writing, in saying what she truly saw, without having to cater to the tastes and sensibilities
 of those she was not quite subtlely "exposing".
-------------------- Avatar made with Poser 6 and Photoshop Elements
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Jan 4 2009, 11:13 PM
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Cauldron Bottom Measurer Posts: 108 Joined: 4:41pm July 26, 2008 Location: Walking down Diagon Alley with Ginny and Hermione |
i agree with everything that has been said thus far. It really would have been scandalous for her to put her name to a book. If you have seen the movie Becoming Jane the character of Jane meets another female author and that female author is such a topic of gossip that no one wants to be in her company. Now I know that Becoming Jane is just a fictional movie, but there is some truth to it! Also your are totally right in saying that anonymity would give her the utmost freedom to observe and write with out anyone being the wiser!
This post has been edited by hellostarshine_1981: Jan 4 2009, 11:15 PM -------------------- I got my cute avatar from the Leaky Galleries!
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Jan 12 2009, 06:23 PM
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One Half of the DDD Posts: 8,959 Joined: 5:31pm August 30, 2006 Location: Siriusly Dreaming Somewhere |
Making money out of writing was seen as working for a living which was beneath the class to which Jane Austen belonged. To publish under her own name would, I think, have done damage to not only her reputation but also that of her family, especially her father who was a rector and needed to be above such scandal. Women at that time did not have any rights, if they were married they were governed by their husband's wishes and her possessions were his, if she wasn't married then she had to obey her father's wishes, no matter her age, and he would have had rights over any property or other possessions.
-------------------- March's Book Nook: The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge/Skellig by David Almond "THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!" |
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