Jane Austen Discussion Forum

Hi
Your research article is nicely done. I think I read that Jane's family didn't measure up for Tom Lefroy's. One must consider the financial power or loss of it that a poor marriage could ensue upon the future of his entire family. Love for the wealthy was a luxury no true gentleman to afford without a handsome purse to bind it. Or so it seems.

I often think her life was one of quite desperation. A true tragedy. If not for her humor and her writing talent, I think she would have perished at twenty like a flower during the seasonal changes. But, fortunately, her constitution was stronger than the average violet.