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Musings, Babble and Banter Author K.J. Kearn's Blog

K.J. Kearns



Last Updated: 11/3/2009

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October 16, 2009 - Friday 

Current mood:  amused
Category: Art and Photography

I
just love the circular irony in the fact that the notorious Prince Regent who epitomized the Regency era we fans know and love, was such a fan of Jane Austen's work (one of the few people at the time who knew her true identity) to where he not only invited her to the Library, at Carleton, his London home, but he gave her "permission" to dedicate her latest work at the time, Emma, to him (how...generous). Of course, the irony is that Miss Austen was not a fan of the Prince Regent; and though she did not (or could not) deny the Prince and future King George the IV such an honor, I just love the letter she wrote regarding him upon hearing news of his treatment of his estranged wife:


Letter of February 16th, 1813 to Martha Lloyd

"I suppose all the World is sitting in Judgement upon the Princess of Wales's Letter. Poor woman, I shall support her as long as I can, because she is a Woman, & because I hate her Husband -- but I can hardly forgive her for calling herself ....attached & affectionate'' to a Man whom she must detest -- & the intimacy said to subsist between her & Lady Oxford is bad -- I do not know what to do about it; but if I must give up the Princess, I am resolved at least always to think that she would have been respectable, if the Prince had behaved only tolerably by her at first. --"




Hmmm.... You think the Prince Regent ever got wind of her feelings (lack thereof) for him? Afterall, the grapevine of the time was ripe--downright tumescent!
Currently reading:
Jane Austen's Letters
By Jane Austen