Museum asks Jane Austen enthusiasts for help in deciphering her brother’s illegible manuscript

Jane Austen (1775-1817) caused a furore at the beginning of the 19th century with books such as Pride and Prejudice (Pride and prejudice) and Sense and Sensibility (Reason and feeling). Her stories, focused on normal people and their everyday activities, are still popular years later. This is what the musical was like at the beginning of this year Pride and Prejudice can be seen in Dutch theaters. Although her work is world famous, Austen left few facts about her own life.

Her brother Francis’s manuscript is seen as a new piece in the puzzle of Austen’s life. ‘It gives more insight into the details that surrounded her life. This allows us to see the world a little as she saw it,” curator Sophie Reynolds of the museum dedicated to the author told the British newspaper The Guardian.

The manuscript, purchased by the museum at auction last summer, describes the life and career of Admiral Francis William Austen, Jane Austen’s brother. The piece, which is written in the third person, was probably put on paper by the admiral himself.

‘Spider-like’ handwriting

However, it remains a matter of guessing the exact contents, because it is written in a handwriting that is particularly difficult to read. The last pages of the manuscript are particularly difficult to decipher. “It is not yet fully known what it says, so it is very exciting,” says Sophie Reynolds. She suspects that the author’s “spider-like” handwriting is due to arthritis, the joint disease Francis suffered from.

Because a wealth of new information about the famous writer may be hidden in the manuscript, the museum appealed to its supporters to help decipher the texts. Enthusiasts could request a page of the manuscript to decipher by email. Transcribed texts are then checked by the museum and converted into a digital whole. Within a day, thousands of people responded to the call. In response to this ‘overwhelming’ result, the museum has now closed the call.

In addition to the manuscript, the museum also purchased an album with drawings and watercolors that Francis made during his time in the navy at the auction. The manuscript and album can be seen in the museum from this week as part of the exhibition Travels with Frank Austen. Not entirely coincidental, because Francis (who was called Frank in the family) was born 250 years ago.