THE STORY OF JANE AUSTEN'S LIFE

Chicago: A.C. McClurg and Company, 1891. First printing. Very good plus.. First edition of the "first critical biography of Austen" (Juliette Wells). Austen biographies have been one of the main vehicles for the author's canonical ascent that blasted off in the late 19th century, beginning with her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh's MEMOIR (1870). This publication was the first to build upon family lore and bring in professional scholarship: it "drew on extensive research and incorporated substantial interpretations" (Wells, 2). Perhaps most importantly, Adams's distance from the family-the main biographers of Austen until this publication-gave him firm ground to contest the image of her as the sweet, spinster aunt put forth by her family. A landmark in Austen studies. 7.25'' x 4.5''. Original full blue cloth, spine and front board stamped in gilt with floral ornaments. Frontispiece illustration of Austen based on Andrews portrait. Publisher's ads at rear. [4], i-viii, 9-277, [1], [6] pages. Ink owner name on front pastedown aggressively rubbed out, with some loss of paper. Light toning to spine, faint ripple to rear board. A couple spots to early leaves, else clean with only gentle toning to margins.