Book Review: She Played and Sang by Gillian Dooley
Jane Austen and music
Despite having read almost all her novels, and watched numerous dramatisations on the screen, I don’t associate Jane Austen with music.
At least, I didn’t until I read this illuminating book by Gillian Dooley. I now appreciate how significant music was to Jane and her family, and have an insight into how it probably played out in the lives of many other late Georgian and Regency women.
The author, Gillian Dooley, is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in English Literature at Flinders University, South Australia. She’s published on a number of literary and historical topics, including Jane Austen.
This book stems from the author’s years creating a detailed index of the hundreds of items in the Austen family music collections for the University of Southampton library catalogue. She also draws on material from Jane’s letters, the recollections of those who knew her and, of course, her novels.
Jane Austen from A Memoir of Jane Austen by JE Austen Leigh (1871 edition)
It’s not just about Jane Austen
While some may be frustrated at Jane Austen’s pre-eminence in any discussion of women in the latter half of George III’s reign, this focus on her offers insights to those outside the Janeite fan club. Because she remained largely anonymous during her lifetime, and was never independently wealthy, the scrutiny of her life allows us glimpses into the lives of women in similar circumstances.
Through Jane, we catch something of what it was like to be a middle-class woman at that time. Many of her interests, activities and frustrations were surely reflected in the lives of many other women across the country.
This book isn’t just about Jane. Chapter 2, Jane Austen’s Musical Relationships, details her connections, through music, with several family members and friends.
Music in the life of Jane Austen
Jane compiled at least four albums of music. Two began as blank manuscript books, into which she copied music and lyrics. The others are scrapbooks, with a mix of printed and hand-written content.
The author admits that we don’t know much about Jane’s engagement with music. There’s no doubt she collected music, as evidenced by the books she left behind. We know she played and sang. She also attended concerts. For much of her life, Jane had access to a piano.
Music features in some of her novels, but it’s only named in one. In Emma, Miss Fairfax plays Robin Adair, an Irish melody by Thomas Moore.
Irish tunes were just one of the musical influences on Jane Austen. Dooley discusses these, and includes Thomas Arne and Georgian musical theatre, Scotch songs (which didn’t always originate from Scotland), and naval songs. The latter are given an entire chapter, which is no surprise, given the high visibility of the Navy in Britain during her lifetime, and in her family - with two brothers serving aboard ship.
Dooley considers how music, and the stories contained in popular songs, may have influenced Jane. In particular, she explores the relationship between an early Georgian ballad and Sense and Sensibility.
There’s no direct evidence of a connection, other than Jane knowing the ballad titled Lucy and Colin and the parallels in the relationship between Marianne and Willoughby. However, it’s an interesting exploration of how stories Jane was familiar with may have helped shape her characters and plots.
A square piano, with the lid closed. This is the type of instrument Jane Austen played on at Chawton, in her later years.
Photo taken at Croft Castle, Herefordshire
A book for more than Jane Austen fans
I recommend this book to anyone who takes a serious interest in the life of Jane Austen, or in the lives of middle class women of the late Georgian and Regency years. It has something to say to anyone interested in the place of music in the culture at that time.
I am not a musician. You don’t need to be a musician to appreciate this book, although in a few places it got too technical for me.
The book comprises a detailed introduction, eight chapters, a conclusion, two appendices (the Austen family network and a list of manuscripts annotated by Jane), notes, a bibliography and index.
The 21 Austen music books used by the author are all available in the Internet Archive.
She Played and Sang: Jane Austen and music is published by Manchester University Press.
It’s available in hardcover and as an ebook.
Andrew Knowles researches and writes about the late Georgian and Regency period. He’s also a freelance writer and editor for business. He lives with his wife Rachel, co-author of this blog, in the Dorset seaside town of Weymouth.
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Regency History
by Andrew & Rachel Knowles
We research and write about the late Georgian and Regency period.
Rachel also writes faith-based Regency romance with rich historical detail.
