Austen Family Book Tree

Henry Austen’s short “Biographical Notice,” which prefaced his sister’s posthumously published Persuasion and Northanger Abbey in 1818, remained the only family publication about the novelist for half a century. Then, in 1870, her nephew J. E. Austen-Leigh released A Memoir of Jane Austen. Over time, other nieces and nephews offered additional family perspectives on the author’s life and world.  

By revealing and publishing previously unknown work, sharing extant personal correspondence, and creating the first comprehensive (albeit “Victorianized”) memoir, the next generations of Austens provided foundational sources for future Austen scholarship. Some descendants also appear to have ridden the literary coattails of Aunt Jane’s established success, with several family members even taking the liberty of finishing or extending her stories.  

The literary interventions and tell-alls of multiple generations of Austen descendants have at times exerted great sway over public interest and opinion. Jane Austen’s reputation owes much to the efforts of her family, both for better and for worse. 

AUSTEN FAMILY MINIATURES 

"Miniatures of the eldest eight children of Fanny Catherine Knatchbull and Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Baronet." Watercolor on paper, [ca. 1830–1840]. 

Jane Austen’s favorite niece Fanny, the eldest child of Edward Austen Knight, became the second Lady Knatchbull. In addition to taking on the role of stepmother to her new husband’s now motherless children, Fanny gave birth to an additional nine Knatchbulls. All but the youngest, William Western Knatchbull-Hugessen (1837-1864), were painted in miniature as children.  

These paired miniatures of Jane Austen’s great-nephews and great-nieces were passed down through the Knatchbull line over the past two centuries to John 7th Lord Brabourne (1924-2005). They last hung on the family fireplace of his widow, Patricia, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (1924-2017), a first cousin to King Charles III of Great Britain. This is the first time the miniatures have been exhibited in public.  

From left to right:

Fanny Elizabeth (1825–1845) [L] and Matilda Catherine (1826–1860) [R]

Alicia Sophia (1828-1849) [R] and Edward Huggessen (1829–1893) [L]

Reginald Bridges (1831-1911) [R] and Richard Astley (1832–1875) [L]

Louisa Susanna (1834–1874) [R] and Herbert Thomas (1835–1922) [L] 

(Young boys of the Regency era wore dresses until promoted to breeches.) 

Edward Huggessen Knatchbull, 1st Lord Brabourne (1857–1909), was the fourth child and eldest son of Sir Edward and Lady Knatchbull. Lord Brabourne’s publication of Jane Austen’s personal letters in 1884 initiated a scholarly reassessment of Austen that continues to this day.