A fascinating look at mid-19th-century culture in Britain, around the time of Elizabeth Bennett. Letters back and forth between two women about boys and gossip and other little dramas. ( )

This book is actually three works from young Jane Austen - the epistolary fragment Lesley Castle, the ironic History of England and the novella Catharine. Lesley Castle is a satire of the novel of letters, popular in the 18th century. Instead of having a thoughtful and virtuous heroine writing the letters, Austen portrays the main correspondents as shallow, self-absorbed girls. Margaret Lesley, residing in the titular dwelling, worries mostly about her appearance and social life until turning her scorn on her new stepmother. Charlotte Lutterell is obsessed with preparing meals and thinks that should take precedence over smaller matters like her sister's wedding or her sister's fiance's death.

The second piece covers the British monarchs from Henry IV to Charles I. There's not actually much history, as the narrator glosses over the important events of each king's reign. More distinguished by the humor of the narrator's extreme pro-Stuart bent.

Catharine is the longest piece and the closest to the more familiar Austen novels. It has a similar setup - an interesting and well-intentioned but flawed heroine dealing with various social situations and loves. Having lost her two best friends, Catharine hopes to find friendship with the visiting Camilla Stanley and possibly something more with her brother. Unfortunately, Camilla is silly and capricious and her brother equally shallow. Fortunately, Austen's sarcastic, well-written prose catches the nuances and humor in Catharine's situation.

The pieces are interesting but do have the feeling of being unfinished, so more recommended for Austen completists. ( )