The Watsons: A Fragment

This is a five chapter fragment of an unfinished novel by Jane Austen, written around 1803 and probably abandoned after the death of her father in January 1805 (and the story contains an ill father of the Watson children, which may have been too close to the knuckle to be continued). I really enjoyed this fragment and wish it had been continued as planned (the author's niece Catherine Hubback published a full length version in 1850, but I understand this does not match Jane's quality of storytelling). Our heroine Emma Watson is an attractive figure, and the fragment explores the tensions between her and her three sisters, Elizabeth, Margaret and Penelope (who never appears). She also has two brothers, Robert and Sam (who also never show more appears). Emma and various of the other sisters are being pursued by the lecherous Tom Musgrave and the laconic and indolent Lord Osborne. Worth a read. show less

Read for a discussion with my local Jane Austen Society! This unfinished novel contains early versions of characters and themes later refined in her published works. A fascinating glimpse into Austen’s evolving style.

This is one of two unfinished books by Austen. There's no ending, but the first half of the story introduces us to Emma Watson, a young woman who was raised by her wealthy uncle and aunt. Her uncle dies and her aunt remarries and she's sent back home to live with her ailing father and siblings. She's been estranged from her family for so long, it's a hard transition. Her two sisters are desperately trying to find husbands. Emma on the other hand realizes the importance of marrying someone you love and respect, instead of someone who just has wealth.

It's hard to judge a book that's half finished, but Austen did tell her sister how she intended to end it, so there's that. It reminded me a bit of Mansfield Park, but Emma was a bit easier show more for me to stomach than Fanny. I would say this one is a must for any true Austen devotee, but definitely not before reading all of her completed works. show less

The Watsons is an abandoned novel of about 17,500 words written in Austen's largely "silent" period after Sense and Sensibility and Price and Prejudice but before Mansfield Park and Emma and Persuasion. The protagonist in this novel, Emma Watson, is very likable. Like Fanny Price, she's someone who was raised away from her birth family by a rich relation--except she had expectations of being an heiress, which were disappointed by her rich aunt marrying again, throwing her back to her original family. Her family is respected enough to be able to mix with the best families, including a Lord interested in Emma, and comfortable enough to have a servant, but in the circles they run around in are considered "poor." Only nineteen, Emma has a show more lot more confidence than Fanny Price, and a lot less snobbishness than her namesake Emma Woodhouse. She endeared herself to me when she goes to the rescue of a ten-year-old boy stood up at a dance. I'm only sorry there wasn't more, and we had to leave Emma soon after a ball parting from her brother and his wife. I'm sure that if Jane Austen had been able to complete this novel, I'd be rating it five or four stars as an equal to Pride and Prejudice or Emma. As it is, as an uncompleted novel, this is for hardcore Jane Austen fans only. I guess you can count me as among them. show less

It’s a pity Jane Austen didn’t finish “The Watsons”. The potential is there for a decent novel, and what there is interested me enough to want to read on.

We’re introduced to a number of characters early on, which makes it hard at times to remember who’s who, especially when most are a Mr, Mrs, or Miss Somebody.

What I admire most about Jane Austen’s works is the eloquent language, which is very much in evidence here.

The Watsons probably would have been an excellent novel. But as a fragment, it is probably of greater interest to scholars and completists than as a book. Everything you expect and want from Jane Austen is there--except a middle and an ending. Not her fault, but also not very satisfying to just read a bunch of exposition that does not develop anywhere.

The Watsons probably would have been an excellent novel. But as a fragment, it is probably of greater interest to scholars and completists than as a book. Everything you expect and want from Jane Austen is there--except a middle and an ending. Not her fault, but also not very satisfying to just read a bunch of exposition that does not develop anywhere.