British newspapers' spinning stories about slavery
CharlasI Love Jane Austen
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1Chawton
There has been a serious academic project (see https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/project/context/) to establish who gained the compensation of £20 million from the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in the 1830s.
Sadly but predictably some not so serious British newspaper have recently been trying to sell some more copies of their newspapers by implying that Jane Austen was somehow involved with the slave trade.
This implied link could not be further from the truth. In fact we know that the Austens were keen abolitionists, and that one of Jane Austen's brothers who was a Royal Naval officer had reported back to the family after his ship has visited on the disgusting treatment in the West Indies in which slaves were kept. No doubt the Austens as outlying members of the gentry knew of some rich families that benefited from the slave trade, but that does not mean or imply moral collusion.
We know from two references in Jane Austen's novels what a dim view she took of those who were involved with the slave trade. Hence in Mansfield Park, we should take note of the fact that early on in the novel, we find that Sir Thomas Bertram has an interest in an Antiguan estate. We are meant to pick this up as an early indication that behind the impressive establishment facade of Sir Thomas, there is something rotten, a lack of principled behaviour, which would redound on him and all his family when to take just one example his eldest daughter Mrs Rushworth elopes with Henry Crawford.
The other reference to the slave trade is much briefer and oblique and is in Emma. Austen implies that the horrible wife of Mr Elton, Miss Augusta Hawkins, comes from a newly wealthy family in Bristol, which was a major city and port that was heavily involved in the slave trade. As soon as we think about her family background, we know we can expect the newly married Mrs Elton to behave outside the conventions of accepted behaviour.
Sadly but predictably some not so serious British newspaper have recently been trying to sell some more copies of their newspapers by implying that Jane Austen was somehow involved with the slave trade.
This implied link could not be further from the truth. In fact we know that the Austens were keen abolitionists, and that one of Jane Austen's brothers who was a Royal Naval officer had reported back to the family after his ship has visited on the disgusting treatment in the West Indies in which slaves were kept. No doubt the Austens as outlying members of the gentry knew of some rich families that benefited from the slave trade, but that does not mean or imply moral collusion.
We know from two references in Jane Austen's novels what a dim view she took of those who were involved with the slave trade. Hence in Mansfield Park, we should take note of the fact that early on in the novel, we find that Sir Thomas Bertram has an interest in an Antiguan estate. We are meant to pick this up as an early indication that behind the impressive establishment facade of Sir Thomas, there is something rotten, a lack of principled behaviour, which would redound on him and all his family when to take just one example his eldest daughter Mrs Rushworth elopes with Henry Crawford.
The other reference to the slave trade is much briefer and oblique and is in Emma. Austen implies that the horrible wife of Mr Elton, Miss Augusta Hawkins, comes from a newly wealthy family in Bristol, which was a major city and port that was heavily involved in the slave trade. As soon as we think about her family background, we know we can expect the newly married Mrs Elton to behave outside the conventions of accepted behaviour.
2Nickelini
Hmmm, interesting. I'd be surprised if many Jane Austen fans took the bait that she was involved in the slave trade, but people do surprise me. Thanks for posting.
3Nickelini
There's a tutored read of Emma going on over at the 75 Books group, so I'm going to copy your last paragraph over there. Here's the link if you're interested: https://www.librarything.com/topic/231425
4Chawton
I studied Emma at school and so missed far too many of Jane's subtleties in this 'technically perfect novel'. Two examples from my flawed memory:
(i) Mr Perry the much quoted doctor who is getting rich (hence his proposed purchase of a carriage) dealing with the hypochondriacs of Highbury is never quoted in direct conversation by Austen. The implication of this clever device by Austen is that he does not express his own opinions but just confirms those of his patients.
(ii) Mr Woodhouse is involved in a discussion about the sea and I recall he declares (rather oddly I thought at the time) that there was no point to it. Jane is here making a joke at the expense of her two brothers who are sea officers in the Royal Navy.
(i) Mr Perry the much quoted doctor who is getting rich (hence his proposed purchase of a carriage) dealing with the hypochondriacs of Highbury is never quoted in direct conversation by Austen. The implication of this clever device by Austen is that he does not express his own opinions but just confirms those of his patients.
(ii) Mr Woodhouse is involved in a discussion about the sea and I recall he declares (rather oddly I thought at the time) that there was no point to it. Jane is here making a joke at the expense of her two brothers who are sea officers in the Royal Navy.
6Jargoneer
>1 Chawton: - the article I read about this said
It is worth putting that £20m figure in some modern perspective, in today's money the British govt paid out almost £1.8 billion in compensation. I recently went to a talk about Scotland's role in the slavery, despite transporting a very small of slaves the financial benefits of slavery were so widespread helped the country as a whole to develop. There was an interesting side debate about whether this compensation helped to speed up the Industrial Revolution as many recipients now had large amounts of capital to invest.
Austen addressed slave ownership in Mansfield Park. But what is less well known, outside of Austen scholars, is how her family were friends with several prominent slave owners. One of them, Thomas Hall, who was awarded the compensation for three estates in St James, Jamaica, was reputedly the model for Mr Woodhouse in Emma.I think the reason that Jane Austen was referenced was twofold: firstly, to show the width of slave ownership in the UK, and secondly, as clickbait.
It is worth putting that £20m figure in some modern perspective, in today's money the British govt paid out almost £1.8 billion in compensation. I recently went to a talk about Scotland's role in the slavery, despite transporting a very small of slaves the financial benefits of slavery were so widespread helped the country as a whole to develop. There was an interesting side debate about whether this compensation helped to speed up the Industrial Revolution as many recipients now had large amounts of capital to invest.
