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Title:
Jane Austen: Henry and Eliza
Series:
----------
Author: Jane Austen
Rating:
4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Juvenilia
Pages:
6
Words: 2K
Publish: 1788
I just laughed out loud while reading this. I gave it the “humor” tag because of that. It is complete satire but it is just hilarious. I liked the ending where Eliza raises an army and destroys her enemy. It was just written so blithely and simply done!
Once again we get another “modern girl” cover, but these are about the only ones I can find for the individual stories. All of these stories are contained within Austen’s “juvenilia” but I want them read and reviewed on their own. I doubt I’m ever going to read them again, so I don’t want a post labeled “Juvenilia” and two sentences about how short these all are. At least now I will remember that this particular story tickled my funny bone to no end. Good enough.
★★★★☆
From “https://www.janeaustensummer.org/post/austen-250-reader-henry-eliza”
Sir George and his wife, Lady Harcourt, while supervising the haymakers in their work happen to come upon an orphaned child who is nestled in the foliage. Taken with the beautiful young girl, and having no children of their own, the couple adopt the foundling, name her Eliza, and raise her according to their own code of principles—placing a premium on possessing a love of virtue while harboring a hatred of vices.
Life is splendid for all until, just after she turns the age of eighteen, Sir George and Lady Harcourt catch Eliza stealing a fifty-pound banknote. She is promptly turned out of the house, but she bears the punishment well. Rather than despair, she asks her friend, Mrs. Sarah Wilson, to help her acquire a place serving as a personal companion to a great lady. Pleased to be able to aid Eliza in this endeavor, Mrs. Wilson writes a letter of recommendation to the Duchess of F., asking the greatly esteemed lady to welcome Eliza into her home.
The Duchess of F. is delighted to be of assistance and sets out to make Eliza’s acquaintance at once. She has but one daughter, Lady Harriet, who is soon to be wed to Mr. Henry Cecil, so she is thrilled to welcome Eliza as her new companion. Harriet, as well, is inclined to like Eliza and insists they behave as though they are sisters.
The affectionate bond between them is not nurtured for long because shortly thereafter, Eliza and Henry fall in love. They elope and leave behind only a short, callous letter that provides no consolation to the Duchess or her daughter. Enraged, Her Grace hires three hundred men and orders them to track the couple. Should they kill Henry and Eliza on sight, that is permissible, but the Duchess would prefer they be brought back alive so she may be granted the pleasure of confining and torturing them herself.
The couple flees and winds up living in France for three years. During that time, Eliza gives birth to two boys, but has the great misfortune of burying her husband while abroad. Now widowed, she wishes to return to England. Upon setting foot on land at Dover, she and the boys are seized by the Duchess’ men and conveyed to a prison.
After being trapped for a few weeks, Eliza and her children manage to escape, but then they have no means by which to live. She decides they must seek out Sir George and Lady Harcourt. She hopes they will be merciful.
When she and the children get closer to her former home, she spies Lady Harcourt and Sir George in a carriage and calls out to them. That is when Lady Harcourt reveals an odd secret. Eliza is not just an adopted child but is their biological daughter. When Sir George sailed for America, she was pregnant and eventually gave birth to a daughter. Certain that her husband would be disappointed to see a little girl rather than the son he so desired, she hid the child in a haycock. She forgot all about doing as much until she heard Eliza call out to them presently. But now, she recognizes the voice of her daughter and wishes to reconcile with her completely. Sir George agrees. He absolves Eliza from all wrongdoing.
Just as soon as she is restored to her former place at Harcourt Hall, she raises an army and bids them march against the Duchess of F. Eliza earns the commendation and gratitude of thousands when her men demolish the Duchess’ prison cell.
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