author
James Edward Austen-Leigh
1798–1874
Best known as the nephew who wrote the first full-length memoir of Jane Austen, he helped shape how generations of readers imagined her life. He was also an English clergyman whose family memories became an important part of Austen history.
1 Audiobook
Memoir of Jane Austen
by James Edward Austen-Leigh
About the author
Born in 1798, James Edward Austen-Leigh was the son of James Austen, Jane Austen's eldest brother, which made him one of the novelist's nephews. Because he had known his aunt personally, he became an important family witness to her life and character.
He was an English clergyman as well as a writer. His lasting claim to fame is A Memoir of Jane Austen, first published in 1869 and expanded in 1871, the earliest full-length biography of Jane Austen. Drawing on recollections, letters, and family material, the book introduced many readers to a warm, domestic picture of Austen and played a major role in building her posthumous reputation.
Austen-Leigh died in 1874. Though later scholars have revised and deepened the story, his memoir remains a key starting point for anyone interested in how Jane Austen was first remembered by those who knew her best.