Jane Austen and Eighteenth-Century Courtesy Books

One of the most important novelists of the early 19th century, Jane Austen (1775-1817) continues to be read and studied today. Throughout her novels, she creates characters who embody various virtues and limitations. The best characters represent the best behaviour, just as the less admirable ones behave in less admirable ways. Proper behaviour was of great concern to Austen’s contemporaries. Throughout the 18th century, numerous courtesy books were written, advocating certain moral behaviour for character development. Austen would have been familiar with these books, for they were influential during the late 18th century, when she grew up, and in the early 19th century, when her works were published. Although Austen is known as a novelist of manners, surprisingly little work has been done to compare the manners recommended by the courtesy books of the time with the manners of the characters in her novels. This study demonstrates Austen’s parallels with 18th century courtesy books in shaping her characters. Educational and recreational activities in her works are often similar to the activities recommended by the courtesy books of her time. So too, the social activities and personal characteristics she presents frequently accord with the recommendations of the courtesy books. Austen’s reliance on courtesy books is of great importance, for scholars have generally held that her novels are reflective of the manners of the period.