Post by laura on Sept 28, 2005 7:13:58 GMT -8
I'm working on a novel/la inspried by Jane Austen's stories. I have eight chapters up so far on fictionpress, and R&R is always appreciated. I would especially like a beta-reader who is particularly well-learned in 19th century England, because I can't find as much info as I'd like--neither in the library nor on the internet.
www.fictionpress.com/~laurafedora
I'll post a teaser here for ya:
After returning to the house and being found out by Miss Barton, Imogene received another lecture on her unattractively free will. It was then that Miss Barton decided it was time to begin lessons on being a true lady. The two of them sat in the drawing room for the lessons, and as Miss Barton lectured, Imogene’s eyes constantly glanced toward the window where the buttery yellow sunshine blazed through.
“Every lady of good breeding possesses these four virtues--” Miss Barton began, “–piety, purity, humility, and domestic quality. From what I have observed in you so far, I will go step-by-step to assess how well you possess these four virtues.” Suddenly wary of the governess’s threat to assess her personality, Imogene directed her attention to Miss Barton and away from the window. “First, there is piety. I have not seen you in church, but I understand from your father that you go every Sunday and participate well; that is good. However, I have also heard from your father that you indulge in books of fiction and science more than you partake of the Bible, which is not good. Devotion to the Faith is particularly important for a lady, for it is her responsibility to thus instruct her children in the Faith and to see that her husband follows it well. In order to remedy this, I am allowing you only to read the Bible and nothing else. Each time you complete reading the Bible once, you are allowed to read one other sort of book of my choosing.” Imogene was not entirely opposed to reading the Bible, but making it her only source of literary pleasure was unthinkable. At the time, she was right in the middle of reading Shakespeare’s history plays and did not want to stop, for the Bible would take some weeks to read, and by the time she would return to Shakespeare’s histories, she would have to reread them from the beginning to recall anything that was happening.
“Second, is purity. You have been–again, to my limits of understanding–pure and undefiled, unless there is anything you have not yet admitted to...”
“How dare you!” Imogene cried. “You have no right to suppose–“
”I did not accuse you of anything, Miss Cartwright. Why are you so anxious, as if I have accused you?”
“It was the tone in which you said it; it was most offensive!”
“I was merely suggesting that I do not know the whole of your history. Now, may I continue?” Imogene remained silent, her eyes refusing to meet Miss Barton’s. “The third and fourth virtues are my greatest concern: I have yet to see any humility or domestic quality in you, Miss Cartwright. Such a display as you just now created proves to me that you desperately need lessons in those virtues. But I will begin with humility, for you can only begin the lessons of domestic quality once you have learned to be humble.” Miss Barton was silent for a moment, trying to think of how to go about teaching Imogene such lessons. “Here is your first lesson: for the rest of the day today, you may not speak except to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or to escape rudeness by ignoring. Should you speak out of these boundaries, this lesson shall continue tomorrow, and as long as it takes.” Imogene gaped at such a request. For fear of her protestations, Miss Barton added, “This is only the first step, so the sooner you learn it, the sooner you may progress. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Imogene sighed.
“Good. I think Mr. Campbell will be quite pleased. I will be monitoring your progress through the day, then.”
Imogene was unexpressively grateful when her sister walked into the room. “I am sorry for interrupting, but Mr. Butler and I were going to go for a walk across the state and were wondering if you would like to join us.”
“Yes,” Imogene replied, joining her sister immediately.
“Mr. Campbell would like some exercise too, I imagine,” Miss Barton suggested.
“Oh...” Emmeline looked to her sister, waiting for her to make an excuse, but nothing came. “I will be sure to invite him along with us.”
“And would you mind if I joined you as well?”
Again, Emmeline turned to her sister with no results. “No; of course you may join us.” As they left the room to group everyone together, Imogene clutched her sister’s hand, hinting her not to leave her alone with Mr. Campbell or Miss Barton.
www.fictionpress.com/~laurafedora
I'll post a teaser here for ya:
After returning to the house and being found out by Miss Barton, Imogene received another lecture on her unattractively free will. It was then that Miss Barton decided it was time to begin lessons on being a true lady. The two of them sat in the drawing room for the lessons, and as Miss Barton lectured, Imogene’s eyes constantly glanced toward the window where the buttery yellow sunshine blazed through.
“Every lady of good breeding possesses these four virtues--” Miss Barton began, “–piety, purity, humility, and domestic quality. From what I have observed in you so far, I will go step-by-step to assess how well you possess these four virtues.” Suddenly wary of the governess’s threat to assess her personality, Imogene directed her attention to Miss Barton and away from the window. “First, there is piety. I have not seen you in church, but I understand from your father that you go every Sunday and participate well; that is good. However, I have also heard from your father that you indulge in books of fiction and science more than you partake of the Bible, which is not good. Devotion to the Faith is particularly important for a lady, for it is her responsibility to thus instruct her children in the Faith and to see that her husband follows it well. In order to remedy this, I am allowing you only to read the Bible and nothing else. Each time you complete reading the Bible once, you are allowed to read one other sort of book of my choosing.” Imogene was not entirely opposed to reading the Bible, but making it her only source of literary pleasure was unthinkable. At the time, she was right in the middle of reading Shakespeare’s history plays and did not want to stop, for the Bible would take some weeks to read, and by the time she would return to Shakespeare’s histories, she would have to reread them from the beginning to recall anything that was happening.
“Second, is purity. You have been–again, to my limits of understanding–pure and undefiled, unless there is anything you have not yet admitted to...”
“How dare you!” Imogene cried. “You have no right to suppose–“
”I did not accuse you of anything, Miss Cartwright. Why are you so anxious, as if I have accused you?”
“It was the tone in which you said it; it was most offensive!”
“I was merely suggesting that I do not know the whole of your history. Now, may I continue?” Imogene remained silent, her eyes refusing to meet Miss Barton’s. “The third and fourth virtues are my greatest concern: I have yet to see any humility or domestic quality in you, Miss Cartwright. Such a display as you just now created proves to me that you desperately need lessons in those virtues. But I will begin with humility, for you can only begin the lessons of domestic quality once you have learned to be humble.” Miss Barton was silent for a moment, trying to think of how to go about teaching Imogene such lessons. “Here is your first lesson: for the rest of the day today, you may not speak except to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or to escape rudeness by ignoring. Should you speak out of these boundaries, this lesson shall continue tomorrow, and as long as it takes.” Imogene gaped at such a request. For fear of her protestations, Miss Barton added, “This is only the first step, so the sooner you learn it, the sooner you may progress. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Imogene sighed.
“Good. I think Mr. Campbell will be quite pleased. I will be monitoring your progress through the day, then.”
Imogene was unexpressively grateful when her sister walked into the room. “I am sorry for interrupting, but Mr. Butler and I were going to go for a walk across the state and were wondering if you would like to join us.”
“Yes,” Imogene replied, joining her sister immediately.
“Mr. Campbell would like some exercise too, I imagine,” Miss Barton suggested.
“Oh...” Emmeline looked to her sister, waiting for her to make an excuse, but nothing came. “I will be sure to invite him along with us.”
“And would you mind if I joined you as well?”
Again, Emmeline turned to her sister with no results. “No; of course you may join us.” As they left the room to group everyone together, Imogene clutched her sister’s hand, hinting her not to leave her alone with Mr. Campbell or Miss Barton.
I'd really appreciate it if you read my story, if even just to help with some of the historical accuracies and such.