] Caroline: Hmmm, I wonder what stokes your interest in what Caroline Austen said about Cassandra; could it be some intrigue between one Caroline and another?? ;-)

Not really. It's just that this Caroline was so instrumental in the creating of the the original memoirs of her Aunt Jane, and she was such a powerful "filter" of facts, and so much involved in the whitewash, whether consciously or not. It's not just the "Victorian Sensibilites" thing, or the protection of the family reputation, that interests me; it's the fact that she was still very young when JA died, and she wrote her own memoirs, and fiddled with James-Edward's when she was very much older. There's a combination of nostalgia, zipped lips and wishful thinking in what Caroline did not say that intrigues me.

] I am completely fascinated by the sleuthing and investigative energy it took for Modert to compile this fabulous volume.(snip)

Yes...I've asked for this book on ILL, becasue it's right out of my price range at the moment. I'm begining to think it should be compulsory reading for all JA-lovers though.

] I'll dig into it further, but not for a while,(snip)

Mary, whenever you are able and willing...we can talk JA and her letters any time. I Have learned to be patient about such things... ;-)