Jane Austen and the Mystery of the Missing War.
- Gilli
- May 6
- 5 min read
Jane Austen and the Napoleonic Wars
When reading Jane Austen's novels, it’s easy to forget that during her lifetime, Britain was either at war with Napoleon or in a brief peace following the Battle of Trafalgar. There are no direct mentions of battles, whether on land or at sea, and with a couple of exceptions, no characters are depicted as being directly affected by the war. The traditional view has often been that Jane Austen simply ignored what was happening in the wider world in favour of writing about small, close-knit communities and families. However, as with many things in life, I don’t think the answer is as clear-cut as this. I believe there are reasons why the wars are not explicitly mentioned in her novels, but that their impact is still present if we take the time to look a little deeper.
"Don’t Mention the War"
The Napoleonic Wars spanned much of Jane Austen’s life, and she would have been well aware of what was going on, as were all her readers at the time. Newspaper reports freely provided information about engagements, victories, defeats, and the losses in terms of men. However, it is important to remember that in Austen's time, there was no rolling, 24-hour news cycle. While there were reports in the newspapers, these were at best written a day or two after events and sometimes came weeks or even months later. People in Regency Britain were acutely aware of the importance of what was happening, even if the news was somewhat delayed.
The French Revolution of 1789 and the subsequent execution of the royal family were within living memory, and one of Jane Austen's own sisters-in-law had been directly affected, as her first husband had been guillotined as a traitor. Additionally, two of Austen's brothers served in the Royal Navy during this time, so Jane was very aware of the wars. Her visits to Portsmouth, where her brothers were stationed, would have provided her with even more insight.
So, why is all this not made more explicit in her novels? There are a couple of possible reasons. One is that she was writing for a contemporary audience who were already familiar with the current events and would have been able to read between the lines in her novels to understand the social impact of the war. She didn’t need to make it explicit, because her readers would already understand what was implied but not stated. Additionally, by not making the war a central focus in her novels, Austen might have provided a form of escapism for her readers, much like the musicals, comedies, and romantic films of the early 1940s offered relief for their audiences during World War II.
So, where can we find evidence of the war and its impact on her novels? Let’s take a look at each story in turn, with the exception of Northanger Abbey, which is so different from her other completed novels.
Sense and Sensibility (1811)
Published during the Napoleonic Wars, the impact of the war is shown through the character of Colonel Brandon. He is portrayed as a man of honour and someone who has done his duty to his country. Through this character, Jane Austen reflects on the war’s effects on those directly involved.
Pride and Prejudice (1813)
While the war itself is not mentioned explicitly in Pride and Prejudice, the presence of the militia in small rural towns is highlighted. The number of temporary barracks in the south of England grew rapidly during the Napoleonic Wars, with 168 such barracks in place by 1813. In the novel, the militia is stationed in Meryton, and the officers in their smart uniforms become a source of excitement for the unmarried women in the town. Austen uses characters like Wickham and Lydia to demonstrate how an unscrupulous officer could easily seduce a naive girl. It is only through Darcy’s actions that Lydia actually marries Wickham. In reality, girls like Lydia were often abandoned, sometimes pregnant and, in the eyes of society, ruined—often left with no chance of marriage and sometimes even abandoned by their own families.
Mansfield Park (1814)
The naval city of Portsmouth is frequently mentioned in Mansfield Park, a place that Jane Austen herself often visited. Two of her brothers served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later achieved the rank of Admiral. In Mansfield Park, we find detailed descriptions of Portsmouth, such as the garrison church and the ramparts, which still stand today. The ships mentioned in the novel participated in the Napoleonic Wars and were ones her brothers served in. The character of William Price is based on one of her brothers. Austen’s descriptions of Portsmouth reflect a busy, working dockyard, highlighting the important role the navy played in the war.
Emma (1815)
Emma, published after the wars had ended, makes no mention of the militia. However, the character of Jane Fairfax reveals the long-term social impact of the wars. Jane Fairfax is an orphan, raised by one of her late father’s good friends. Though she is well-educated and skilled in painting and music, as a single woman without money, her future is bleak. When we first meet Jane, she is spending time with her aunt before beginning work as a governess. Although Jane eventually marries Frank Churchill, many women left orphaned or widowed by the war would have found themselves in similar circumstances. Through Jane Fairfax’s character, Austen reminds us that even after the war is over, its social consequences continue to affect people’s lives.
Persuasion (1818)
Published after the wars, Persuasion features a story that ties closely to the role of the Royal Navy. The novel centres around Anne Elliot, who, ten years earlier, was persuaded not to marry Captain Frederick Wentworth, a young and impoverished naval officer. By the time of the novel’s action, Wentworth has returned from the war with the rank of Captain and a comfortable fortune from prize money.
The novel can be seen as Jane Austen’s tribute to the role of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Anne’s father, Sir Walter Elliot, is scornful of the navy and its effects on a man’s looks, especially when speaking of Admiral Croft, who has rented Kellynch Hall. In contrast, Anne admires the navy and the work of its officers. Admiral Croft served at Trafalgar and later in the East Indies before retiring. His wife discusses her life as a navy wife, following her husband wherever duty called and closely tracking navy reports in the newspapers.
Anne, who has remained constant in her love for Captain Wentworth, shares the same concerns as Mrs Croft, but unlike her, she must keep her anxieties to herself. Set during the "false peace" of 1814-1815, Persuasion is a reminder that, despite the end of the war, the threat of it resuming still looms over the characters.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jane Austen did not ignore the wars of her time. Instead, she wrote about what she knew—the impact on small towns of having the militia stationed there, the lasting suffering caused by the deaths of fathers, brothers, and lovers, and, most notably, the role of the navy. Drawing on her own experiences and her close knowledge of her brothers' service, Austen conveyed the social impacts of war, particularly on those left behind. Through her keen powers of observation, she wrote from first-hand experience, focusing on the human side of the conflict, while leaving the details of the war itself to those better qualified to address them.
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