Austen Writes to Richard Crosby About Susan

Jane Austen's correspondence with Richard Crosby regarding her novel 'Susan' highlights the challenges she faced in the publishing industry. In her letter, Austen expressed frustration over the lack of progress in publishing her work. She offered Crosby a new manuscript of 'Susan' in hopes of expediting its publication and requested the return of the original manuscript so she could seek another publisher. Crosby's response indicated that he had not committed to publishing the novel within a specific timeframe, nor was he obligated to do so. He offered Austen the option to repurchase the manuscript for the £10 he had initially paid her, a sum that was beyond her financial means at that time. The situation underscored the difficulties authors, particularly women, encountered in securing publication and retaining rights to their works. Austen's inability to repurchase the manuscript delayed her plans for 'Susan', which she eventually managed to reclaim in 1816. This episode reflects broader themes in Austen's career, including the struggle for recognition and the financial constraints that often hindered authors. The eventual publication of her works would later contribute significantly to her legacy as one of the foremost novelists in English literature, but the early obstacles she faced were indicative of the systemic challenges within the literary market of her time.