http://austenfamilyalbumquilt.blogspot.com/
Most of what we know about Jane's sister Cassandra is from family letters and writings after their deaths. Jane's letters can be found online at http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/brablets.html
They are well worth reading to glimpse Jane's natural sarcastic humor and wicked insights into human nature. You can also find advice in novel writing, marriage advice, poems, and read about the fabrics they buy.
This is what Jane had to say about her sister in a letter dated Sept. 1796:
MY DEAREST CASSANDRA,
The letter which I have this moment received from you has diverted me beyond moderation. I could die of laughter at it, as they used to say at school. You are indeed the finest comic writer of the present age.
Never having been a 'crowd follower' or a conformist (which I blame on my Anabaptist roots, lol) I feel compelled to mention that I became an Austen reader back in 1978 at Temple University in a year long honors course on Austen, taught by Toby Olshin. I blogged about this previously. http://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2013/12/happy-birthday-jane-austen.html
But I am thrilled that the movies based on her books has brought her books into the mainstream and into the lives of readers of all ages.
