“I have been in a most complete error with respect to your views, till this moment.”
Ally Symonds writes to us to explain the term “Victorian English,” as applied to the work of Jane Austen, in an article under her byline, as described in this AustenBlog post.
First, allow me to commend you on the service you’re doing to humanity by running the Austen Blog. Consider yourself commended.
Second, hi! I’m Ally Symonds, the student you quoted on December 4, 2004.
Third, I feel it’s very important for you to know that I am entirely aware that Pride and Prejudice wasn’t set in Victorian England. Austen died in 1817, twenty years before Victoria was crowned Queen. What I actually wrote in the article was “antiquated English,” but my editor (also a student) changed it to “Victorian.” I could have quibbled, but I figured (wrongly!) nobody would notice. However, this whole thing has served as a valuable lesson to me that I should trust my instinct, not my editor!
Thanks for the mention, though. I love Jane Austen!
Miss Symonds, we are glad to clear up the misunderstanding (the Editrix, too, has suffered at the hands of careless editors), and are delighted by your enthusiasm for Jane Austen. We would also like to take this opportunity to point out, for your future information, that Janeites miss very little. 
Thanks for writing!
