Jane Austen

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Letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra, 1799 June 11. Page 4 (NLA).tiff

Chawton Church, Steventon, Hampshire

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Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

Biography

Jane Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire, on 16 December 1775, to George Austen and Cassandra Austen (née Leigh). She was the seventh of eight children in a close-knit family. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading. The family was part of the lower gentry, living a modest life by contemporary standards.

Austen began writing stories and novels as a teenager. In 1787, she started a collection of writings that would later be called Juvenilia. Her early work, which includes the novels Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice (originally titled First Impressions), Mansfield Park, and Emma, were written at Steventon, where she lived until she was 25. In 1801, the Austen family moved to Bath, a social move that did not suit Jane's literary inspiration. After her father's death in 1805, she moved around with her mother and sister Cassandra before settling in Chawton, Hampshire, in 1809. Here, Austen was able to devote herself more fully to writing, completing Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, and revising her earlier novels. Her novels were published anonymously and brought her little personal fame during her lifetime, with few aware of her authorship.

Austen died in Winchester on 18 July 1817, at the age of 41. She left behind a legacy that would grow in fame and appreciation throughout the 19th century and beyond.

Literary Work

Jane Austen's novels are celebrated for their wit, irony, and insight into the lives of early 19th-century women. Her use of free indirect speech, characterisation, and plot construction are praised by critics. Her novels include:

• Sense and Sensibility (1811)
• Pride and Prejudice (1813)
• Mansfield Park (1814)
• Emma (1815)
• Northanger Abbey (published posthumously in 1817)
• Persuasion (published posthumously in 1817)

Austen's work explores themes of love, marriage, morality, and social mobility. While her novels are set against the backdrop of the Georgian era, their enduring appeal lies in their timeless observations of human nature and society.

Legacy

Jane Austen's influence extends far beyond the literary world. Her novels have been adapted into numerous films, television series, and plays. Austen's themes of love, class, and morality continue to resonate with readers and viewers. The Jane Austen Society of North America, founded in 1979, is dedicated to the appreciation of her work and the Regency era. Austen's home in Chawton is now a museum, attracting visitors from around the world.

See Also

• British literature
• Women's literature
• Regency era
• Literary realism