people & places

Jane Austen is one of the most famous and beloved writers in the canon of English literature. Her six Novels implicitly interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18^th Century.

She was born in Steventon, England on December 16, 1775. Her parents were George and Cassandra (Leigh) Austen. She had 6 brothers and one sister, Cassandra. Jane died on July 18, 1817 at the early age of 41. Neither she or her sister married.

Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma were anonymously published and were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published posthumously and Sanditon uncompleted. At the time, it was considered very risky for women to publish under their own names, as readers believed it was inappropriate for women to seek out fame, publicity, or a professional writing career.

Her plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security.

Today, 206 years after her death, Jane Austen’s six completed novels are known and loved around the world. They have been translated into dozens of languages and are regularly adapted for film, TV and theatre. They have spawned sequels, prequels and spin offs, and there are countless festivals, clubs and societies in her honour.