Jane Austen had a life long love of literature, and began writing at an early age. She was one of eight children of a clergyman, and grew up in a close-knit family. At 15, she was writing plays and sketches for the amusement of her family, and by the time she was 21, she had begun to write novels that are among the finest in English literature. Her books set among the English middle and upper classes, are notable for their wit, social observation and insights into the lives of early 19th century women.
Jane’s first novel, ‘Sense and Sensibility’, appeared in 1811. Her next novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’, received highly favourable reviews. ‘Mans-field Park’ was published in 1814, then ‘Emma’ in 1816. In 1816, Jane began to suffer from ill-health, and she died a year later. Two more of her novels, ‘Persuasion’ and ‘Northanger Abbey’ were published after her death, and a final novel was left incomplete.
Jane Austen is considered one of the best woman authors of all time. Her homey realism was a change from the melodramatic fiction being written at the turn of the eighteenth century. Her writing is described as a comedy of manners in middle-class England, and her works were, and still are, hugely popular.
