Jane Austen

Jane Austen English novelist

Biographic Documents She was born on 16 December 1775 in Steventon, England. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers. She studied in different boarding schools. She read Fielding and Richardson novels.

After 1787, she wrote different parodies. Between 1795 and 1799 she wrote her first novels: “ Sense and Sensibility” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Lady Susan” In 1802 she wanted to get married but it wasn’t possible. In 1803 Jane Austen wrote the novel “ Susan” . But the book was published 14 years later. Her books are famous. There are two museums dedicated to Jane Austen. The "Jane Austen Centre" in Bath and "Jane Austen's House Museum“ in Hampshire. She died on 18 July 1817.

“The Jane Austen Centre” in Bath.

Jane Austen’s House Museum in Hampshire.

Important Novels

Pride and Prejudice It was her second published novel.Originally called First Impressions, it was never published under that title. The story revolves around Elisabeth Bennet, the second of five daughters of Mr.Bennet, and Mr. Darcy.

Sense and Sensibility Published in 1811, it was the first of Austen's novels to be published, under the pseudonym "A Lady". The story revolves around Elinor and Marianne and how her life is when her dad dies, and they live in her new house with her brother.

Emma It is a comic novel about the perils of misconstrued romance. First published in December 1815. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like.” In the very first sentence she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich."

Persuasion She began it soon after she had finished Emma,completing it in August, 1816. She died, aged 41, in 1817, but Persuasion was not published until 1818. Persuasion is connected with Northanger Abbey not only by the fact that the two books published together two years later, If not that also for other things that are seen in both books.

Mansfield Park It’s a novel written at Chawton Cottage between 1812 and 1814. It was published in July 1814 by Thomas Egerton. Mansfield Park is the most controversial and perhaps the least popular of Austen's major novels. The story contains much social satire. This novel is the most polemic of the Jane Austen’s novels. The protagonists of the story are Fanny Price and her family.

Northanger Abbey It was the first of Jane Austen's novels to be completed for publication, though she had previously made a start on Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. Susan (it was her first name) was written about the years 1798-1799. It was sold in 1803.

Other Jane Austen’s novels are: -The Watson: it was completed by her niece in the XIX century called The Younger Sister. -Sanditon : it’s incomplete. -The Three Sisters -Love and Freindship (the mistake in the title is very famous) -The History of England -Catharine, or the Bower -The Beautiful Cassandra Many films are inspired of Jane Austen’s life: “Jane Austen in Manhattan” “The Young Jane Austen” “The Jane Austen Book Club” Some films are based on her books.

By:

María Garres Andrea Castro 2ºESO Bilingüe 20082009