Jane Austen’s novels still remain relevant to this day, despite being written more than 200 years ago. This decade, from 2011-2017, celebrates the bicentennial publishing of her six novels. Her novels are classics, and still on many a required college reading list, yet her works are also read by ordinary people who just enjoy a good story. During her lifetime, her books were well received, but quickly forgotten after her death (Harman 65). Considered one of Britain’s most revered authors, her legacy is now passed from generation to generation and has become entrenched in popular culture (Swisher 13).
One of eight children born to George and Cassandra Austen in 1775, Jane grew up in a happy, loving home, filled with spirited, candid conversations (Teuber 5, 8). Although Jane was “discovered” again during Victorian times, she grew up during the Georgian era, which is considered a period of enlightenment (Laski 24). She was especially close to her only sister, Cassandra, and when she was sent away to school, Jane accompanied her even though she was only six (Swisher 16). Her mother commented, “If Cassandra were going to have her head cut off, Jane would insist on sharing her fate” (Laski 23). At eleven year of age, Cassandra and Jane came home and the rest of their education was overseen by their father (Swisher 16). Mr. Austen had distinguished himself in college as quite a scholar and had built up an extensive library which was at the girls’ disposal (Laski 24). The entire family were avid readers and no restrictions appear to have been placed on what the girls could read (Halperin 26). Although not very organized, the girls received a better education than most girls at the time (Laski 24).
Jane was...
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...the age. Yet her novels endure because the themes are timeless. They have all the elements readers’ treasure, to include love, mistaken assumptions, humor, and like all fairy tales, the couple lives happily ever after.
Works Cited
Halperin, John. The Life of Jane Austen. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 1984. Print.
Harman, Claire. Jane’s Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World. 1st ed. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2010. Print.
Laski, Marghanita. Jane Austen and her World. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1975. Print.
Shields, Carol. Jane Austen. New York: Penguin, 2001. Print.
Swisher, Clarice, ed. Readings on Jane Austen. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1997. Print.
Teuber, Andreas. “Jane Austen Biography.” Brandeis University. Brandeis U, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. .
Fowler, Karen J.Introduction. Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen: The Complete Novels. By Jane Austen. New York: Penguin, 2006. 211-421. Print.
Wallace, Tara Ghoshal. Jane Austen and Narrative Authority. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995. 17-30.
Jane Austen's intelligence and sophisticated diction made her a revolutionary author, and her mastery surpasses most modern authors. By challenging conventional stereotypes in her novels, she gives the open-minded reader a new perspective through the message she conveys. Her first novel, Northanger Abbey, focuses on reading. However, she parallels typical novel reading with the reading of people. Catherine Morland's coming of age hinges on her ability to become a better reader of both novels and people.
Southam, B.C., (ed.), Jane Austen: The Critical Heritage. Landon, NY: Routledge & Kegan Paul - Barres & Nobel Inc., 1968.
Martin, Graham. “Austen and class.” Women's Writing 5.1 (March 1998): 131-144. 04 Nov 2013. Web.
Born in the late 1800s, Jane Austen was a novelist, writing romantic and domestic novels. Austen’s first book, Sense and Sensibility was published in 1811, and her last books including Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published in 1817. She wrote only six novels, but her reader base is vast. Austen remains an influential literature figure to critics and present-day college students. Her credibility as a classic novelist has spanned from her first book in 1811 to present day. She was able to hold a spot among canonical texts for centuries, therefore, it is important to recognize the people who have been influenced by her words.
New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press, 1979. Le Faye, Deirdre, ed. Jane Austen's letters, 3rd. ed. Oxford University Press, 1995.
Paris, Bernard J. "Critical Readings: Emma." Critical Insights: Jane Austen (2010): 69-104. Literary Reference Center. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Shannon, Edgar F. `Emma: Character and Construction', Jane Austen: Emma, (130-147) London: MacMillan & Co. Ltd., 1968.
Scott, Walter. "Scott on Jane Austen." 1826. Jane Austen: The Critical Heritage. Ed. B. C.
Wilkie, Brian. “Jane Austen: Amor and Amoralism.” Comprehensive Biography and Critical Analysis: Bloom’s BioCritiques. Ed. Harold Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2002. Print.
She first begins with the introduction of Jane Austen’s life circumstances, how small amount of money she had with her mother and her sister and the better life circumstances of her five brother whilst they had got access to work that was paid, inheritance and preference and also the right for independence, personal power that is prosperous and masculinity.
“Biography of Jane Austen.” Critical insight: Pride and Prejudice (2011): 18-31. Literary Reference Center. Web. 24 Nov 2013.
Before I can discuss her work, let’s learn a little about the life of Jane Austen.]
Fergus, Jan. “Biography.” The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen. Ed. Janet Todd.