Jane Austen

1775 - 1817 *

early 19th century novelist whose works are remebered for their wit and social satire.

Austen lived her life in an upper-middle class family during the early 19th century in England. It is the day-to-day life of people in this society that is the primary focus of her work.

The near perfection for which Austen's novels are known today is a result of her extensive rewriting of these works during her life. Only four of her novels were published during her lifetime, and her contemporary society was, for the most part, unaware of her outstanding achievements.

Austen's works combine romantic comedy with social satire and a witty view of her contemporary society.

          Source: Classics Network Editorial Team

English writer, who first gave the novel its modern character through the treatment of everyday life. Although Austen was widely read in her lifetime, she published her works anonymously. The most urgent preoccupation of her young, well-bred heroines is courtship, and finally marriage in the world dominated by men. Austen's best-known books include PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1813) and EMMA (1816). Wirginia Woolf called her "the most perfect artist among women."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." (fro... [read entire biography]

          Source: Petri Liukkonen

AUSTEN, JANE (1 775—1817), English novelist, was born on 16th of December 1775 at the parsonage of Steventon, so Hampshire, a village of which her father, the Rev. George Austen, was rector. She was the youngest of seven children, mother was Cassandra Leigh, niece of Theophilus Leigh, a dry humorist, and for fifty years master of Balliol, Oxford. The life of no woman of genius could have been more uneventful than Miss Austen's. She did not marry, and she never left home except on short visits, c... [read entire biography]

          Source: External Publication

These essays offer analysis of the author's life and works. Many of them have been submitted by users, and are assigned an Editorial Rating on a scale from one to five stars to assist you in evaluating their worth. See also: Note on Essays, Editorial Policy.

     

A Gothic Parody Balances Sense and Sensibilty -- Northanger Abbey integrates parody with characterization to emphasize the necessity of a balance between sense and sensibility while reflecting a theme of the initiation of a young woman into the complexities of adult social life
By Keli Svicek, Student	Editorial Rating:

Theme of pride in " Pride & Prejudice " -- How the author uses this theme throughout the novel?
By moahmed nadi, Student	Editorial Rating:

The Importance of letters in 'Pride and Prejudice' -- Letters are used as a dramatic device in the novel to further the plot, aid in the revelation of character and in the exposition of the theme in Jane Austen's novel 'Pride and Prejudice'
By Priyanka Kripalani, Student	Editorial Rating:

Anti-Romanticism in Sense and Sensibility -- A look at the anti-romantic themes of Jane Austen's novel.
By Skylar Burris, Masters Student	Editorial Rating:

A critical analysis of Emma's behaviour (Ch1-18) in Austen's novel. To what extent is Emma a character with which the reader can sympathise -- Detalied analysis of the character of Emma Woodhouse - as shown through her behaviour and attitudes to others.
By Claire Sharp, Student	Editorial Rating:

Influence of the Rich and Powerful in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility -- The influence of the rich (John and Fanny Dashwood) over the less fortunate (the Dashwood sisters and mother)
By Rachel Dannemeyer,	Editorial Rating:

     

Miscellaneous

		The Republic of Pemberley -- Biography, life and times of Austen as well as electronic versions of her novles, and some interesting interactive features. http://www.pemberley.com/ Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 595 5 users have rated it an average of 5 stars     [rate it] Jane Austen E-Texts, Etc. -- a number of useful resources including biographies and introductions http://home.earthlink.net/~lfdean/austen... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 462 1 users have rated it an average of 3 stars     [rate it] Dom Nicholas on Jane Austen -- two essays on themes in Austen's works http://www.btinternet.com/~nbch/DomN.htm... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 746 2 users have rated it an average of 3 stars     [rate it] How Jane Austen's Characters Talk -- an interesting statistical and descriptive analysis of speech in Austen's novels http://www.dsu.edu/~johnsone/austench.ht... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 671 1 users have rated it an average of 2 stars     [rate it]

     

[N]o young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared,* it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her. -- Northanger Abbey

Jane Austen

Additional searches

Austen at Encarta Encyclopedia

Austen at Britannica Encyclopedia

Austen at Xrefer.com