Jane Austen

Jane Austen (1775 to 1817) was an English novelist, born at Steventon in Hampshire, the daughter of a country clergyman. She grew up in a large, close family, read widely, and began writing comic stories as a girl. For most of her life she lived quietly in the villages and towns of southern England, and her novels were published anonymously, credited only to the author of an earlier book.

Austen wrote about young women, families, money, manners and marriage among the English gentry. Her novels are admired for their sharp irony, their precise ear for speech and their close attention to how people deceive themselves and one another. She died at the age of 41, and two of her novels appeared after her death. Her reputation has only grown since, and her books remain widely read, studied and adapted.