Jane Austen

Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 at Steventon near Basingstoke, the seventh child of the rector of the parish. She lived with her family at Steventon until they moved to Bath when her father retired in 1801. After his death in 1805, she moved around with her mother; in 1809, they settled in Chawton, near Alton, Hampshire. Here she remained, except for a few visits to London, until in May 1817 she moved to Winchester to be near her doctor. There she died on 18 July 1817.
 
As a girl Jane Austen wrote stories, including burlesques of popular romances. Her works were only published after much revision, four novels being published in her lifetime. These are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816). Two other novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, were published posthumously in 1818 with a biographical notice by her brother, Henry Austen, the first formal announcement of her authorship. Persuasion was written in a race against failing health in 1815-16. She also left two earlier compositions, a short epistolary novel, Lady Susan, and an unfinished novel, The Watsons. At the time of her death, she was working on a new novel, Sanditon, a fragmentary draft of which survives.

Fellow novelist Katharine McMahon on Jane Austen...

I can't not choose her.  And whichever I've read last is always my favourite.  The nuance of emotion, the understanding of human nature revealed by Austen constantly delights me.  When I reread Sense and Sensibility recently, for the first time Elinor came across as quite prissy and destined to marry a rather spineless husband.  I wonder if that was intended?

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Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen A 2012 World Book Night selection. Elizabeth Bennett is young, clever and attractive, but her mother is a nightmare and she and her four sisters are in dire need of financial security and escape in the shape of husbands. The arrival... Format: Paperback - Released: 30/08/2007 Lovereading Price: £4.49 - Saving £1.50 (25%)

Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen Even if you have seen the numerous films and TV adaptations there is nothing quite as good as reading the original book about the Dashwood sisters and the complications and misunderstandings that take place in their love lives. A true... Format: Paperback - Released: 27/02/2003 Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Mansfield Park Jane Austen One of Rebecca Front's favourite books. Mansfield Park is considered Jane Austen's first mature work and, with its quiet heroine and subtle examination of social position and moral integrity, one of her most profound. Format: Paperback - Released: 27/02/2003 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen One of P. D. James' favourite books. When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited; he is indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved... Format: Paperback (b Format) - Released: 30/01/2003 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)

Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen The classic Austen tale brought to life by one of Britain’s best loved actresses, Juliet Stevenson. Charming. Abridged audiobook edition. 3 CDsRunning Time: 3h 45m Format: Cd-audio - Released: 31/03/1996 Lovereading Price: £10.49 - Saving £3.50 (25%)

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen September 2009 Good Housekeeping selection. On My Bookshelf by Penny Smith... This wasn’t a set text for us at school, but I read it anyway and it got me into the classics big time. I had such vivid pictures of all... Format: Paperback - Released: 05/09/1995 Lovereading Price: £1.49 - Saving £0.50 (25%)