Sofia Salas 1

JANE AUSTEN
An important novelist whose works are
still sold today, and even films are
made about her.
Jane was born in the United Kingdom in 1775. She was
the seventh of eight children. His father was a parish
priest in the town of Steventon, and her mother a
housewife.

Jane lived in the Georgian era which was characterized

by social changes in the political aspect. It was the time
of campaigns for the abolition of slavery or prison reform.
It was also the time when orphanages, hospitals and
Sunday schools were built.

During the early years of his childhood her father

personally took care of her education. At that time it was
not welcome for women to have an education even
though there were some schools for womenIn 1783. She
was briefly educated by a relative in Oxford, then in
Southampton, and finally (1785–1786) attended a girls'
school at Reading Abbey, Berkshire. She was a great
reader, and from a very young age her father gave her
access to his personal library where she completed her
education by her own.

In 1802, Austen received a marriage proposal from a rich

man named Harris Bigg-Wither, who was six years
younger than her. But she refused him.

After his father's death in 1805, Austen, his sister, and his
mother resided in Southampton with his brother Frank
and his family for a cuple of years, before moving to
Chawton in 1809. They went through severe financial
difficulties, so she soon began to write, although at first
only as a hobby.

Jane wrote Sense and Sensitivity, which was accepted

by an editor in 1811. At the end of that year the title was
published anonymously. The author of the book was
simply "By a Lady." The play received favorable reviews
and brought her a small amount of money.
 Sofia Salas 2

Encouraged by the success, the author decided to publish also Pride and Prejudice, which she sold in
November 1812. At the same time she began to work in Mansfield Park. The novel was very successful and
the identity of the author was reveled, however, she did not receive any profit.

It was his brother Henry, who lived in London, that was in charge of negotiating with the publishers. When
Jane went to London she stayed at home. In 1813 Henry Austen dealt with Mr. Clarke, a doctor of Prince
Regent, who, discovered that Austen was the author of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensitivity. He
loved the books, and asked Henry to dedicate the following novel to him.

She started to writte Persuasion in August 1815. A year later he began to feel ill. At the beginning of 1817,
she was working on her book Sanditon, but had to abandon it because of her health. To receive medical
treatment, she was transferred to Winchester, where she died on July 18, 1817, whith no children.

Her novels were, the most of them, romantic. She described very everyday scenarios, such as country life
and love between her neighbors. Her descriptions were very realistic and that made the reader connect
with the character. She was also very good at describing the society where she grew up in.

Jane managed to publish 4 novels and 2 novels were published after her death. She also wrote about 50
stories that were not published until after his death.

"I go too long without

looking for a good book,
I feel like I haven't done
anything useful with my
life."
Jane Austen

When I think of Jane Auten, the first word that comes to my mind is
revolutionary. At that time it was not well seen that a women wrote a novel, but
she did it anyways. I think it is a clear example that if you want something you
shouldn't stop until you get it. Because at fist her novels were rejected by the
editors but she didn't give up and became famous.

Currently there is a lot of films based on her books and her life, maybe her body
is death but her soul is still alive on every film thats made this days.