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Anyone who has read Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, will be quite curious about the writer of these fine stories. These are novels that have caught the attention of many people and are popular literary pieces of writing even in today’s world. The author of these two novels and many others is Jane Austen. This is a woman who made a name for herself and paved the way for many more female writers in a time when female writers were unheard of. This essay is about Jane Austen.
Jane was born in December 16th 1775. She was the second daughter and the seventh child of Cassandra and George Austen. Her parents were well-respected in the community and her father was a rector in an Anglican parish. Her family was a close-knit one. Education and creative thinking were stressed upon the Austen’s and, even though reading was unheard of among women during this era, Jane and the rest of her siblings were encouraged to read from the family library. Jane was very close to her father and her older sister, Cassandra.
Jane and Cassandra were sent to boarding school so that both could get a formal education. While in school, Jane and her sister became ill with typhus and Jane nearly died from this illness. The two sisters’ formal education was short as financial difficulties caused them to stop schooling and return home.
Jane had a creative mind and was fascinated by stories. As her interest grew, she began to write in notebooks, and in the 1790s, started writing her own novels, one of which was Love and Friendship. Through her writing she was able to show her wit and her intense dislike of romantic hysteria and sensibility. Her next writing endeavor included illustrations done by her sister Cassandra. These writings are now referred to as Juvenilia.
As in her story, Pride and Prejudice, Jane was a very domesticated girl who played the piano, attended church and socialized with neighbors. She was a good dancer and attended many parties. On quiet evenings, Jane would read to her family from stories she had written herself. During this time, Jane also started writing more adult novels which include Sense and Sensibility. Pride and Prejudice was initially known as First Impressions was also written during this time.
With the death of her father, Jane Austen and her family were in great financial stress. Jane, Cassandra and their mother lived with family from time to time, and it was only about four years after her father’s death were they able to settle down to a more stable lifestyle in Jane’s brother Edward’s cottage.
Jane Austen became ill, at the age of 41, presumably from Addison’s disease. However, she tried valiantly to continue her literary works, although her condition worsened as time went by. Jane Austen died on the 18th of July 1817.
Although her writing was not very recognized during her lifetime, Jane Austen is considered one of the greatest writers in English history. Today, many of her novels are being studied in various colleges around the world. Many avid readers are enjoying her wit and intelligence. This is a writer who has made a significant difference in the writing world.