Jane Austen
Overview
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....

, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism
Literary realism
Literary realism most often refers to the trend, beginning with certain works of nineteenth-century French literature and extending to late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century authors in various countries, towards depictions of contemporary life and society "as they were." In the spirit of...

 and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.

Austen lived her entire life as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fringes of the English landed gentry
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....

. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading.
Quotations

What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.

Letter (1796-09-18)

Next week I shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend.

Letter (1798-10-27)

I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.

Letter to her sister Cassandra (1798-12-24)

You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.

Letter to her sister Cassandra (1798-12-24)

I had a very pleasant evening, however, though you will probably find out that there was no particular reason for it; but I do not think it worth while to wait for enjoyment until there is some real opportunity for it.

Letter (1799-01-21)

Besides, I cannot help thinking that it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head than fruit.

Letter to Cassandra (1799-06-11), on decorating her hat

In Paragon we met Mrs Foley & Mrs Dowdeswell with her yellow shawl airing out—& at the bottom of Kinsdown Hill we met a Gentleman in a Buggy, who on minute examination turned out to be Dr Hall—& Dr Hall in such very deep mourning that either his Mother, his Wife, or himself must be dead.

Letter (1799-06-17)

We have been exceedingly busy ever since you went away. In the first place we have had to rejoice two or three times everyday at your having such very delightful weather for the whole of your journey...

Letter (1800-11-25)

I have now attained the true art of letter-writing, which we are always told, is to express on paper exactly what one would say to the same person by word of mouth.

Letter (1801-01-03)

You will have a great deal of unreserved discourse with Mrs. K., I dare say, upon this subject, as well as upon many other of our family matters. Abuse everybody but me.

Letter (1807-01-07)

 
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