A little information about Jane Austen!

Isabella Hart, EMC Staff Writer
October 26, 2020

When I was younger, I remember my mom was watching a movie one day. I remember a few prominent scenes: two people under a gazebo while it was raining, and I remember two people walking on a field at dawn. I never thought much of it. But that rain scene always stood out to me. I never knew the name of that movie, and not for a moment did I expect this movie to lead to an author that I enjoy.

A few years ago, I asked my mom, “What was that movie with the rain scene and a ball?” It was a very vague question, and there are probably a lot of movies out there with very similar scenes. Luckily, my mom knew exactly what I was talking about (although it took a few guesses). That movie was “Pride and Prejudice.” It was the 2005 rendition with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden. It was based off of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. I decided to watch that movie, and I paid close attention to it! It was at that moment where I wanted to read the book. Ever since then, Jane Austen has played a huge role in my life; her books, and the movie adaptations of them.

Jane Austen was an English author primarily known for her six novels. Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Persuasion and Northanger Abbey (published together posthumously, 1817). She was born on December 16, 1775 in the Hampshire village of Steventon, England and she passed away on July 18, 1817 in Winchester, England. She died due to a rare illness called Addison’s disease, which robs the body of the ability to make critical hormones. She died at age 41.

Even though she died at such a young age, she had such an influence on literature. Austen’s work stands apart for its parody, mindfulness and reasonable, definite depictions of characters and their relationships. Pride and Prejudice follows the tumultuous relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner. We are able to watch their relationship develop from hate into love.

A few fun facts about Jane Austen!!

Her novels were published anonymously. In her first book, Sense and Sensibility she was simply “A Lady,” and her later works like Pride and Prejudice were credited to “the Author of Sense and Sensibility.” She wasn’t named as the author of her novels until after her death.
Her major influences included the works of Samuel Richardson and Frances Burney. She titled Pride and Prejudice for a quote in Burney’s Cecilia.
Jane Austen was primarily educated by her father.
Even though her work includes a lot of romance, she was never married herself! However, she did have her fair share of romance.
Jane Austen dedicated her novel, Emma to someone she hated. Jane Austen dedicated this book to the Prince Regent, he later became George IV, who was also probably one of the first buyers of Sense and Sensibility. Jane knew the Prince Regent through his reputation. She hated the way that his wife was treated. The prince’s physician once told her that the Prince Regent was a great admirer of her work, and that he read them often, and kept a set in every one of his residences. Austen was also informed that if she “had any other novel forthcoming she was at liberty to dedicate it to the prince”. Begrudgingly, she dedicated her book Emma to him.
She began writing at just 12 years old.