It isn't what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.
I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.
There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.
Time will explain.
The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!
You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you.
What are men to rocks and mountains?
I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.
I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control.
I have not the pleasure of understanding you.
Jane Austen, one of the most revered novelists in the English language, was born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire, England. Her life spanned a transformative period in British history, marked by the American and French Revolutions, the Napoleonic Wars, and significant societal shifts at home. Yet, her novels provide a more intimate lens, focusing on the manners, mores, and concerns of the landed gentry and middle classes of early 19th-century England.
Austen began writing in her youth, and while she lived a relatively quiet and sheltered life in the English countryside, her sharp observational skills captured the nuances of her society with precision. Her novels, often characterized as romantic comedies, delve deeper into the roles, expectations, and limitations placed on women in the Regency era.
Her published works include:
"Sense and Sensibility" (1811)
"Pride and Prejudice" (1813)
"Mansfield Park" (1814)
"Emma" (1815)
"Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion" (both published posthumously in 1818)
Though Austen's novels found a readership during her lifetime, her identity as their author remained semi-anonymous, with the novels often attributed simply to "A Lady." It was only after her death that her name became synonymous with her works. Her novels provide a commentary on the landed gentry's domestic and social life. She critiqued class distinctions, women's dependence on marriage for social standing and financial security, and the often-trivial nature of social interactions. Her works are as much satirical as they are romantic, and it's her blend of humor, realism, and moral commentary that has earned her lasting acclaim. Ironically, she never married.
Austen died on July 18, 1817, at the age of 41. Despite her relatively short life and the limited scope of her immediate experiences, she left behind an indelible mark on literature. Today, she's celebrated not only for her literary genius but also for her incisive portrayal of a world poised between tradition and change.