Jane Austen is one of the world's best loved authors. Her novels, despite being written 200 years ago, continue to capture readers' imaginations and delight audiences. It was Jane's own upbringing as the daughter of a clergyman that provided her with the inspiration to write these works of social... (more info)

Jane Austen is one of the world's best loved authors. Her novels, despite being written 200 years ago, continue to capture readers' imaginations and delight audiences. It was Jane's own upbringing as the daughter of a clergyman that provided her with the inspiration to write these works of social commentary on the activities and pre-occupations of upper- and middle-class England.

Interestingly, although Austen enjoyed moderate success through her writing during her lifetime, it was actually after her death in 1817 that her novels began to generate greater interest; and two of her novels, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey, were published posthumously.

Perhaps Austen's novels have been so enduring because of their irresistible wit and acute social observations. Nineteenth-century pre-occupations with inheritance, courtship, morals and marriage are discussed with delicious irony, and the conventional role of the nineteenth-century woman is challenged and satirised. Austen was herself an unconventional woman, choosing to remain unmarried and scandalously pursuing her love of writing in favour of more ‘feminine' activities such as embroidering and bearing children.

Austen's most famous unconventional woman is probably Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice) who wishes to marry only for love, much to the horror and outrage of her mother. Austen's characters are particularly realistic and endearing, another contributing factor to her literary success. Who could forget the excitable Mrs Bennett and her smelling salts (Pride and Prejudice), or the feisty and passionate Marianne Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility)?

Such has been the enthusiasm over the years for Austen's novels that her works have provided the inspiration for numerous stage, television and film productions. Perhaps the most well-known is the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, featuring Colin Firth in his infamous see-through white shirt!