Valletta+-+Austen

Jane Austen

Biography ~ Jane Austen was born December 16, 1775 and passed away on July 18, 1817. ~ Austen was one of eight children and shared extremely close bonds with her father and older brother, Henry. ~ During her youth, Jane’s father provided her with unlimited access to his library within their home, as well as access to his paper and writing tools. By doing this, Jane’s love of literature grew. ~ Around 1787, Jane began writing her own stories, which she kept in notebooks. Within these notebooks Jane was able to write stories that reflected the time period in which she was living. ~ In 1795, Austen fell in love for the first time with a nearby neighbor named Tom Lefroy. However, Tom belonged to a wealthier family who disapproved of Jane. Due to his families dislike of Jane, Tom was eventually sent away. ~ The first draft of Pride and Prejudice, Austen’s most popular novel, was completed in 1799. ~ Later in her life, Austen’s health began to fail her, and passed away in 1817, due to a disease that at the time, had no cure. Works ~ ** Novels ** – Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey (1817, published following her death), Persuasion (1817, published following her death) ~ ** Short Fiction ** – Lady Susan (1794, and 1805) ~ ** Unfinished Works ** – The Watsons (1804), Sanditon (1817) ~ ** Juvenilia ** **Volume One** – Frederic & Elfrida, Jack & Alice, Edgar & Emma, Henry & Eliza, The Adventures of Mr. Harley, Sir William Montague, Memoirs of Mr. Clifford, The Beautifull Cassandra, Amelia Webster, The Visit, The Mystery, The Three Sisters, A Beautiful Description, The Generous Curate, and Ode to Pity The Regency Period ~ The Regency Period occurred when the Prince of Whales (later King George IV) began his role as Prince Regent, as his father was going mad, and declared an unfit ruler. ~ During his reign, Prince Regent left his financial decisions up to Parliament, and instead spent his time indulging in luxuries the government couldn’t afford. ~ Prince Regent had a great passion for literature and the arts, and even gave Jane Austen the “honor” of dedicating her novel __Emma__ to him. ~ Austen had an extreme dislike for Prince Regent, and showed it within the dedication in her novel __Emma__ by stating “//To His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, this work is, by His Royal Highness’s permission, most respectfully dedicated to His Royal Highness by His dutiful and obedient humble servant, the Author.” // ~ Prince Regent inherited the throne in 1820, and passed away in 1830. However, he made such an impression on England, that his reign was entitled The Regency Period.
 * Volume Two** – Love & Friendship, Lesley Castle, The History of England, A Collection of Letters, The Female Philosopher, The First Act of a Comedy, A Letter From a Young lady, A Tour Through Wales, and A Tale **Volume Three** – Evelynn, and Catherine or The Bower
 * ~ **** Other Works ** – Sir Charles Grandison (1793, 1800), Plan of a Novel (1815), Poems, Prayers, and Letters

Works Cited "Jane Austen." N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Apr 2010. []. "The Works of Jane Austen." //Austen//. N.p., 14/011/2008. Web. 18 Apr 2010. .