Summary: Jane Austen, born December 16, 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, England, and died July 18, 1817 in Winchester, England, was an English novelist. known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism, humour, and social commentary, have long earned her acclaim among critics, scholars, and popular audiences alike. During her lifetime, Austen may have written as many as 3,000 letters, but only 161 survived.

Books of Jane Austen