SO… WHO IS JANE AUSTEN & WHY DOES SHE MATTER?

"Jane Austen is one of the most famous writers in English literature. Her books are read by people all over the world and have been made into countless TV, film, theatre and radio adaptations.

This is all the more impressive because she only wrote six full-length novels. In order of publication, these were: Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

But Jane Austen was writing 200 years ago. Why are her books still relevant, and why should you read her today?

Historian Alice Loxton has five reasons why Jane Austen still matters…

SO, WHY IS JANE AUSTEN IMPORTANT?

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She created great characters

She’s very funny

She was an important social commentator…

…and an early feminist

She was a literary genius, and pioneered new writing techniques 

She was ambitious, determined and inspirational

Her works have stood the test of time..."