Portrait of Jane Austen
Background: 1775 - 1817
Three years before Jane Austen’s birth, her parents, George and Cassandra, were having financial difficulties and decided to make ends meet by opening an all-boys school. With money they received from Cassandra’s mother, they boarded boys and prepared them for college (Butler). This was an early indication of the type of academic environment that Austen was exposed to all her life.
Early Life
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire. Her father, a rector, was from and old and poor family (Canfield). One of his sons described his father as “a profound scholar, professing a most exquisite taste in every species of literature” (Hindley). Her mother was the daughter of a clergyman of noble ancestry. Both Jane’s parents were Oxford graduates.
The Austen household was never short of togetherness. They played board games, card games, puzzles, and charades. When the children were alone, they read to one another before going to bed (Butler). George Austen educated his children, which included discussing books with them.
The Austen household was never short of togetherness. They played board games, card games, puzzles, and charades. When the children were alone, they read to one another before going to bed (Butler). George Austen educated his children, which included discussing books with them.
Adolescence
At the age of 10, Jane spent one year in the Abbey House School, Reading, an all-girls school at Oxford from 1785 to 1786. It was a boarding-school that focused on English, French, history and needlework (Butler). After a year at the Abbey House, Jane and her sister, Cassandra, left for good. One thing that Jane and Cassandra took from the Abbey House was their experience of visiting the lending library.
Most of Austen’s education was from home, with access to her father’s expansive library. Jane read all of Samuel Richardson’s works, Hume’s History, Goldsmith’s, History of England, Dodsley’s Collection of Poems and Fanny Burney’s Camilla (Hindley). Jane’s siblings also shared her love of literature. Jane had six siblings; two brothers and her sister Cassandra also had some experience writing.
Most of Austen’s education was from home, with access to her father’s expansive library. Jane read all of Samuel Richardson’s works, Hume’s History, Goldsmith’s, History of England, Dodsley’s Collection of Poems and Fanny Burney’s Camilla (Hindley). Jane’s siblings also shared her love of literature. Jane had six siblings; two brothers and her sister Cassandra also had some experience writing.
After leaving the Abbey House, Jane was introduced to her cousin Eliza, the daughter of her father’s sister, Philadelphia. Eliza had been to Paris, had style and exposure to the world. This relationship was very influential to Jane and her siblings.
It is presumed that Austen was able to speak some French. Austen was fluent in Italian and was able to translate operas which are demonstrated by her character Elliot in Persuasion (Hindley).
Jane’s early works include sketches, burlesque playlets, novellas, and short adventures. These were written in the time frame of 1787 - 1793 (Butler).Jane’s early works include sketches, burlesque playlets, novellas, and short adventures. These were written in the time frame of 1787 - 1793 (Butler).
It is presumed that Austen was able to speak some French. Austen was fluent in Italian and was able to translate operas which are demonstrated by her character Elliot in Persuasion (Hindley).
Jane’s early works include sketches, burlesque playlets, novellas, and short adventures. These were written in the time frame of 1787 - 1793 (Butler).Jane’s early works include sketches, burlesque playlets, novellas, and short adventures. These were written in the time frame of 1787 - 1793 (Butler).
Adult Life
At age 26, Jane’s father decided to move the family to Bath. Two years later, Jane received a marriage proposal. If Jane had gone through with the marriage to Harris Bigg-Wither, she would have been very well off and would have been able to provide for her parents. Jane turned down the proposal, which only lasted a day or so (Canfield).
On January 21, 1805, George Austen died, leaving Jane, Jane’s mother, and sister Cassandra on their own financially. On July 2, 1806, the three women left Bath for good, moving in with relatives at Stoneleigh Abbey. It was not until 1809 that the Austen women settled in a home in Hampshire village of Chawton. This is where Jane’s career could start as a published writer (Butler). Seven years later, Austen fell ill with nausea, diarrhea, fatigue and muscle weakness. Today, doctors would have diagnosed this as tuberculosis Austen died at the age of 41 on July 18, 1817. |
Publication History
Major Works
Sense and Sensibility (Oct. 1811)
Pride and Prejudice (Jan. 1813)
Mansfield Park (May 1814)
Emma (Dec. 1815)
Persuasion (Dec. 1817)
Northanger Abbey (Dec. 1817)
Minor Works
Juvenilia (3 volumes)
+ Volume 1 (1933)
+ Volume 2 (1922)
+ Volume 3 (1951)
Unfinished Works
The Watsons (1804)
Sandition (1817)
Sense and Sensibility (Oct. 1811)
Pride and Prejudice (Jan. 1813)
Mansfield Park (May 1814)
Emma (Dec. 1815)
Persuasion (Dec. 1817)
Northanger Abbey (Dec. 1817)
Minor Works
Juvenilia (3 volumes)
+ Volume 1 (1933)
+ Volume 2 (1922)
+ Volume 3 (1951)
Unfinished Works
The Watsons (1804)
Sandition (1817)
Works Cited
Butler, Marilyn. “Austen, Jane (1775–1817).” Marilyn ButlerOxford Dictionary of National Biography. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Web. 16 Oct. 2014
Canfield, Rosemary, and Reisman. "Jane Austen." EBSCO Host. 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.
Christyfields. "Jane as a baby." Painting. Wordpress. christyfields. 24 May 2011. Web. 29 Oct. 2011
Furness, Anna. "Jane Austen watercolour over pencil, 1869." Painting. Art News. The Telegraph. 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
Hindley, Meredith. “The Mysterious MISS AUSTEN.” Humanities 34.1 (2013): 20.51. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Oct. 2014
Janite Deb. "Eliza de Feuillide." Painting. Jane Austen in Vermont. Wordpress. 3 Jan. 2014. Web. 4 Nov. 2014
Laurel Ann. "Miniature Portrait of Jane Austen (ca 19th century)." Painting. Austenprose - A Jane Austen Blog. Wordpress. Library. 6 Nov. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
Laurel Ann, "Publication Dates of Jane Austen’s Novels and Minor Works." Austenprose - A Jane Austen Blog. Wordpress. 31 Mar. 2008. Web 15 Oct. 2014.
Laurel Ann. "The Abbey School, Reading, England, Gatehouse from Austenonly." Sketch. Austenprose - A Jane Austen Blog. Wordpress. 16 Dec. 2010. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
Butler, Marilyn. “Austen, Jane (1775–1817).” Marilyn ButlerOxford Dictionary of National Biography. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Web. 16 Oct. 2014
Canfield, Rosemary, and Reisman. "Jane Austen." EBSCO Host. 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.
Christyfields. "Jane as a baby." Painting. Wordpress. christyfields. 24 May 2011. Web. 29 Oct. 2011
Furness, Anna. "Jane Austen watercolour over pencil, 1869." Painting. Art News. The Telegraph. 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
Hindley, Meredith. “The Mysterious MISS AUSTEN.” Humanities 34.1 (2013): 20.51. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Oct. 2014
Janite Deb. "Eliza de Feuillide." Painting. Jane Austen in Vermont. Wordpress. 3 Jan. 2014. Web. 4 Nov. 2014
Laurel Ann. "Miniature Portrait of Jane Austen (ca 19th century)." Painting. Austenprose - A Jane Austen Blog. Wordpress. Library. 6 Nov. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
Laurel Ann, "Publication Dates of Jane Austen’s Novels and Minor Works." Austenprose - A Jane Austen Blog. Wordpress. 31 Mar. 2008. Web 15 Oct. 2014.
Laurel Ann. "The Abbey School, Reading, England, Gatehouse from Austenonly." Sketch. Austenprose - A Jane Austen Blog. Wordpress. 16 Dec. 2010. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.