Who was Jane Austen?
Novelist.
Date and Place of Birth:
16th December 1775. The Rectory at Steventon,
Hampshire, England.
Family Background:
2nd Daughter of the Reverend George Austen and
his wife Cassandra in a family of seven children.
Education:
Educated by her father at home except for boarding
schools at Oxford, Southampton and the Abbey School, Reading.
Chronology/Biography of Jane Austen:
1790: Begins writing
stories at home to entertain her family, culminating in the burlesque
novel "Love and Friendship".
1795-97: Writes
the first versions of "Northanger Abbey", "Sense
and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice".
1797: The original
version of "Pride and Prejudice" called "First Impressions"
is rejected by a publisher in London.
1801: Her father
retires and the whole family move to Bath.
1803: The original
version of Northanger Abbey" entitled "Susan" is
taken on by a publisher but never released.
1804: She starts
to write another novel called "The Watsons" but quickly
decides not to finish it.
1805: Her father
dies.
1808: Her mother
and sisters move to Southampton then move into a house in Chawton,
Hamphsire, provided by Jane's well-off brother Edward.
1811: She begins
revising "Sense and Sensibility" and it is finally published.
1813: The finished
version of "Pride and Prejudice" is published.
1814: She starts
work on "Emma".
1816: "Emma"
is published it and Jane dedicates it to George, The Prince Regent,
at his request. She also completes "Persuasion".
1817: Begins "Sanditon"
but cannot finish it due to her major illness. She moves to Winchester
to seek medical care.
Written Works: (Published
Dates)
- 1811:
“Sense and Sensibility”.
- 1813: “Pride
and Prejudice”.
- 1814:
“Mansfield Park”.
- 1816:
“Emma”.
- 1818:
“Northanger Abbey”. “Persuasion”.
- (1925):
“Sanditon”.
Marriage:
Never married although she had many suitors.
Places of Interest:
AVON:
No 4 Sydney Place, Bath (lived for three years).
Jane Austen Centre, 25 Gay Street, Bath (lived
there for one year).
Danced at the Upper Assembly Rooms.
Lodged at 13 Queen Square.
Lodged at 23 Green Park Mansions.
HAMPSHIRE:
Jane Austen's House, Chawton, Alton.
Winchester City Museum, the Square, Winchester.
Parsonage, Steventon.
Date and Place of Death:
18th July 1817. Winchester, Hampshire.
Age at Death:
41.
Site of Grave:
North Aisle of the Nave, Winchester Cathedral,
Hampshire, England.
