On this date in English literary history – April 1, 1816,
Jane Austen responds to a letter from the Prince Regent (the future King George IV), who suggested she write a
historic romance, her response, "I could not sit down to write a serious romance
under any other motive than to save my life." Austen's correspondence with
the Prince Regent, as well as literary figures of the day, was prompted by the
success of her novels Sense and Sensibility, (1811) Pride and
Prejudice, (1813) Mansfield Park, (1814) and Emma (1815). Two
additional novels were published after her death. Her identity as the author
was known to only a small circle; the general reading public only knew that
"a lady" had written the books. Although enjoying the appreciation of
such leading contemporary authors as Sir Walter Scott, Austen led a quiet,
retiring life in the English country until she died at age 42. Austen was born
in 1775, the seventh of eight children born to a clergyman in Steventon, a
country village in Hampshire, England. She was very close to her older sister,
Cassandra, who remained her faithful editor and critic throughout her life. The
girls had five years of formal schooling, then studied with their father. Jane
read voraciously and began writing her own sketches as young as age 12,
completing an early novella at age 14. Austen's quiet, happy world was
disrupted when her father retired to Bath in1801. Jane hated the resort town
but amused herself by making close observations of ridiculous society manners.
After her father's death in 1805, Jane, her mother, and sister lived with one
of her brothers until 1808, when another brother provided them a permanent home
at Chawton Cottage, in Hampshire. Jane wrote on small pieces of paper that she
could easily slip under a blotter when someone came into the room. Though she
avoided society, she was charming, intelligent, and funny at home. She rejected
at least one proposal of marriage. She died in 1817 of what today is thought to
be Addison's disease.
Michael Thomas Barry is the author of numerous books that include Literary Legends of the British Isles: The Lives & Burial Places of 50 Great Writers. For information about the author and his books visit his website www.michaelthomasbarry.com
His book can be purchased from Amazon through the following links:
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