FOCUS The Magazine 11www.focus-info.org

Her worksIn her short life—she was only 41 whenshe died—Jane Austen wrote six majorworks of fiction, all of which have joinedthe ranks of the greatest novels ever writ-ten in the English language. They are Prideand Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion,Emma, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park. An avid reader from a young age, Jane

began writing stories at the age of 12. Inaddition to her major novels, she wrotedozens of short stories as a teenager,mostly for the entertainment of her fam-ily. She penned these between 1787 and1793 and later compiled them into threebound notebooks now referred to asJuvenilia. When she was 20, she beganher first novel, Elinor and Marianne,which would later become Sense andSensibility.

Her major novels, originally publishedunder the pseudonym ‘A Lady’, have in-spired generations of literature fans, the-atrical performances, movies and modernadaptations. For example, AmyHeckerling’s 1995 movie Clueless is a funand comedic re-telling of Emma. In1996, Helen Fielding created a witty newversion of Pride and Prejudice with her smashhit novel, Bridget Jones’s Diary. Over the last200 years, Jane Austen’s novels haverarely been out of print. Even WinstonChurchill was a fan, crediting her withhelping him win the Second World War.Powerful narratives and a memorable

cast of characters, such as the independ-ent-minded Elizabeth Bennet or the mag-nanimous Emma, bring alive Jane’sworld. They provide a window into theEnglish middle and high class society ofthe early 19th century in a way that feels

fresh and realistic, even in the modernday. They show that although societies andcultures change over time, people reallydo not.

Her lifeJane Austen was born on 16 December1775 to a socially respectable middle classfamily in Hampshire. She was the seventhof eight children and part of a very close-knit family. Her older sister Cassandrawas one of her closest confidants

Jane Austen’s life & legacy

I discovered the world of Jane Austen as a young adult, after I had finished high school and already determined that Englishliterature was neither my forte nor favourite subject. When however, I read my first Jane Austen novel, Persuasion, I finallyunderstood the power of a great work of fiction. Jane Austen’s iconic novels are so captivating and her characters so enduring, thatthey can hook even the most unliterary of us. Her fiction speaks across generations and remains utterly relevant today.

12 FOCUS The Magazine March/April 2017 www.focus-info.org

throughout her life. Jane never married,despite a brief betrothal in 1802 thatlasted about 18 hours.Jane lived in Steventon, where she was

born, until age 25 when she moved withher family to Bath. When her father diedin 1805, the family briefly relocated toSouthampton before settling at ChawtonHouse in Hampshire. Jane remained at Chawton until the end

of her life, and it was here that she en-tered her most prolific writing period.She revised and completed Sense andSensibility. In 1811, this became the first ofher novels to be published. Then in 1813,Jane published Pride and Prejudice, alsoanonymously with ‘By the author of Senseand Sensibility’. These novels were well re-ceived and she followed them with thepublication of Mansfield Park in 1814 andEmma in 1816. In 1817, she began a satirecalled Sanditon, but unfortunately neverfinished it. She had become ill late in1816 and her health continued to deterio-rate. Jane died at a hospital in Winchesteron 18 July 1817. No one knows for surehow she died, but theories includeAddison’s disease, lymphoma, or even ar-senic poisoning, since ink in that daycontained arsenic and her hands wouldhave been nearly continuously covered init. Jane Austen is buried in WinchesterCathedral, and she is honoured by aplaque in ‘Poet’s Corner’ of WestminsterAbbey in London.In 1818, her brother Henry oversaw the

posthumous publication of her final novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

Her EnglandEtchings of Jane’s life are found all overthe English countryside where she lived,and one of the great joys of living inEngland is the opportunity to see and ex-perience some of the same places that in-spired her.This year marks the 200th anniversary

of her death, so there is an exceptionallyrobust array of events and activities takingplace for enthusiasts. Also in 2017, Jane isbeing revealed as the new face of the £10note. It will include her portrait, animage of her writing table and a view ofGodmersham Park—the home of herbrother, Edward Austen Knight, and aplace where she spent a considerableamount of time.

Stephanie Sandoval is the former Editor of FOCUS Magazine. She loves to exploreand learn the stories behind historical sites in her adopted home of England. She canbe reached at skfain@gmail.com.

To learn and experience more about Jane’s England why not visit:

Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton House Faithfully restored and meticulouslymaintained, this is Jane’s actual home in Chawton. Here you can have a look at herbedroom, samples of letters, her belongings, and the desk and sitting room where shewrote her six major novels. www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk

The Jane Austen Centre This centre tells the story of Jane Austen from the vantage pointof her time in Bath. www.janeausten.co.uk

The Jane Austen Festival The city of Bath hosts an annual Jane Austen Festival wherehundreds dress up in regency costumes and celebrate the city’s famous formerresident. The festival always opens with a Grand Regency Costumed CharityPromenade through the streets of Bath. It also includes concerts, theatricalperformances, readings, talks, tours and workshops. This year’s festival ishighlighting Northanger Abbey and will be held 8-17 September. The promenadewill take place on 9 September. Tickets are on sale now, but note that you do notneed to buy a ticket to watch the procession. www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk

Jane Austen Summer Ball Organisers of the Jane Austen Festival also put on an annualsummer ball, complete with pre-dance lessons. This year’s ball will take place on 1July. Tickets are on sale now. www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk

Jane Austen 200 Hampshire Cultural Trust is working with Jane Austen’s HouseMuseum and other partners to put on a series of events, competitions, walks, talks,performances and exhibitions to celebrate Jane’s life and work in 2017. For details,see www.janeausten200.co.uk.

Winchester Cathedral Jane is buried here, and situated beside her grave the Cathedralhosts a permanent exhibition of her life and work. www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk

Places that may have inspired some of thedramatic and memorable settings in Jane’sstories include:

Godmersham Park Walk and Heritage Centre.This is the estate inherited by Jane’sbrother, Edward, after wealthy cousinsadopted him. Jane visited GodmershamPark frequently where she mixed with herbrother’s fashionable and wealthyfriends, experiences that undoubtedlyinformed her descriptions of England’sprivileged classes.www.godmershamheritage.webs.com

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. Although shenever visited it, this house very likelyinspired Mr Darcy’s fictional estate ofPemberley. It was even used as Pemberleyin the 2005 film version of Pride andPrejudice. www.chatsworth.org

St Nicholas Church, Steventon,Hampshire. Jane attended mass here andit is easy to imagine one of the manyweddings she wrote about happening at achurch very much like this.www.stnicholascenter.org