Selected Letters - Paperback

by Jane Austen (Author), John Grafton (Editor)

One of England's most popular novelists, Jane Austen wrote about life amid the gentry of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In her fiction, Austen analyzed and satirized her world, particularly the expectations and duties of women in an unequal society. She was also a prolific correspondent, and her intimate, gossipy letters to family and friends offer unique insights into her life and work.

Back Jacket

Jane Austen is perhaps the best-known female English novelist, having written such classics as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma. Austen used her pen to analyze and satirize the world around her. She was also a prolific correspondent, and her intimate, gossipy letters to family and friends give unique insights into her life and work.

Generations of readers have treasured these letters for their glimpses into Austen's everyday life. They tell us that she greatly enjoyed a meal of pickled pork, read with pleasure the novels of French author Madame de Genlis, and took time during a London visit to enjoy the performance of a troupe of Indian jugglers. This collection provides the entertaining and informative highlights of her surviving letters, some reprinted in full and others with excerpts. The letters offer a revealing window into the life of their talented creator.

Author Biography

Rich with memorable characters from 19th-century English society and compelling themes of love and personal rivalries, the novels of Jane Austen (1775-1817) continue to enchant modern readers. One of literature's most celebrated women authors, Austen crafted stories remarkable for their engrossing narratives, sparkling dialogue, and psychological depth.