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Jane Austen: A Life from Beginning to End
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Jane Austen wrote that in her novels she painted the world on a “little bit (two inches wide) of ivory,” working “with so fine a brush.” Her well-known books, such as Pride and Prejudice and Emma, display the power of this approach; her observations about human nature have proven so accurate and entertaining that her books continue to be beloved two hundred years after they were written.
Jane Austen’s life contains the seeds of her novels—the events, people, and places that inspired her as she created her stories. Here you will discover how Austen’s writing and life developed in parallel, from her teenaged Juvenilia to her unfinished last work The Brothers (published posthumously as Sanditon).
Discover a plethora of topics such as
So if you want a concise and informative book on Jane Austen, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!
Jane Austen wrote that in her novels she painted the world on a “little bit (two inches wide) of ivory,” working “with so fine a brush.” Her well-known books, such as Pride and Prejudice and Emma, display the power of this approach; her observations about human nature have proven so accurate and entertaining that her books continue to be beloved two hundred years after they were written.
Jane Austen’s life contains the seeds of her novels—the events, people, and places that inspired her as she created her stories. Here you will discover how Austen’s writing and life developed in parallel, from her teenaged Juvenilia to her unfinished last work The Brothers (published posthumously as Sanditon).
Discover a plethora of topics such as
So if you want a concise and informative book on Jane Austen, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access!
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2018
113 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
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Hourly History
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 28, 2020
Hourly History
A brief overview of Jane Austen's life and the chronological order of her books. Recommend for those who are new to Jane Austen.
A brief overview of Jane Austen's life and the chronological order of her books. Recommend for those who are new to Jane Austen.
December 9, 2022
transcending the generations
Still attracting not just watchers of films based on her novels, but new readers over 200 years later, Jane’s work is proof that literature can transcend the generations, just as the Iliad, Hamlet, and Oliver Twist have done.
All her works are discussed including those published after her death (such as Northanger Abbey). The perennial favorite, Pride and Prejudice, is Austen Light, compared to Mansfield Park. While P&P does not deal much with the tumultuous times Jane lived in - Napoleon, Wellington, Trafalgar, the very real threat of England being invaded - Mansfield Park has a go at that, which is why I personally prefer it. I only wish she had included the battle for abolition waged in Parliament by Wilberforce and Clarkson and their supporters, supporters that did not include the royal family, or Horatio Nelson, or the C of E clergy Jane stuffs her novels with. She always liked to have a poke at prejudices after all.
This slim volume offers a decent overview of her life and writings, her struggles with publishers, and the acute sufferings of her extended family, which of course affected her as well. Recommended.
Still attracting not just watchers of films based on her novels, but new readers over 200 years later, Jane’s work is proof that literature can transcend the generations, just as the Iliad, Hamlet, and Oliver Twist have done.
All her works are discussed including those published after her death (such as Northanger Abbey). The perennial favorite, Pride and Prejudice, is Austen Light, compared to Mansfield Park. While P&P does not deal much with the tumultuous times Jane lived in - Napoleon, Wellington, Trafalgar, the very real threat of England being invaded - Mansfield Park has a go at that, which is why I personally prefer it. I only wish she had included the battle for abolition waged in Parliament by Wilberforce and Clarkson and their supporters, supporters that did not include the royal family, or Horatio Nelson, or the C of E clergy Jane stuffs her novels with. She always liked to have a poke at prejudices after all.
This slim volume offers a decent overview of her life and writings, her struggles with publishers, and the acute sufferings of her extended family, which of course affected her as well. Recommended.
October 16, 2021
Good refresher
I think this is a good overview of her life, but there is simply too much information to get into an hours reading. A good starting point for someone who knows next to nothing and would like to find out a bit.
I think this is a good overview of her life, but there is simply too much information to get into an hours reading. A good starting point for someone who knows next to nothing and would like to find out a bit.
November 12, 2022
As biographies of Jane Austen go, this one is well done.
................................................................................................
"“‘Sense and Sensibility’ I have just finished reading; it certainly is interesting, and you feel quite one of the company.”
"—Princess Charlotte"
WOW!
And this has never been publicised????!!!!
................................................................................................
"“I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.”
"—Jane Austen"
Funny, it's not the gentle and agreeable, beautiful and non-demonstrative Jane who engages attention in the most popular of Austen’s works, perhaps the most popular classic of all times - but the quick witted and deliberately argumentative,yet caring in not only most self-sacrificing but even self-negating ways, Elizabeth.
................................................................................................
"The decision of the young people to perform a play takes up a significant part of the plot, and Fanny’s refusal to take part in it is a major turning point intended to reveal her strength of character. What modern readers might miss is that it is not the act of performing a play that Austen sets up as morally wrong—Jane’s brothers enjoyed putting on plays during their young adult years in Steventon—but the play Lover’s Vows would have been instantly recognizable to Austen’s audience as a play improper for youth because it dealt with extramarital sex."
That explains much, especially in the context of the characters concerned.
"Fanny staunchly hangs on to her moral beliefs in the face of great pressure to marry the wealthy Henry Crawford, ultimately refusing to marry without love. In the end, she is rewarded by marriage to the man she does love, her cousin Edmund. Shy and austere Fanny Price is quite different from the heroine of Austen’s previous novel, the quick-witted and playful Elizabeth Bennet. In fact, Mary Crawford, who Jane depicts ultimately as morally lacking, is much more similar to Elizabeth, but unlike Elizabeth, does not develop to be a more thoughtful, self-conscious character. Mansfield Park is the work of an older Jane Austen—not the young woman who initially drafted the joyful First Impressions, but a woman who had seen her country go through war and had lived through many losses of friends, family (most recently, the death of her brother Charles’s wife Frances in 1814), and perhaps even a man whom she hoped to marry."
It's unfair to compare Mary Crawford with Elizabeth Bennet, whose similarities are only in being "quick-witted and playful"; but that's very dmall and superficial.
Where Elizabeth gives importance to a man's conduct, social and private, Mary goes first for money and position, even though she may reluctantly give in to an attraction she feels for someone else. But then, she attempts to persuade her selected beau to give up his choice of vocation, priesthood, because it won't make money enough for her.
Elizabeth on the other hand only begins to change her hostile reaction to the rich Darcy after he's explained, not only about his reasons in Jane's matter, but even a comparative stranger like Wickham; one can safely bet that a Mary Crawford wouldn't think twice about a sister if a Darcy proposed!
And yet, Elizabeth's conduct doesn't change - she remains the decent young woman she's been, not immediately writing to inform him of a change of decision, but is only repentant of her misjudgement, and only informs him of her change of heart after he's returned to her with hope.
................................................................................................
"Mansfield Park was published in 1814, and even at the time, opinions were more mixed than they had been for Pride and Prejudice. Her family found some of the characters amusing, but Jane’s mother called Fanny Price “insipid,” and Cassandra noted that she considered the book “not so brilliant as P. & P.” Other readers agreed with Cassandra, though some, like Jane’s friend Anne Sharp, praised the strong moral themes of the novel. Nonetheless, the first printing of the book was sold out within half a year. Even with these positive results, Thomas Egerton decided he was not interested in printing more copies of Mansfield Park, so even though she had a new novel near completion, it was time for Austen to search for another publisher."
What one sees, knowing the background, is that Fanny Price was a younger Jane Austen, dependent on brothers' charity, not hopeful of love, yet refusing a wealthy loveless match.
................................................................................................
"“Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked.”
"—Jane Austen"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
"“‘Sense and Sensibility’ I have just finished reading; it certainly is interesting, and you feel quite one of the company.”
"—Princess Charlotte"
WOW!
And this has never been publicised????!!!!
................................................................................................
"“I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.”
"—Jane Austen"
Funny, it's not the gentle and agreeable, beautiful and non-demonstrative Jane who engages attention in the most popular of Austen’s works, perhaps the most popular classic of all times - but the quick witted and deliberately argumentative,yet caring in not only most self-sacrificing but even self-negating ways, Elizabeth.
................................................................................................
"The decision of the young people to perform a play takes up a significant part of the plot, and Fanny’s refusal to take part in it is a major turning point intended to reveal her strength of character. What modern readers might miss is that it is not the act of performing a play that Austen sets up as morally wrong—Jane’s brothers enjoyed putting on plays during their young adult years in Steventon—but the play Lover’s Vows would have been instantly recognizable to Austen’s audience as a play improper for youth because it dealt with extramarital sex."
That explains much, especially in the context of the characters concerned.
"Fanny staunchly hangs on to her moral beliefs in the face of great pressure to marry the wealthy Henry Crawford, ultimately refusing to marry without love. In the end, she is rewarded by marriage to the man she does love, her cousin Edmund. Shy and austere Fanny Price is quite different from the heroine of Austen’s previous novel, the quick-witted and playful Elizabeth Bennet. In fact, Mary Crawford, who Jane depicts ultimately as morally lacking, is much more similar to Elizabeth, but unlike Elizabeth, does not develop to be a more thoughtful, self-conscious character. Mansfield Park is the work of an older Jane Austen—not the young woman who initially drafted the joyful First Impressions, but a woman who had seen her country go through war and had lived through many losses of friends, family (most recently, the death of her brother Charles’s wife Frances in 1814), and perhaps even a man whom she hoped to marry."
It's unfair to compare Mary Crawford with Elizabeth Bennet, whose similarities are only in being "quick-witted and playful"; but that's very dmall and superficial.
Where Elizabeth gives importance to a man's conduct, social and private, Mary goes first for money and position, even though she may reluctantly give in to an attraction she feels for someone else. But then, she attempts to persuade her selected beau to give up his choice of vocation, priesthood, because it won't make money enough for her.
Elizabeth on the other hand only begins to change her hostile reaction to the rich Darcy after he's explained, not only about his reasons in Jane's matter, but even a comparative stranger like Wickham; one can safely bet that a Mary Crawford wouldn't think twice about a sister if a Darcy proposed!
And yet, Elizabeth's conduct doesn't change - she remains the decent young woman she's been, not immediately writing to inform him of a change of decision, but is only repentant of her misjudgement, and only informs him of her change of heart after he's returned to her with hope.
................................................................................................
"Mansfield Park was published in 1814, and even at the time, opinions were more mixed than they had been for Pride and Prejudice. Her family found some of the characters amusing, but Jane’s mother called Fanny Price “insipid,” and Cassandra noted that she considered the book “not so brilliant as P. & P.” Other readers agreed with Cassandra, though some, like Jane’s friend Anne Sharp, praised the strong moral themes of the novel. Nonetheless, the first printing of the book was sold out within half a year. Even with these positive results, Thomas Egerton decided he was not interested in printing more copies of Mansfield Park, so even though she had a new novel near completion, it was time for Austen to search for another publisher."
What one sees, knowing the background, is that Fanny Price was a younger Jane Austen, dependent on brothers' charity, not hopeful of love, yet refusing a wealthy loveless match.
................................................................................................
"“Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked.”
"—Jane Austen"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
December 12, 2020
Still a favorite
Many readers consider Jane Austen a favorite author after more than 200 years. There is no way to measure the impact her novels have had on readers' lives. Pride and Prejudice is a hands-down favorite. Readers never seem to tire of it and most read it more than once.
Jane's father was a vicar; there were eight children. There were many deaths, as was the norm for that time. However, so many people died that my mind turned to my other favorite genre, true crime! Several women died in childbirth, which is almost unheard of in the present day.
Whether or not you are a Jane Austen fan, this brief history is quite interesting.
2
Many readers consider Jane Austen a favorite author after more than 200 years. There is no way to measure the impact her novels have had on readers' lives. Pride and Prejudice is a hands-down favorite. Readers never seem to tire of it and most read it more than once.
Jane's father was a vicar; there were eight children. There were many deaths, as was the norm for that time. However, so many people died that my mind turned to my other favorite genre, true crime! Several women died in childbirth, which is almost unheard of in the present day.
Whether or not you are a Jane Austen fan, this brief history is quite interesting.
2
March 7, 2019
Utile per avere una prima idea di base sulla vita della Austen, inglese facilissimo anche per chi ha un livello basso. Ideale per poi leggere qualche biografia più approfondita, o iniziare a leggere i romanzi con più consapevolezza.
October 18, 2022
Not all "Hourly History" books are created equal. This one held my interest. It will help me picture Jane as I reread her books.
March 27, 2020
I think this book is a must for those who have not explored Jane Austen books. I had read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility a very long time ago. Always, I am left with the pondering questions: how did this woman gain such insight into how the human condition manifests itself in accordance with societal expectations or how it rebels for the same reasons. Her books are timeless. I have enjoyed them more the second time around. But, this brief autobiography added to my intrigue as why Jane so infatigably explored the societal norms of her day. Read it, for it will add to your philosophical ponderings of what drives a person to write so honestly about human relations. Though all her musings are fictionalized, her questions, her characterizations of human behavior, and her respect for those among us who live life with a bit more spirit than others is so refreshing. I always get lost in her books. It is a wonderful feeling. I will save this very short biography to refer to when I reread the next Jane Austen book.
December 23, 2018
I love these Hourly History ebooks this one is a biography of Jane Austen (book2). I have read some of her books but not in the order that they were published.
This book brought everything together starting with her father, a reverend, a teacher that taught Latin and Greek, and ran a family cheese farm a very busy person. Jane's mother was also busy, with seven children, running the household, washing clothes, cooking, tending to farm animals, played the piano and wrote poems.
This small book tells us about the children, their education, their marriages and their home life. Then we take the journey with Jane, her home life, her books, her life experiences and when each book was written and published.
This is the first time I have seen title, dates, and publications of each book all in order and so easy to understand. I am excited and extremely enjoying these History ebooks, thank you for sharing with everyone.
This book brought everything together starting with her father, a reverend, a teacher that taught Latin and Greek, and ran a family cheese farm a very busy person. Jane's mother was also busy, with seven children, running the household, washing clothes, cooking, tending to farm animals, played the piano and wrote poems.
This small book tells us about the children, their education, their marriages and their home life. Then we take the journey with Jane, her home life, her books, her life experiences and when each book was written and published.
This is the first time I have seen title, dates, and publications of each book all in order and so easy to understand. I am excited and extremely enjoying these History ebooks, thank you for sharing with everyone.
March 7, 2021
An Enlightening and Concise Biography of A Lady
I greatly enjoyed this concise overview of the life of one of the world's most prominent and entertaining female authors.
It was just enough to feel as though you were peering into a window at her life- not as a close friend, perhaps, but certainly as a village acquaintance.
This book was an excellent introduction to the life and times, just the thing to pique the interest and get you started on finding out more.
A wonderful addition to your homeschool curriculum, or an interesting read for any fan of Austin's work.
I do wish it had a map of Austin's England, a family tree that included all acquaintances mentioned, and a list of sources for historical publications written by early biographers, such as the first, written by her nephew; but I understand that these titles are ment for quick introductory reads.
Nevertheless, and extremely enjoyable little book. I look forward to reading more from Hourly History.
I greatly enjoyed this concise overview of the life of one of the world's most prominent and entertaining female authors.
It was just enough to feel as though you were peering into a window at her life- not as a close friend, perhaps, but certainly as a village acquaintance.
This book was an excellent introduction to the life and times, just the thing to pique the interest and get you started on finding out more.
A wonderful addition to your homeschool curriculum, or an interesting read for any fan of Austin's work.
I do wish it had a map of Austin's England, a family tree that included all acquaintances mentioned, and a list of sources for historical publications written by early biographers, such as the first, written by her nephew; but I understand that these titles are ment for quick introductory reads.
Nevertheless, and extremely enjoyable little book. I look forward to reading more from Hourly History.
December 6, 2019
Hourly History has excelled again! I've read most of Jane Austen's books many times and thought I knew everything about her. This book proves how wrong I was. There were three times Jane might have married; I only knew of two. No wonder she was so astute about understanding people, she was surrounded by lots of relatives and friends.
Although I love Pride and Prejudice and have read it dozens of times, I really think Persuasion is her masterpiece. Jane seems to very little to work with the character of Anne Elliot, who is over-the-hill and her attractiveness is fading. However, the story is beautiful.
Thank you to Hourly History for writing a quick, comprehensive analysis of her life and times.
Although I love Pride and Prejudice and have read it dozens of times, I really think Persuasion is her masterpiece. Jane seems to very little to work with the character of Anne Elliot, who is over-the-hill and her attractiveness is fading. However, the story is beautiful.
Thank you to Hourly History for writing a quick, comprehensive analysis of her life and times.
January 6, 2020
According to this book Jane Austin concentrated on writing about relationships. One thing that happened, though, is that a lot of her letters were destroyed which, to me, is a crime against history. The same thing happened to letters of Maude Adams and to pages from journals kept by Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll.)
The book discusses her schooling (which was different from boys), some of the books she wrote and her health problems that led to her death. The book does a good job covering that material.
The book discusses her schooling (which was different from boys), some of the books she wrote and her health problems that led to her death. The book does a good job covering that material.
June 13, 2021
A short biography of the 18th century author Jane Austen (1775 - 1817). She started writing as a fun exercise mostly for her family. Given the dim view that British culture had about women in general and about women authors Austen wrote her first few books under a pen name. In her later life she published under her own name. She never married but was close to her family especially her older sister Cassandra. The two sisters championed each other's causes and efforts. Her writing was pragmatic and depicted her character's lives with a realism not found in literature before her. Well written.
June 12, 2019
I found this short biography interesting. Jane Austen's life was similar to the books that she wrote. She was remarkable in that she showed a desire to write from a very young age, during a time when it was not really socially acceptable. She was a ground breaker, an observer or human relationships, and a wordsmith. In the end, her books were her lasting legacy.
March 13, 2020
I got this book for free on kindle, so I like the free part. It's a brief biography of Jane Austen. I'm glad I knew more about Jane Austen now. But I think this work could be presented in a more interesting manner. Its a boring narrative.
If the author didn't provide me this book for free, I wouldn't even rate it 2🌟.
If the author didn't provide me this book for free, I wouldn't even rate it 2🌟.
April 2, 2020
I didn’t know much about Jane Austen. This little book covers much about her short life and the times she lived in. This should’ve been edited better as I noticed multiple errors. Otherwise, I enjoyed this short book. Austen lived in a very different time in which it wasn’t respectable for a woman to be a writer and women were dependent on men.
December 21, 2021
I have never been able to finish a Jane Austen book. Perhaps as I age I will try again. I did enjoy this brief biography and once again I am surprised at what women had to endure in the past. Without a male relative to look after them, they were left in poverty. She was quite a woman and I wonder of her body would be exhumed so that a DNA sample could diagnose what caused her death.
June 18, 2019
An excellent and comprehensive look at Jane Austen's life, and it took less than an hour to read! I highly recommend it for anyone with interest in the life of the author who gave us so many beloved novels.
January 11, 2020
Enlightening
I heard about Jane Austen books being amazing but I never read them. After reading her Bio I have to say I am curious of her writings. I may read a book or two. Great book. Def. recommend
I heard about Jane Austen books being amazing but I never read them. After reading her Bio I have to say I am curious of her writings. I may read a book or two. Great book. Def. recommend
March 12, 2020
What a fantastic way to learn about Jane.
As all the other "lives from beginning to end" this biography as been a great way to get acquainted with Jane Austen. Thank you for providing this possibility to those who have great interest but too little time. 😊
As all the other "lives from beginning to end" this biography as been a great way to get acquainted with Jane Austen. Thank you for providing this possibility to those who have great interest but too little time. 😊
August 2, 2021
Jane Austen
My all time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, originally called First Impressions. I love Jane's ability to create strong characters that stay with you long after you complete the story. She was a pioneer in paving the way for other female writers.
My all time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, originally called First Impressions. I love Jane's ability to create strong characters that stay with you long after you complete the story. She was a pioneer in paving the way for other female writers.
September 28, 2022
I liked it a lot. It is a very short book, but it serves its purpose. It allows you to know a little more about her, and the most important milestones that marked Jane Austen's life. I will definitely continue reading about her, because it has left me wanting more.
January 21, 2019
A lovely overview of the life of Jane Austen, one of THE best authors of all times.
March 4, 2019
Quick, simple story
Good way to get the outline of Austen's life. If you want a deeper view, I'd go for a book with her letters in it... those can be quite fun reading
Good way to get the outline of Austen's life. If you want a deeper view, I'd go for a book with her letters in it... those can be quite fun reading
July 2, 2019
This is a super short read giving a brief glimpse into the life of Jane Austen and giving you the circumstances surrounding the writing of her novels.
December 5, 2019
Great book
Read
December 22, 2019Review
I never knew much about Jane Austen.It was very interesting to see how her works reflected the times she lived in.
I never knew much about Jane Austen.It was very interesting to see how her works reflected the times she lived in.
August 2, 2021
Very short. No illustrations. Covers the basic facts.
September 13, 2021
I have seen so many of her works in film. I have never read anything. This was an enjoyable read on a name I know so little about.
January 1, 2022
2022 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: A book you can read in one sitting
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews