Author. Born the seventh child and second daughter of Cassandra and the Reverend George Austen. Jane was very close to her older sister, Cassandra Elizabeth. When she was sent to school, she begged to be sent along with her even though she was too young. Mr. Austen couldn't easily afford their schooling, and they were back home after less than three years. Jane was very well-educated for a female of that time. She had a good knowledge of history as well as a little Latin, Italian, and musical training. In 1787, she made the decision to devote her time to writing. This early work made three volumes of Juvenilia. In 1791, she wrote a parody of Oliver Goldsmith's History of England. At 19, she started work on Lady Susan, a novel which was her first attempt at a serious theme. It didn't work well in the format she used, but it was good enough to encourage her to keep going. She began another novel in 1795, titled Elinor and Marianne, and, in 1796, she started to work on First Impressions. In August of 1797, she submitted First Impressions for publication, and was turned down. She was neither surprised or disappointed. She spent the next two years rewriting Elinor and Marianne into Sense and Sensibility and restarted work on Susan. About 1800, she met Harris Bigg-Wither. About a year later, he proposed to her. She accepted, but changed her mind by the next morning, causing a scandal at the time. In 1805, her father died, and her mother and she were left without assets. In 1810, Sense and Sensibility was accepted for publication on the condition that the printing costs would be paid by the author. Jane expected to lose money, but the novel sold quickly, and the profit was good. She started to work on Mansfield Park and sold Pride and Prejudice for publication in 1812. Her next novel, Emma, was published in 1815. At that time, her health was beginning to fail due to suspected Addison's disease. She died on the morning of July 18, 1817, with her beloved sister, Cassandra, at her side.
A cenotaph for Jane Austen was installed at Westminster Abbey.
Bio by: Jelena
Inscription
In Memory of
JANE AUSTEN
youngest daughter of the late
Rev. GEORGE AUSTEN
formerly Rector of Steventon in this Count.
She departed this Life in the 18th of July 1817,
aged 41, after a long illness supported with
the patience and the hopes of a Christian.
The benevolence of her heart,
the sweetness of her temper, and
the extraordinary endowments of her mind
obtained the regard of all who knew her and
the warmest love of her intimate connections.
Their grief is in proportion to their affection
they know their loss to be irreparable,
but in their deepest affliction they are now consoled
by a firm though humble hope that her charity,
devotion, faith and purity, have rendered
her soul acceptable in the sight of her
REDEEMER.