Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austenwas an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels which interpret, critique and comment upon the life of the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Her most highly praised novel during her lifetime was Pride and Prejudice, her second published novel. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth16 December 1775
CitySteventon, England
One has no great hopes from Birmingham. I always say there is something direful in the sound.
Although our productions have afforded more extensive and unaffected pleasure than those of any other literary corporation in the world, no species of composition has been so much decried. ''And what are you reading, Miss -- -?'' ''Oh! it is only a novel!'' replies the young lady; while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. ''It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda ''; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor, are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.
Trusting that you will some time or other do me greater justice than you can do now.
You have no ambition, I well know. Your wishes are all moderate.' 'As moderate as those of the rest of the world, I believe. I wish as well as every body else to be perfectly happy, but like every body else it must be in my own way. Greatness will not make me so.
In his company, I am grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections.
Everybody likes to go their own way--to choose their own time and manner of devotion.
Tacking on the kiss at the end made it too romantic, much more like a Victorian or 20th-century story, rather than the early 19th-century story that it really is.
It was not very wonderful that Catherine . . . should prefer cricket, base ball . . . to books.
It will be a bitter pill to her, that is, like other bitter pills, it will have two moments ill-flavor, and then be swallowed and forgotten
Drinking too much of Mr Weston's good wine.
Everything united in her; good understanding, correct opinions, knowledge of the world and a warm heart
speaks very truthfully. ... I loved the fact that it felt so honest. I respond to scripts regardless of where or when they're set; for me, it's about whether the characters ring true.
A woman, especially if she has the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.
A single woman with a narrow income must be a ridiculous old maid, the proper sport of boys and girls; but a single woman of good fortune is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as anybody else.