Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Ultimate Book Bash: Jane Austen Day

Welcome! Can you believe we're already to the third day of the Ultimate Book Bash? I do hope you're all having fun. :) I'm lovin' it as you post the tag!


As you no doubt noticed from the title, today is Jane Austen Day! This should be fun. :)

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. To put that in perspective,that the same year that the Revolutionary War really began. Jane had six brothers, and one sister, to whom she was very close. When she was seven, she and Cassandra (her sister) caught typhus and Jane nearly died. I know I'm really glad she didn't!


As early as age 11, she may have begun writing, keeping mostly to poems, stories, and plays for her family. Much of her life was devoted to writing, but we'll cover her books in a later post. :) In December of 1795, Tom Lefroy came into her life. He is often known as her special man. It is interesting to note that they were only together for one month, since his family sent him away at the end of January. Jane never saw him again.

In 1800, Jane and her family moved to Bath. Her dislike of Bath is rather well known. In 1802, Jane received her only offer of marriage. She accepted, but the following morning, broke it off. Her father died in 1805, and her brother moved her mother and family to Chawton in 1809. Her first book, Sense and Sensibilty was not published until 1811. Interestingly, Mansfield Park, published in 1814, made the most money.

Jane Austen died on July 18, 1817. She was 41. Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were both published after her death.

Keep watching for more Jane Austen posts!

3 comments:

Melody said...

Jane Austen day!! Now of course THAT would catch my eye!! =D

I always think it's so sad that she died when she was 41. We would have had more than 6 novels...she was becoming a really prolific writer there in the MP--Emma--Persuasion--Sanditon section...

Miss Laurie said...

Yay! Jane Austen day is something to celebrate! :)
I do wish she could have at least finished Sanditon and maybe The Watsons because that story is very interesting!

Jujube said...

Hooray for the Jane Austen Day! I agree with Melody--it's sad she died fairly young. :(