Born in Hampshire, December 1775 to the local reverend and his wife, Jane was the 7th of 8 children. Most of her education was done at home and she learned to play piano and draw and write. Acceptable womanly pursuits at the time, though when it came to publishing her novels, all her works were published anonymously. She never married though many of her fans believe 'Persuasion' is based on a tragic love affair from her late teens. Her health began to decline early in 1817 and she died in July of that year in the arms of her beloved older sister, Cassandra at just 41 years of age. Her humourous and intelligent insights into Georgian life are as popular today, if not more so, than they were more than 200 years ago when first penned. The only known image of Jane is from a sketch by Cassandra, pictured right. "I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal." - Jane Austen
A young woman (Amanda Root) still loves the suitor she foolishly rejected years before (Ciaran Hinds); now she watches in agony as he courts her broth... Read more
Elizabeth Bennett, a spirited and independent young woman, is the subject of her mother's obsessive goal to marry off her five daughters to the wealth... Read more
A sparkling youth comedy about sex, clothes, popularity and day-glow satire; with the delightful presence of star Alicia Silverstone. Believe it or no... Read more
This lavish adaptation brings to life all the glorious wit and sharp humour of arguably Jane Austen's finest novel, recreating her most irritatingly e... Read more
A polished and well-acted version of Jane Austen's perennially popular tale of love in the upper classes. Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland are th... Read more
Anne fell deeply in love with handsome young naval officer Frederick Wentworth at the age of nineteen. But with neither fortune nor rank to recommend... Read more
English production house ITV presents three adaptations of Austen classics. In 'Mansfield Park', poverty-stricken Fanny Price (Billie Piper) is sent a... Read more
Jane Austen's classic novel is the basis for this controversial and acclaimed adaptation from Canada's Patricia Rozema. Frances O'Connor is Fanny Pric... Read more
Beautiful young widow Lady Susan Vernon visits the estate of her in-laws to wait out the colourful rumours about her dalliances circulating through po... Read more
This stunning BBC dramatisation of Jane Austen's classic story of Catherine Morland stars Katherine Schlesinger, Peter Firth and Robert Hardy. Read more