Jane Austen

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