Jane Austen was born in Hampshire, England, in 1775. The daughter of George Austen, an Anglican rector, and Cassandra (née Leigh), she was born into the lower ranks of the landed gentry, and her works often satirised the lifestyle and social conventions of the British upper and middle classes. She is best known for her novels “Sense and Sensibility” (1811), “Pride and Prejudice” (1813), “Mansfield Park” (1814), and “Emma” (1816), as well as the posthumously published “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion” (both 1817). Although she found little fame in her lifetime, her realistic portrayal of characters and biting irony have ensured enduring popularity and a timeless appeal. She died in 1817, aged 41, and is buried at Winchester Cathedral.
