Happy Birthday Jane Austen! 

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Jane Austen was an English author known for her six novels about English society in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. 

She was born on 16 December 1775 in Stevenson, Hampshire and was one of eight children. Austen wrote stories and poetry from a young age, which she read aloud to her family for their entertainment. She published three novels during her lifetime and another two of her books were published after her death. 

Austen is known for her biting, humorous social commentary. Her novels are still widely beloved today, by both academics and readers, and have been adapted countless times into plays, radio plays, and films.

Sense and Sensibility was Austen’s first novel to be published in 1811 and tells the story of Dashwood sisters who must move out of their family estate after their father’s death. With one sister guided by her good ‘sense’ and another by her romantic ‘sensibility’, both experience love and heartbreak. 

Published in 1813, Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet as she clashes with Mr. Darcy. Both must overcome their pride and the prejudice they hold against each other .

In Mansfield Park, first published in 1814, Fanny Prince is sent to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle. 

Austen’s fourth novel, and the final novel to be published in her lifetime, was Emma in 1815. In a story of romantic misunderstandings, spoiled and headstrong Emma Woodhouse must learn to stop meddling. 

Though Northanger Abbey was one of Austen’s early novels, it wasn’t published until 1817 – six months after her death. The novel satirises gothic thrillers of the time and is a coming-of-age story about a bookish young woman called Catherine Morland.

Persuasion was published at same time as Northanger Abbey and tells the story of Anna Elliot who reconnects with a man she was previously engaged to when her family must move due to financial hardship.

Have you tried our Jane Austen spelling words


16 Dec 2021
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"I ran the trial with a small group of students over three weeks before the summer holidays," she says. "I quickly saw the benefits, and signed up."

King's Leadership Academy, Warrington

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