A classic of English literature, an unsurpassed master of words, whose books are still in great demand today, is Jane Austen.
Interestingly, contemporaries did not appreciate her work, believing that she was talking about ordinary people. Her works are very realistic and ordinary, to some they seemed boring.
But later, in the 20th century, Austin's books were recognized as world classics. Critics, writers have repeatedly noted that her novels are finished and perfect, she knew how to write interesting things about the simplest things. Her dialogues are good, the characters do not act, the writer has an impeccable taste, which she never changes.
Unfortunately, Jane Austen lived only 41 years old. She died of Addison's disease without completing some of her works. In the period from 1794 to 1816 she wrote 6 novels glorifying her. Her earlier works are parodies of books of the time.
10. Feeling and sensitivity
Another title for this book is Mind and Feelings. It was first published in 1811. The main characters of this novel are two sisters who live with their mother and the youngest Margaret. They also have the only begotten older brother John, the only heir to their common father’s estate.
Before dying, Henry Dashwood asks John to take care of his sisters, his daughters. But he understands his will in his own way and leaves the widow and her children with virtually no livelihood.
They are assisted by a distant relative of Mrs. Dashwood, John Middleton, who invites the whole family to live in a small cottage located on his estate. Young girls, who at the beginning of the novel are 19 and 16 years old, naturally dream of love.
But the older Elinor is more restrained and sane, prefers not to show off her feelings. The younger Marianne is more passionate and romantic. Which of them will be able to find their happiness, which should be stronger, reason or feelings, you will learn from the book.
9. Pride and Prejudice
One of the best and most famous works of the writer. Jane started working on it at the age of 21, but the publishers did not like the manuscript. She dusted on shelves for more than 15 years, was published only in 1813. After her first novel was successful, the publishers agreed to publish. The writer, before handing over the manuscript, reworked it, creating a unique work: funny, direct, but mature.
In the center of the story is the Bennett family, namely the elderly couple Bennet and their 5 daughters. The family has small incomes, but they will also disappear after the death of the father of the family, as income-generating property must be inherited by either the son or another male relative.
Mrs. Bennett believes that a successful marriage of daughters can solve all their problems. And when a young and pleasant Mr. Bingley arrives at a neighboring estate, she realizes that such a groom must not be missed.
Her oldest and most beautiful daughter, Jane, could be of interest to a wealthy neighbor. The main character of the book, Elizabeth, the second daughter of Bennett, is not enthusiastic about the behavior of her relatives.
Her family, with the exception of Jane and Elizabeth herself, shows a complete lack of manners in front of a friend of Mr. Bingley, the arrogant aristocrat of Mr. Darcy.
Whether Bingley and Jane will be in love with each other, whether Elizabeth and her sisters will be able to find a worthy couple, you will find out by reading a book or watching one of her many adaptations.
8. Mansfield Park
Vladimir Nabokov called this novel, published in 1814, a fairy tale whose main character, Fanny, is very similar to Cinderella. Some readers do not like her excessive prudence, but, nevertheless, she cannot help but sympathize.
Fanny Price was born into a poor family. To somehow cope with the need, her mother sent the girl to her sister. She managed to successfully marry the baronet Thomas Bertram, and she was not against sheltering her niece.
Lady Bertram also had her children, 2 sons, Tom and Edmund, and 2 daughters, Maria and Julia. Little Fanny, who missed her family, was supported by the youngest son of the family, Edmund. She made friends with him later.
Children have grown up. Edmund decided to become a priest, his sisters thought about marriage, and Tom was to inherit a family estate. Fanny remained an indispensable assistant to Lady Bertram. Their quiet life changed when young and wealthy neighbors, Crawford's brother and sister, came from London.
7. Emma
This novel was released in 1815. The main character is a young and wealthy girl Emma Woodhouse, who lives with her good-natured father. She has no mother, but she was replaced by Miss Taylor, governess of Emma. The girl became very attached to her mentor, but at the beginning of the book she was forced to leave her, because Miss Taylor got married.
Emma has a lot of free time and almost no friends. She does not seek marriage, because believes that he can not leave his sick father, although he suffers from hypochondria.
Left without a single friend, her governess, she decides to take patronage over Harriet Smith, a simple, modest girl, brought up in a boarding house. Emma plans to marry her to a young and wealthy vicar. But events do not unfold exactly as she expected.
6. The arguments of reason
It was written in 1816, and published after the death of the writer. The main character of the novel is Ann Elliot. She lives with her father, Sir Walter Elliot, and her sister, Elizabeth. It is Elizabeth who is the mistress of the house and encourages the unreasonable spending of her father.
Ann was once in love with Frederick Wentworth, he answered her the same. But her patron, godmother Russell dissuaded her from this marriage, because the young man was poor. The girl obeyed her and broke her relationship.
8 years have passed. Her ex-fiancé became a captain, earned money and acquired the necessary connections. But will he now look at Ann, the daughter of a ruined but still conceited baronet?
5. Northanger Abbey
It was first published in 1817, after the death of Austin. The main character is 17-year-old Katherine Morland. She is naive, good-natured, modest, too frank, reads gothic novels with enthusiasm.
Rich neighbors take her with them to Bath. There, her life becomes rich and interesting. A new girlfriend appears, the insidious Isabella Thorpe, and, of course, an interesting young man, Henry Tinley, a charming smart and a little sarcastic.
4. Love and friendship
Jane started creating at the age of 14. In 1790, one of her first stories, Love and Friendship, appeared. It is written in the form of letters that 2 women send to each other. This is a comic parody where young Jane chuckles at her boring and sentimental heroines.
3. History of England
At age 15, Jane, after reading a book by Oliver Goldsmith, wrote her History of England. But this is not a serious work, but a kind of parody of school literature. In the tales of the English monarchs there is some reliable information. But most of these events are too curious, they have a lot of exaggerations.
The girl refers in the book to fictitious sources, including the opinions of her family or friends.
2. Beautiful Cassandra
This is also a youthful work of the writer, still not officially published in Russia. Like her other youthful stories, this is a parody. But this time, the young writer makes fun of the sentimental novels that were popular at the time.
1. Lady Susan
This is one of the earliest novels, written in the form of 41 letters. Jane Austen never offered it to publishers. It tells about a widow whose sole purpose is to marry herself and find a worthy party for her daughter.
She reports her plans to her friend, but hides them from the rest. We are faced with the hypocritical, loving intrigue, 35-year-old Susan Vernon, ready for anything for her own purposes.