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Jane Austen Jane Austen has been called the “prose Shakespeare,” and Sir Walter Scott; one of age’s greatest writers, once lamented that her “exquisite touch, which renders ordinary common place things and characters interesting, from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me.” Sir Walter Scott, believed that Miss Austen is one of the greatest novelists of all time. Some critics have even claimed that she is the first great novelist. Miss Austen’s significance on literature, through her novels is equivalent to Shakespeare. There are Austen societies and circles, and the Regency Period of her novels has become the preferred setting for countless historical romances (Felder 46). They are mostly overheated and sentimental imitations of her work. She set precedence for romance. She gave every woman an idea of what true love means. Miss Austen did this in an unexaggerated but still compassionate way (Sherry 89). Jane Austen had an ironic humor to all of her works that made her an original. Jane Austen was born on December 16,1775 at Steventon (Austen-Leigh xiiv). During this period of time, women built their lives on marriages. They were not welcomed into labor and men looked only to marry when it increased their fortune. In this era, Jane, the youngest of seven and the daughter of a clergyman, would break the mold and become a prominent unwed writer. She was educated, along with her sister Gilbreath 2 Cassandra, in private schools and well versed in many languages (Austen-Leigh 12). Jane spent her days traveling with her sister, Cassandra, with who Jane held a close relationship. In 1782 they traveled to Oxford and stayed under the care of Mrs. Cawley. Mrs. Cawley was Doctor Cooper’s, a friend of the families, sister. In 1783 they moved to Southhampton where Jane caught a fever and almost died. Jane and Cassandra left Mrs. Latournelle’s school at Reading and returned home in 1785 (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Ten years later Cassandra became engaged to Thomas Fowle, who died before they were to be married. By November of 1797 Jane had moved, with her sister and mother, to Bath (Austen-Leigh xiiv). After Jane became ill she moved in with her sister so they could share the remainder of her days together in Winchester.
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