Monday Author Spotlight

What time is it? It’s time to spotlight an author.

or re-introduce you to an old favorite.

When I asked a couple of weeks ago if there were any authors that you wanted to know more about my sister suggested Jane Austen. Seeing as she is one of my literary hero’s I went duh of course. So today is dedicated to Jane Austen.

Little is known about Ms. Austen because for the first 50 years after her death the only biographies that were done about her were done by family. Her sister destroyed almost all of their correspondences and was very selective of those that she didn’t destroy in an attempt (we guess) to preserve the reputation of her sister.

Jane never married and shared her stories with her family each night as she wrote them. Her families favorite was Pride and Prejudice. Her family supported her completely in her writing and often encouraged her. When it came time to publish her stories, her brother Henry helped with the publishing costs.

From her first book she was wildly popular, selling out within 6 months of publication. She was so popular that Prinny (the Prince Regent) had a set of her books.

Each of her books have been turned into movies and mini series. She has become one of the most beloved authors of all time, with her satire about the state of women during her time.

I did find a site that is dedicated completely to Jane Austen, the Republic of Pemberley

Here is a clip from the movie Becoming Jane….

My personal favorites both the books and the movies are Emma, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

Emma

Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth and the one with Kiera Knightly

Sense and Sensibility ( I just discovered that BBC redid this movie last year, will have to check that out.)

If you haven’t yet read one of her books or seen one of the adaptations of her books, well then I suggest that you correct this oversight.