Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. She was the Austen’s seventh child, and the second girl. Mr. Austen wrote to his sister the following day:
“You have doubtless been for some time in expectation of hearing from Hampshire, and perhaps wondered a little we were in our old age grown such bad reckoners but so it was, for Cassy certainly expected to have been brought to bed a month ago: however last night the time came, and without a great deal of warning, everything was soon happily over. We have now another girl, a present plaything for her sister Cassy and a future companion. She is to be Jenny.”
The Austen’s could hardly have guessed that this daughter, their “Jenny”, would become one of the greatest English novelists in history. Appreciated by scholars and casual readers alike for her keen wit and her insight into human nature, her tales of “three or four families in a country village” have remained popular for over two hundred years. Jane’s fans (a.k.a. Janeites) are legion, including a few of us here at Ohrstrom. In fact, you may have noticed Ms. Parsi dressed as a Jane Austen superfan for Halloween!
Austen’s novels would make an excellent choice for reading over winter break. Ms. Parsi recommends Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion (her favorite). Check out our reading list below and join the Jane Austen fan club today!
Happy Birthday, Jane!
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