Jane Austen was an English novelist known for her novels of manners, which depict the lives of the English gentry in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She was born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire, England, and died on July 18, 1817, in Winchester, England.
Austen was the seventh of eight children born to a clergyman and his wife. She began writing at an early age and completed her first novel, "Lady Susan," when she was in her teens. Her other major works include "Sense and Sensibility," "Pride and Prejudice," "Mansfield Park," "Emma," and "Persuasion." Her novels were published anonymously, as it was not considered proper for women to write for financial gain at the time.
Austen's novels are known for their sharp wit, social commentary, and strong female characters. Her works are set in the world of the English gentry, focusing on the lives and struggles of women in a society where marriage and social status were of utmost importance. Austen's novels have been adapted into numerous films and TV series, and they continue to be widely read and studied today.
Austen's personal life was relatively uneventful, and she never married. In 1801, she moved with her family to Bath, where she lived for several years before returning to Hampshire. In 1816, her health began to deteriorate, and she moved to Winchester to seek medical treatment. She died there the following year, at the age of 41.
Despite the brevity of her life, Austen's impact on English literature has been profound. Her novels are considered some of the greatest works of fiction in the English language, and her influence can be seen in the works of countless other writers who have followed in her footsteps.