Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion; Any avid reader knows Jane Austen, arguably one of the most notable authors of all time. However, she was also a feminist icon of her time. She is my go-to for the classics and her work always stretches my mind while teaching me lessons I will cherish for a lifetime. During this Women’s History Month, I celebrate Jane Austen.
A short background
Austen’s writing career started off on a bad note when her first novel, First Impressions (later named Pride and Prejudice), didn’t catch the attention of any publishers. In 1803 during her second publishing attempt, she sold her copyright to Susan for 10 pounds but never received the money. Many male publishers and the general population were skeptical of the writing abilities of women at the time. After several years of no publication, she was able to buy back the copyright and managed to publish four books between 1811 and 1816.
A work ahead of her time
Austen is an incredibly popular author today and all of her books have left a mark on many generations. However, her most popular book is Pride and Prejudice and it’s easy to see why. The novel tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her encounters with the wealthy yet boastful Mr. Darcy. There are many instances in the book that connect it to Austen’s life and serve as an analogy for the way women were treated during her time (hence the name Pride and ‘Prejudice‘).
Here are some of my favorite influential quotes from Austen’s works:
“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”
- Sense and Sensibility
“Angry people are not always wise.”
- Pride and Prejudice
“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”
- Persuasion
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope… I have loved none but you. “
- Persuasion
“Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.”
- Pride and Prejudice