Fun Facts About Jane Austen

​When I found a post by Emy LaCroix last week, I discovered I missed Jane’s 250th birthday. She could have never imagined five of her books would still be remembered over two hundred years later. Those titles, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. 

Jane was born on December 16, 1775, six months before the American Declaration of Independence.

Emy’s Link:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/jane-austen-turns-250-10-fun-facts-about-the-legendary-author/ar-AA1StzVz?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=947d779bcff0471adf87e176b4943330&ei=73

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Now for some fun facts…
#1. Emma, inspired the 1995 movie, Clueless.

Jane Austen’s character, Emma Woodhouse, starred as Cher Horowitz in the movie. Both are young ladies. Emma is 21, and Cher is still in high school. Both are wealthy, and they love to make matches. Cher makes hers in high school, and Emma among her neighbors. They both have a lot to learn about themselves and about love. 


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                     #2. Jane published her books anonymously.

​The general public in her time never knew her name. Jane first used “By a Lady.” Then later, “By the Author of Sense and Sensability.” Ladies could write letters, but they were discouraged from writing and publishing books.
Jane only got credit for her work after she died, but not by choice. Her brother Henry put a biographical note into her last two books, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. That’s how Jane’s secret was finally discovered.

  
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​                       #3. Jane’s family had a coat of arms.

They used three bear paws, so this isn’t hers. They also had a family motto. The Latin version: Que Invidet Minor Est, which means, To Envy Is Inferior. 

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​                                         #4. Jane began writing as a teen.

​From age 12-18, she filled three notebooks with stories, parodies, and short plays. Luckily they were preserved and later published. The title, Juvenilia. That’s the name of any work done by a young author or artist, and you can buy Jane’s on Amazon. 



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#5. Jane was engaged for one day, but she never married.
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In December of 1802 Harris Bigg-Wither, a wealthy friend of her family proposed. Jane accepted, but she called it off the next morning.
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#6. Jane didn’t earn much during her lifetime. 
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​Jane published 4 successful books and made about $800-$940 in American money back then. That’s about $54,000-$81,000 today. Then she lost money on Emma because she paid to get it published.


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#7. Jane’s last words were to her sister Cassandra. 
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Cassandra wrote down Jane's words. “God grant me patience, pray for me, oh, pray for me." Jane died from a painful disease. As it got worse, she wanted “nothing but death.”


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#8. Jane had one of the first literary fan clubs.
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Her fan club didn’t form until the late 1800s, and they called themselves the “Janeites.” What did they do? Debate her characters, defend Jane against critics, and visit anyplace Jane had lived during her lifetime. From London to Bath. From her birthplace to the house where she died. Someday I want to visit those places too!

​Tomorrow: the last two fun facts about Jane

#9. Jane is still one of the most translated English novelists.
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 ​     #9. Jane is still one of the most translated English novelists.

Did you know you can buy Jane’s books in dozens of languages? Or that they have never gone out of print for over 200 years? That’s incredible! One of my books is already out of print, the one done with a hybrid publisher. Why? It didn’t make them enough money.
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#10. Jane’s face is on the money. 
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Jane is on British bills, the £10 Bank of England note. The UK doesn’t have dollar bills. They use pound notes.

Jane’s first bill was printed in 2017 to celebrate her legacy. Male authors have had this honor before, but Jane is the first female to be chosen. If you look carefully at this note or google it, you’ll see a quote from Pride and Prejudice, plus an image of Godmersham Park. Jane’s brother Edward, inherited the estate from his cousin, and many believe Jane modeled Pemberly, from P and P, from her brother’s estate.

Bonus: If you’re a Janeite like me, you might want to check out this link. It’s to an article that suggests the order to read Jane’s novels sequentially, starting with her first, Juvenilia.
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Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/how-to-read-jane-austen-s-novels-in-order/ar-AA1SseL1?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=9021e4a5cd674c628f95dc318e5047e3&ei=44