JANE AUSTEN'S FIRST BOOK - ALL AUTHORS WILL KNOW HOW IT FEELS WHEN THEIR FIRST BOOK IS ABOUT TO BE PUBLISHED (INCLUDING JANE AUSTEN)!

COURTESY OF "ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY"

Profession: Novelist

Nationality: 

English

Biography: 

Novelist Jane Austen is now regarded as one of the greatest writers of social manners in the English language. During her lifetime Austen published just four novels anonymously, focusing on everyday domestic life of the English middle class, before her early death at 41.

Austen's first novel was "Sense and Sensibility" in 1811. "Pride and Prejudice" (1813), her second, remains her most popular. Its lively heroine Elizabeth Bennett was Austen's favorite character and its hero Mr Darcy has become a model for the Romantic figure. In recent times, Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC production has been particularly acclaimed.

Two further novels were published after her death in 1817.

Austen's stories continue to resonate and modern adaptations of her works are regularly produced and range from such films as "Clueless" (1995) to the book and film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies".

Born: December 16, 1775
Birthplace: Steventon, Hampshire, England
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: July 18, 1817 (aged 41)
Cause of Death: Addison's disease