Jane Austin, the author of Pride & Prejudice, was born December 16, 1775. She was one of five children to her parents George and Cassandra Austen. Austin was very close to her only sister Cassandra and the correspondence between the two was abundant, although many of the letters were discarded after Austin’s death. Cassandra is also responsible for the only unquestioned drawing that we have of Austin. Austin received her education from two family members in Oxford then in Southampton. She ended her studies at Reading Ladies boarding school in the Abbey gatehouse in Reading, Berkshire.
Austin was influenced by the novels she borrowed from the library as well as her family who encouraged the presentation of her stories. Four novels were published in her lifetime, the most popular being Pride and Prejudice. She had only two potential romances in her life but neither one worked out. She received an engagement proposal from one of the men; she initially accepted but then changed her mind later. The other was a flirtatious crush that never amounted to anything but Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice is said to represent this man. Pride and Prejudice is a love novel that tells a story about love in the eighteenth century. During that time marriage was not always for love people were very class conscious and would try to marry above their rank. The main characters are the Bennett sisters, who have one purpose in life which is to find a husband, as told to by their mother. The protagonist being Elizabeth Bennett, is not exactly like her sisters; she is smarter and witty. The story begins to unfold as a wealthy, single man takes up residence in a near by estate. With him he brings family and friends. This provides the Bennett sister with some choice men. As the novel continues two characters, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, begin to show unexpected feelings for each other which bring about the climax of the novel. In the end they end up together and live