English language translation theory department

Her Character and Temperament
Jane Austen had a lovable character and temperament. “Of personal attractions she possessed a considerable share. Her stature was that of true elegance. It could not have been increased without exceeding the middle height. Her carriage and deportment were quiet, yet graceful. Her features were separately good. Their assemblage produced an unrivalled expression of that cheerfulness, sensibility, and benevolence, which were her real characteristics. Her complexion was of the finest texture. It might, with truth, be said that her eloquent blood spoke through her modest cheeks. Her voice was extremely sweet. She delivered herself with fluency and precision. Indeed, she was formed for elegant and rational society, excelling in conversation as much as in composition….She became an authoress entirely from taste and inclination. Neither the hope of fame nor profit mixed with her early motives. Most of her works were composed many years previous to their publication. It was with extreme difficulty that her friends, whose partiality she suspected whilst she honoured their judgment, could prevail on her to publish her first work. She could scarcely believe what she termed her great good fortune when Sense and Sensibility produced a clear profit of about £150. Few so gifted were so truly unpretending.” (Henry Austen)

THE WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN
The Writing of the Novels
Jane Austen started writing from an early age, perhaps from the age of sixteen or even before. In 1795, when she was twenty years old, she completed a novel in the form of letters. It was “Elinor and Marianne”, which, after revision, became Sense and Sensibility and which was published in 1811. Between 1796 and 1797, she was writing “First Impressions” which, after considerable revision, appeared as Pride and Prejudice in 1813. In 1797-98, she wrote Nonhanger Abbey (then called “Susan”). This manuscript, after undergoing some revision, was sold in 1803 to Richard Crosby who, however, did not publish it and from whom it was bought back in 1816; it appeared in print in 1817 after Jane Austen’s death. Mansfield Park was begun in 1811, and it appeared in 1814. Emma was begun in 1814 and published in 1815. Emma was the last of her novels that Jane Austen was to see in print. In 1816, she completed Persuasion which she had begun a year before. Persuasion, too, appeared posthumously in 1817. Between January and March 1817, she was at work on the fragment known as “Sandition”. Another fragmen²t, “The Watsons” was written by her during the years she spent in Bath and Southampton.