This page is in no way a complete history of Jane Austen's life, it is just my personal tribute to her. The era that Jane lived in was a mans world where women were very much in the background. For her to write and become successful at such a time was a real achievement. Her life was cut so short and we can only imagine the great heights that she was bound to reach in her career as a writer.

I love to read historical romance and Jane's novel "Pride & Prejudice" is my all time favourite book and movie. It is such a wonderful story and one I will never tire of.

There are so many interesting sites dedicated to her, and some I have linked below. You can also read many great books about her life. I have "Jane Austen's World" by Maggie Lane, which when I started to read it I could not put it down. It is very nicely written and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to read a book on her life. Some of the info on this page is from this book. If you should find any mistakes please let me know. :o)

Jane was born in Steventon in Hampshire, on December 16th 1775. She was the seventh child and the second daughter, born to Reverend George Austen and mother Cassandra.

Jane was extremely close to her sister also named Cassandra. When ever they were apart they wrote to each other constantly. Cassandra was three years her senior. In 1782 Cassandra and Jane were sent to a boarding school in Oxford.

They shared so much together as sisters. When Jane became ill she moved to Winchester to be with Cassandra. No doubt so that Cassandra could look after her. This is where she eventually died in 1817 at the young age of 41 years. There was some mystery as to what her illness was, but it has been said that she suffered from Addison's disease.

Cassandra's pain at the loss of her friend and sister can best be described in her own words written in a letter shortly after Jane's death.

"I have lost a treasure, such a Sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed - she was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow, I had not a thought concealed from her, & it is as if I had lost part of myself."