Tips from Jane

Known for her clever wit and astute observations of human behaviour, every smart woman can take a page from Jane Austen on how to live a more vibrant, well-intentioned life.  These tips are inspired by and borrowed from our Lady Jane.

Jane says:

  • Too much charm in a man may hide deceit.
  • A true friend always tells the truth.
  • A person's priorities may not be yours; don't judge.
  • It's easy to flatter, but harder to follow through.
  • Always use your wit for good, not evil.
  • Quiet inner strength speaks volume for those who can hear it.
  • Never be afraid to admit your mistakes.
  • Don't get carried away by bodice rippers.
  • A balanced, rational mind is made of two parts good sense and one part folly.
  • Never insult someone for a laugh, especially in front of others.  You injure the person and yourself.
  • Restraint may be an asset, not a weakness.
  • It's healthy to laugh at yourself.
  • Good company with good conversation is good for the soul.
  • A journal can be a faithful friend.
  • A little politeness and kindness go a long way.
  • Tolerance is a virtue, not to be underrated.
  • Take a long walk every day.
  • Be careful when jumping off steps.
  • Don't get lost in a downpour, unless you know someone will save you.
  • Aloofness in a man or coldness in a woman could be hiding shyness.

All About Jane

Jane Austen

No other female writer in history has captured the cultural imagination like Jane Austen.  All her novels, since they were published in the early 1800s, remain in print today.  In fact, she's more popular than ever.  There are movies and books like "Becoming Jane" and "The Jane Austen Book Club" celebrating her life and writing.  Her novel, Pride and Prejudice, was voted "the book the nation (Britain) can't live without".  The following is a brief summary of her life.

Early Life
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in Steventon, an English village in the county of Hampshire.  Her father, George Austen, was a clergyman and ran a boys' school.  Her mother, Cassandra, gave birth to eight children of whom Jane was the seventh and the second of two daughters.  She was educated mostly at home and started writing stories at an early age. 

Novels
Although her novels are still savoured by readers almost two hundred years after their publication, Jane Austen, in her day, only received modest success as a writer.  She was not identified as the author of her works; instead they were attributed to "a lady".  During her lifetime, she saw the publication of four novels.  She earned her first royalties of £140 when the initial printing of Sense and Sensibility sold out.  She was 37 years old.

Jane Austen's published novels:

  • Sense and Sensibility (1811)
  • Pride and Prejudice (1813)
  • Mansfield Park (1814)
  • Emma (1815)
  • Northanger Abbey (posthumously in 1817)
  • Persuasion (posthumously in 1817)

Life Changes
Like the heroines of Sense and Sensibility,  life changed dramatically after her father's death.  George Austen had moved his wife and two daughters to Bath for his retirement.  He died five years later in 1805.  Along with her mother and sister, they lived for a time with one of her brothers and his family in Southampton.  In 1809, they moved again to a cottage in Chawton in Hampshire, which a wealthy brother had provided for them. By 1815, when she began writing Persuasion, she was known as the author of her own works to some readers.

Illness and Death
Her health declined in 1816.  It's accepted that she died of Addison's disease, a hormonal disorder that affects the adrenal glands, but there's also some speculation that she may have passed away from Hodgkin's disease.  She and her sister, Cassandra, had moved to Winchester for medical treatment.  She died on July 18, 1817 and was buried at the cathedral there.  In her will, she left almost everything to her sister.  The total value of her estate was under £800.  Two novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, were published posthumously.

Source:  BBC News, Jane Austen Society of North America, Jane Austen Society of Australia, The National Archives (UK)

For more information on Jane Austen, go to the links page.