Jane Austen (1775–1817) is one of the most iconic and widely-read authors in English literature and the creator of some of the most beloved characters in fiction. A talented satirist and observer of social mores, Austen’s romances highlight the vulnerable status of women in Regency England, while her realist depictions of family life, love and friendship provide incomparable insight and heart. Publishing anonymously until after her death, her name is now celebrated as a central contributor to the modern novel and the voice of the Regency age.