Jane Austen: The Queen of Chick Lit

Born in 1775 in Hampshire, England, and a clergyman’s daughter, Jane Austen wrote her first story after a failed romance in 1799. The story, ‘First Impressions’ would eventually become one of the most beloved novels of many women, Pride and Prejudice.

Jane Austen is probably one of the best-loved women authors of all time. She has been studied and analyzed. But perhaps we know her best by her novels and the movies they inspired.

The life of Austen is portrayed in the movie Becoming Jane, starring Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy. In Becoming Jane, Hathaway shows us the young, love-struck Jane Austen in the untold romance that inspired Pride and Prejudice. James McAvoy, the handsome Scotsman, plays Tom Lefroy, a young, penniless law student who sparks a passionate romance with Jane. It is a must-see for true Jane Austen fans.

The Jane Austen Novels

From 1811 until her death in 1816, Jane Austen wrote her best-known novels:  Sense And Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice. (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816),  Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion were published posthumously.  Talk about a string of hits!

In five short years, Jane Austen wrote some of the most enduring love stories of all time and became the crowned Queen of Chick Lit.

The Jane Austen Movies

Jane Austen’s other books have been made into movies as well.  Gwyneth Paltrow starred in Emma with Jeremy Northam and Toni Collette. Gwyneth seems to have stepped right off the pages of a Jane Austen novel. She is perfect as the meddling, matchmaking young Emma Woodhouse.

Ang Lee directs Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet in  Sense & Sensibility, the story about the on again and off again romances of the Dashwood sisters. Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant star as their love interests.

I first watched Frances O’Connor, Jonny Lee Miller in Mansfield Park at a slumber party. I loved the story of the smart and independent Fanny Price, who is sent to live with her rich cousins. They are supposed to teach her how to be a proper lady, but she teaches them a thing or two as well.

All About Jane Austen Fans

Keri Russell, Jane Seymour, J. J. Feild and Jennifer Coolidge star as Jane Austen fans who meet at an eccentric Austen inspired resort in Austenland.

The mini-series, Lost in Austen is about a real Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice fan who finds herself back in 19th century England, entangled in the lives loves of her favorite characters.

Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) is bored with the modern world and her boyfriend’s lack of romance. She longs for the romance she finds in Austen’s novels.

Amanda gets more than she bargained for when she finds herself living in the home of the Bennets, where she ignites new romantic twists and turns and almost ruins the love story between Darcy and Lizzie.

Pride and Prejudice

The love story between the arrogant and proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and the high-spirited Miss Elizabeth (Lizzie )Bennett develops slowly and lots of ups and downs. Pride and Prejudice is the classic love story, the study of her day’s social and moral values.

Jane Austen’s story of two passionate people has touched the hearts of women for more than two hundred years. Can you believe that? How many times have we read the book and loved it? How many times have we watched the movie?

There are several versions of Pride and Prejudice.

Greer Garson and Laurance Olivier starred in the 1940 version.

Keira Knightly, Matthew MacFadyen, Brenda Blethyn, and Donald Sutherland starred in a recent 2005 movie version.

I really like the Bollywood version, Bride and Prejudice. However, if you really want to get the full sense of Jane Austen’s book, you should see the five-hour BBC version of Miss Austen’s most famous work. In this lavash mini-series, Colin Firth plays Darcy, and Jennifer Ehle plays the role of Lizzie.

What is your favorite Jane Austen novel or movie?

*Affiliate Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase these products or services via these links, I will receive a small commission. Hopefully, it will be enough to pay for my monthly Netflix bill and maybe buy me some cute shoes. I only recommend or suggest products and/or services that I use or think you will like. This does not affect or influence my views and opinions on the article I write about.

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