Jane Austen - The Queen of Regency Romance

Jane Austen is perhaps the most beloved writer of the Regency period, a time when corsets were tight and social conventions were even tighter. Her novels are funny, romantic, and incredibly witty, and have captivated readers for more than two centuries.

Born in a small village in Hampshire, England in 1775, Jane was one of eight children. Her father was a clergyman, which meant that she was surrounded by religious and moral teachings from an early age, but thankfully that didn’t stop her from being a hilarious wordsmith.

In her twenties, Jane began writing her first novel, “Sense and Sensibility”. This was followed by “Pride and Prejudice”, “Mansfield Park”, “Emma”, and “Northanger Abbey”. Her novels depicted the everyday lives and love stories of middle and upper-class characters, often poking fun at their societal norms and conventions. She was like a 19th-century version of “Mean Girls”, with more crinoline.

But Jane Austen didn’t just write about love and manners. In fact, she had one of the most exciting lives of any author in history. Rumours abound that she once punched Napoleon in the face and that she was the secret inspiration for Mr Darcy in “Pride and Prejudice”. However, we cannot confirm these rumours at this time.

One thing we do know for sure, however, is that Jane was a fierce advocate for women’s rights. She defied the male-dominated literary world of her time and refused to let anyone tell her what she could or couldn’t write about. She was a true feminist icon, and we have no doubt that she would have been a big fan of “Bridgerton”.

Sadly, Jane Austen passed away in 1817 at the young age of 41, but her work has continued to inspire and entertain readers ever since. If you haven’t read any of her novels yet, we suggest you get on it! Just be warned - once you start reading, you won’t be able to put them down (or stop thinking about Mr Darcy).