The protagonist, Fanny Price, is plucked from the poverty of her family home to grow up as a companion to her wealthy cousins at Mansfield Park where she is acutely aware of her own humble background. Mansfield Park is Austen's third published novel and perhaps the most controversial. In fact, we've taken each of the six books in turn and have ranked them in order of utter brilliance. Despite the strict social constraints imposed on them they are strong, funny, clever, bold, brave and ultimately flawed in their own way, yet they are all, generally, rewarded with the greatest triumph women of the time could enjoy, a happy marriage.īut that's not to say that each of Austen's six major novels do not have their own individual charms and merits. Her female characters in particular broke traditional moulds and continue to be some of the most celebrated in literary history. Austen's novels provide a succinct social history not without comment, critique and humour. Today, her six major novels are rarely out of print.Īll of Austen's narratives revolve around the domestic lives of the landed gentry toward the end of the 18th century, giving a female perspective of a male dominated world through a lens that is romantic yet realist.

It's an incredible legacy considering her novels were originally published anonymously to little success in her own lifetime.

Over a century after her death at the age of only 42, Austenis still one of the world's most celebrated authors of all time her work continues to be revived with film adaptations, various prequels, sequels and retellings in new and bizarre genres and next year she will grace the new Sterling £10 notes. Today marks the anniversary of Jane Austen's death in 1817 and it's got us thinking about what an incredible legacy she left behind.

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