JANE AUSTEN'S ENGLAND

How Regency romance, society and family bonds inspired one of the nation's greatest authors

- Written by Emily Staniforth

Jane Austen certainly did a lot in her short life.

As a young unmarried woman, she authored six witty romantic novels that today provide insight into a now-foreign world. Growing up in rural Hampshire, life in the Georgian English countryside heavily influenced her work. Her focus on the lives of women and the inequality they faced as well as issues of family, status, reputation and money all permeate Jane's work, themes that have proven timeless and contribute to the enduring popularity of her novels. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of her birth, here we reflect on how the world around Jane influenced her and helped her forge a legacy as one of England's greatest writers.

LIFE IN RURAL ENGLAND At the time of Jane's birth in 1775, only around 20 percent of the population of England lived in big industrial cities; the rest of the populace, like the Austen family, lived in rural villages. Agriculture and farming provided an income for around one-third of the population, though throughout Jane's life this number became fewer as the Agricultural Revolution swept through the country and eradicated jobs for many rural workers. However, Jane's family were largely untouched by the challenges facing the agrarian working class.