Happy Birthday to Jane Austen, born on this day in 1775! To quote Wikipedia, Austen’s works ” interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen’s plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security.” She wrote some novels you might be familiar with…

Austen’s novels have also been interpreted and even reinterpreted over the years:

So now, argue about whether Captain Wentworth or Mr. Darcy is the swooniest, whether Fanny from Mansfield Park is the best or the worst, which adaptation of each novel is the best, and who should *really* be ‘shipped with whom. Or talk about non-Jane-Austen stuff, I’m not your boss.

P.S. Yours truly visited Jane Austen’s house in Chawton (where she lived with her mother & sister) several years back (yes, I am bragging):