Jane Austen (1775-1817) was a pioneering English novelist who captured the complexities of human relationships and social structures in Regency England. Growing up in a literary Family, her keen observations were shaped by her rural Hampshire upbringing amid the transformative political and cultural changes of the Napoleonic Wars and the Enlightenment. "Pride and Prejudice," published in 1813, emerged during a Time when class and Marriage were pivotal societal concerns. Initially acclaimed for its wit and social Critique, it secured Austen's Reputation as a masterful storyteller. Over time, the novel has been celebrated for its incisive commentary on gender and class, influencing diverse fields such as feminist Theory and romantic Literature and resonating in adaptations worldwide, from Bollywood films to Japanese manga.
Guiding Question
How do pride and prejudice shape our ability to see others—and ourselves—truly?