Happy Birthday Jane

Today is Jane Austen's Birthday

Born December 16, 1775

A beautiful woman who never asserted herself a gifted writer. 

"I think I may boast myself to be, with all possible vanity, the most unlearned and uninformed female who ever dared to be an authoress."

-letter to James Stanier Clarke, 11 Dec 1815

She had a flare for writing women who were witty and adamant in a time where propreity was crucial to obtaining right social standing.  Her characters were blunt, though polite:

"You have delighted us long enough."

-Pride and Prejudice, 1813

The nicest way to say, "Shut up", I suppose.

 They were honest through beautiful smiles. 

"One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty."

She wrote the early dysfunctional family with humor, romance, thoughtfulness and veracity. 

"[Miss Austen] had a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with...but the exquisite touch, which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting, from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me."

-Walter Scott, Journal entry, 14 March 1826

In spite of the lack of  'happy ending's' in her own life she chose for her female characters struggle and heartache for love and social position, and unyielding stubborness, all of which she herself appeared to possess. But, in the end, she gave them victory over pride, melted the hearts of the most hardened to romance and love conquered all.  Faith, hope, love ... 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

-1 John 4:18

Happy Birthday Jane


From My Heart to Yours,