The Little Book of Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen never goes out of style.

Jane Austen’s much-loved novels vividly describe 19th-century society. But they are also timeless classics that continue to enjoy wild popularity 200 years after the author’s death. Her delightfully quotable observations on love, men and women, society and class remain as relevant as they ever were. Packed full of intelligent insights, witty asides and wry observations, alongside fascinating facts about Austen’s remarkable life, this Little Book showcases some of the best lines ever crafted in the English language.

‘It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.’

Sense and Sensibility, 1811

‘For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours and laugh at them in our turn?’

Pride and Prejudice, 1813

‘There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.’

Emma, 1815

When she wasn’t writing world-class novels, Jane Austen was often brewing beer – and makes frequent reference to it in her personal letters. It was common for Regency-era families to brew beer, as untreated water was often unsafe to drink.