Born in 1775 in Hampshire, England, Jane Austen was an English novelist, publishing five novels before her death at the age of 41. Known for her stories exploring the lives of England's landed gentry at the turn of the ninteenth century, her social commentary, razor-sharp wit and use of irony garnered her acclaim amongst critics posthumously, though she saw little success during her lifetime. In her 250th year, Jane Austen's work has been estabnlished as a cornerstone of classical literature. Her stories - whether we are following the headstrong Emma or the thoroughly modern Elizabeth Bennett - have endured and been beloved by the generations that have followed since their original publication in the early nineteenth century.