BOOK DISCUSSION: How did Jane Austen conquer the world?

I recently read Jane's fame by Claire Harman and the answer I seem to have gotten is that it happened slowly. It took time for people to appreciate her wit and stories about every day life. There aren't any daring escapes, adventures or passionate romances in her books yet, the simplicity makes them all the more tantalizing. In short, they are a breath of fresh air (in my personal opinion).

During her life time Jane Austen did not make a big splash and enjoyed modest sales - though it wa...