101 Things You Didn't Know About Jane Austen: The Truth About the World's Most Intriguing Literary Heroine

by Patrice Hannon

You've read Emma. You love Sense and Sensibility. You can quote whole passages from Pride and Prejudice by heart. But is there more to Jane Austen than her books? Although she's one of the most influential and beloved novelists of all time, relatively little is known about Austen's life, even by her most ardent fans.

According to Austen expert Patrice Hannon, the image most often presented of the author was that of a "genteel old maid," quietly scribbling away and well protected from the chaos of life. But as you'll discover inside, the truth was something quite different. Austen's life was hardly uneventful, shadowed as it was by bankruptcy, multiple tragic deaths, and numerous heartbreaks.

In this illuminating guide to Austen's life and work, Hannon illustrates how these experiences enriched her novels, providing the empathy and depth that helped create unforgettably romantic characters like Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. You'll never read Jane Austen the same way again.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Books About Books, Reference, Historical, Own

230 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Patrice Hannon is the author of Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine’s Guide to Life and Love (Plume, 2007) and 101 Things You Didn’t Know About Jane Austen (Adams Media, 2007). The latter won the Jane Austen’s Regency World Award for “Best New Regency Know-How Book,” presented by The Jane Austen Centre in Bath. Patrice holds a B.A. from Saint Peter’s College and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, both in English. During her nine years of full-time college teaching she taught Austen’s novels and the works of other great writers to hundreds of students at several colleges, including Vassar, Rutgers, and The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. She has also taught literature classes at Makor, a branch of the 92nd Street Y in New York, and, most recently, at The Morgan Library, where she was invited to lead the museum’s first reading group, initiated in conjunction with its stunning exhibition, “A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy.”

Patrice has also published essays on Austen, Dickens, Wilde, and Tolkien, in addition to short fiction. Among her publications in nineteenth-century British literature is an article on film adaptations of Austen’s novels that appeared in Persuasions: The Journal of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Patrice is a member of JASNA (New York region) and has been a featured speaker at the meetings of several regional chapters. She has lectured on Jane Austen at The 92nd Street Y. Patrice is also a member of the Authors Guild and The National Arts Club, where she is an active member of the Literary Committee. Originally from New Jersey, she now lives in New York City. Although Patrice appreciates Henry Tilney’s wit and Mr. Darcy’s wealth, her favorite Austen hero is Captain Frederick Wentworth—a preference that exposes her as a romantic despite a thorough understanding of the dangers of romanticism.

Reviews

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most biographies of Jane Austen will reveal the quiet life of maiden Aunt Jane, who scribbled in secret, loved to dance, and lived her entire life in the country removed from the chaos of the world. Did you also know that she was also romantic, tragic and mysterious?

Patrice Hannon's 101 Things You Didn't Know About Jane Austen: The Truth About The World's Most Intriguing Literary Heroine,is a gem of little Austenisms quite suitable for gift giving. Despite having one of the longest and most misleading titles of any book about Jane Austen of recent memory, the content is as appealing as the easy to read format.

In Jane Austen's 18th-century world, acquired knowledge was considered one of the most powerful and important skills of a polished society. Today we recognize the same benefits, but want our education to be forthright and expeditious. For anyone interested in the knowledge of Jane Austen's life and works in a compact and fact driven format, this book can serve as a great resource and quick reference. Categorized into seven parts Birth of a Heroine, Brilliant Beginnings, Silence and Disappointed Love, The Glorious Years, Heroes and Heroines, Untimely Death, and Austen and Popular Culture: From Eighteenth Century to the Twenty-First, this illuminating guide takes you through all aspects of Jane Austen's life journey and writing experience, revealing common facts, new insights, and minutia.

If you are interested, as I was, to know which heroine most resembles the author herself, who were the real Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy and why Jane never married, you will not be disappointed in this bright little book that is well researched, engaging, and incredibly practical.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

[Sophie Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's not a lot of new ground covered here, and some speculation. However, I did find myself highlighting a lot of little details. For the reader who doesn't know a lot about Austen's life, this will be a great overview, and for those who don't, there will be some new bits to learn.

[Faith-Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book takes a lot of liberites with Jane Austen's life. It states that Austen loved Tom LeFroy--there is no evidence to support this claim. Be careful not to trust everything you read as gospel. I found a lot of misconceptions in this book.

[Maria Almaguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today is Austen's birthday so it's fitting I finish this book today. Filled with anecdotes and facts about the great author's life and work, and written by a professor of Austen, this makes a perfect gift.

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This format probably wasn't the best for the topic, which would have been better in a more regular biographical setup. If each"fact" had been written separately as a stand alone fact, it might have worked better; but as it was, I found it difficult to keep track of some of the names and places that had been mentioned some chapters back but then resurfaced later. It got easier once I sat down and read straight through rather than in snippets, but I still think this format would be better served if each individual fact was more of a stand alone tidbit about Austen's life.

Having said that, I did learn a lot, especially in regards to ways that Austen's books intersected with her real life and her own genuine preferences and ideals. It was fascinating to catch a glimpse of how her writing grew out of her life and yet was something very separate from it.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love biography. And I loved the way this biography is structured (101 short chapters with intriguing titles). When I first heard the title I thought it was going to be a bathroom-reading-type of trivia book but I loved it all the more for NOT being that. It's detailed and well-researched and fun and gossipy all at the same time. It feels like it was written by someone who loves Jane Austen's novels as much as I do. And even though I had just finished a different Jane Austen bio (Carol Shields' Jane Austen: a Life), I still feel like I learned lots that I didn't know. Thanks for telling me about it Laurie! It finally motivated me to write a review here.

[Tracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took forever to read. It was so disjointed that I had to make it a restroom reader. And the 101 items I was supposed to not know are at times comparative paragraphs from the author's PhD project on Jane Austen. For example, it might say in the first sentence of the section, Jane Austen didn't care for fashion. Then the rest of that fact was just a summary of times that each of the main characters in each of her novels talked about fashion. 75% of this book is about the books Jane Austen wrote and not about herself at all. Disappointing sections but every now and then, something I didn't know.

[Lisa Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wellll...the title overstates its case. I guess there were hardly any revelations about Jane Austen that I didn't know already. Beware young Janeites, some of the revelations are highly speculative. Still for those who have read only the usually requisite P&P and have not read any of the bios such as the great one by Park Honan, this may hold some surprises. And the format is fun.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing new for Janeites, but a fun fact book regardless. Austen fans will like it as well as readers new to Austen and her work.

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tons of good and useful information about Jane Austen. I am rereading the book and am on page 68. Again.

[Sarah Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books I saved when Marie Kondo-ing!

[kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I was put off by the pedantic and fawning tone of the writing. This author is certainly (overly?) obsessed with Jane Austen. But I got over it eventually as I started to enjoy the information. It does a good job of connecting the Austen's life, relationships, and experiences to parts of her novels.

The most interesting chapter to me was at the end, which reviewed the opinions of Jane Austen's literary contemporaries, like Sir Walter Scott, many of whom were huge fans and raved about her in their personal journals or letters. I didn't realize that she preferred to remain private and so never did mingle with her contemporaries.

[Nichola · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm just reading some things I want to shed from my shelves- things I bought because they seemed relevant, but then just put next to my JA books and left there for YEARS. This fits that bill- impulse buy or maybe was a gift from a well-meaning friend. It was odd: a bit biographical, a bit what-was-it-like-in -her-time-period, a little bit myth busting. But broken up into 101 long paragraph type essays. I knew most of it, and didn't find the style particularly engaging, so I'm glad to release it back into the world.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of helpful research, but some of the ordering and construction are confusing. Also, because of the encyclopedic nature it often left me wanting to know more about a particular topic covered... guess I'll have to be inspired to do my own research in those areas. Overall enjoyable to this Austen fan.

[Michele Peoples · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joyful and informal read introducing intimate facts about the authoress to any reader's acquaintance level with Jane Austen was exactly what was needed for a work project. As entertaining and easy a read as Hannon designed, this book alone should be accompanied by a stronger, more substantial reference source when writing academically.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun way to explore the life of Jane Austen, but at times it was hard to read because the sections were so short, making the reading feel choppy. Regardless, it's a great book for any Austen lover to learn more about Jane's life and novels.

[Alex Roma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know that this book told me anything I didn't already know about Jane Austen, but it showed me things that I already knew about her in a new light. A light, fluffy read, like a sort of coffee table read obviously, but it was fun.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains lots of juicy facts I didn't know!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, but it got a bit repetitive.

[Tyesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. I love Jane Austen and enjoyed learning more about her.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has short chapters and easy-to-read thoughts about Jane Austen's life and writing, perfect for reading during a pandemic and an easy introduction to finding out more about Jane.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cool factoid-filled Jane Austen glimpse into her life, relationships with her family, friends, potential lovers, her writing, characters and the world as she saw it.

[writer... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, factual and fanciful, for JA fans .

[Lynnae Pulsipher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great facts, the type of book that is just fun to pick up and read a little here and there. And of course, it is about one of the best writers in the English language.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting and a fun book to pick up and read when I had only a few minutes.

[Nicole Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why, on earth, do you love Jane Austen? It's all just cry, have tea, get married...blah, blah, blah. Is the common reaction I receive when others learn that Jane Austen is my favorite novelist.

My husband made fun of Austen so much, that I forbade any more jokes until he'd gotten through one book. I think he's still stalled in the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice. That said - he's the one who's bought me my beautiful copy of the Jane Austen collection. And, he's the one who brought me home this book.

I tend to blather, and am murky when I try to explain Austen to others. So, instead, I'd like to share some quotes from much better qualified auhorities than myself.

Patrice Hannon (this book's author): "Jane Austen makes of ordinary occurrences the highest art, the most moving and amusing drama. Her delineation of perception and motive are supreme and her dialogue is unsurpassed...Her knowledge of character would not make Ausen's novels great if she did not also have consummate skill with the language...The narration is sophisticated and complex yet perfectly easy and natural. The comedy, whether witty or nonsensical, is unsurpassed, and delights the reader just as much upon the tenth reading as the first."

Maria Jewsbury (Austen's contemporary, and literary critic): "The secret is, Miss Austen was a thorough mistress of the knowledge of human character: how i is acted by education and circumstance; and how, when once formed, it shows itself through every hour of every day, and in every speech to every person."

Jane Austen herself, written in "Northanger Abbey" as a defense of good novels - and, I think, perfectly applicable to her own: works in which "the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language."

I am not lonely in my own love and appreciation for Jane Austen. Among my fellow fans? Sir Walter Scott, George Elliot, Anthony Trollop, Henry James, Alfred Lord Tennyson, E.M. Forster, Virginia Woolf, Rudyard Kipling, C.S. Lewis, P.d. James, J.K. Rowling and and and...

As long as I've gone this far...

Sir Walter Scott (in his journal, following his 3rd reading of "Pride and Prejudice"): Miss Austen has a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life, which is to me the most wonderful I have ever met with. [She has:] the exquisite touch which renders ordinary common-place things and characters interesting from the ruth of the description and the sentiment..."

George Henry Lewes (George Eliot's "husband"): "the most real...the most truthful, charming, humorous, pureminded, quick-witted, and unexaggerated of writers...Austen and Fielding are the greatest novelists in our language."

Thomas Macaulay said Austen came close to Shakespeare. Now, I don't know about that. That would be like comparing Weezer and Led Zeppelin. Both excellent...and completely separate and different.

High fallootin' praise aside. The gist is: I love reading Jane Austen's works. I relate to her characters and themes and stories. She makes me laugh. She helps me view my world differently. I enjoy reading of magic and murders - but, they aren't my life. The world of Jane Austen (with a few detail changes - like the year) - is my life. I think she's brilliant. And, I feel brilliant when I read her.

And: is it a coincidence that my daughter's middle name is Jayne? I'll leave the answer in the wind...

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandma found this one at Barnes & Noble (thanks, Grandma!) and I gave it a try and was not disappointed. After reading several books this year about Jane Austen's life, I didn't necessarily learn anything new, at least historical facts, from this book, but it is very well-written and has an interesting perspective on how the events in her life impacted her stories, and even gives examples from all the novels, as well as the unfinished novels and stories written in her youth, to support the author's opinion. I am now more eager than ever before to read those extra stories; I've not read anything until now that made them sound as intriguing and insightful. Despite reading all those other similar books about Austen's life, this one managed to be equally thought-provoking and enjoyable. Worth reading for all Jane Austen fans.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, having previously read Jane Austen: A Family Record by William and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh, I already knew most of the 101 things. However, this was a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting account of Jane Austen's life, in which the author ties in and analyzes Austen's writings according to events that occurred throughout her life. If you are a Jane Austen fan and would like to know more about her life and how it influenced her writing, I would definitely recommend this book. I've read the six main novels, but I am now eager to read the minor works as well.

Jane Austen: Family History

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. But then, I am interested in basically all things Austen. I was intrigued to see just how many things I actually did NOT know. And there were more than 101 things mentioned. This was more like 101 categories and then some facts fleshed out within those categories. I think I knew about 75% of this information. I liked learning new things, and I liked remembering things I have learned about Austen over the years. I liked the ties between Austen's life and her books. The book flowed remarkably well for basically being a "list of things." I liked it. I couldn't sit down and read it in huge chunks at a time (as evidenced by the time it took to read and the reading of other books in between). But still interesting. Deciding if I really want to keep it on my shelves at home, or pass along. It is a great book to have others read if they like Austen and would like to know more.

[Danna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I've finished it I can say I'm glad that I did. The author is an English Lit. prof who truly admires Austen's work. She calls her the greatest English novelist, or words to that effect.
The book is part biography and part literary criticism. While Austen's characters and plots reflect her view of the world I discovered that it is all fiction. I somehow concluded on a visit to her home in Chawton that Jane had drawn much of her work from real-life acquaintances and events. That is not the case.
What I really gained from reading this easy-reading, albeit academic, book is an appreciation of Jane as author and daughter-sister-aunt-neighbor-friend. Apparently she was well-liked and fun to be with. And she loved children and related well to them.