“Jane Austen is one of the few writers in world literature considered a 'classic' yet widely read” (Kelly 1). Austen is the only writer, before Charles Dickens, whose novels maintain a significantly popular readership, and generations of students regard her fictional world as literature with a capital "L." British author Jane Austen gave the novel its distinctly modern character in the 19th century by depicting ordinary people in everyday life, depicting strong female protagonists, and describing the dangers of misunderstood romance. Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in Hampshire, England. Her father, George Austen, was a reverend in the small village of Steventon. His mother, Cassandra Leigh Austen, despite being born into a higher social class, chose to stay at home to raise their eight children. Austen, affectionately known as Jenny by her family, and her sister Cassandra were "...too close emotionally to be separated for school, despite their age difference..." (Kelly 2), so the girls received much part of their education at home by teaching themselves. The Austen family enjoyed putting on plays and reading, and one person often read aloud while other family members completed household chores. Not surprisingly, Austen quickly began to write and entertained her family with stories throughout her adolescence. Although Austen began several novels in the 1790s, they were not published for several years. “One reason Austen failed to bring a book to publication during these years may have been a series of personal losses…” (Kelly 2). After moving to Bath in 1801 due to her mother's failing health, Austen fell in love with a young clergyman, who died suddenly. In... middle of the paper...'s Sons, 2000. Literature Resource Center. Network. January 27, 2012.Pollock, W.F. “British Novelists.” Fraser's magazine. January 1860. pp.30-35. Rpt. in Bloom's classic critical opinions: Jane Austen. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Bloom-Infobase, 2007. pp. 120-121. "Review of 'Emma'." Augustan Revision 2.13 (May 1816): 484-486. Rpt. in nineteenth-century literary criticism. Ed. Janet Mullane and Robert Thomas Wilson. vol. 19. Detroit: Gale Research, 1988. Literature Resource Center. Network. January 27, 2012.Scott, Sir Walter. Quarterly review. October 1815. pp.192-200. Rpt. in Bloom's classic critical opinions: Jane Austen. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Bloom-Infobase, 2007. pp. 130-132. Whately, Archbishop. “Modern novels”. Quarterly review. January 1821. pp. 359-63, 375-85. Rpt. in Bloom's classic critical opinions: Jane Austen. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Bloom-Infobase, 2007, p.21.