Discover the Quirky Side of Literature: Top 9 Fun Facts About Jane Austen You Never Knew!

1. Young Writing Prodigy

Before she ever went viral with her Regency tea-spilling, young Jane Austen busied herself honing her literary skills as if the pen truly was mightier than the sword: She was already penning poems and satirical parodies of popular fiction at the tender age of 12, accumulating her early works into three intriguingly-named volumes - "Volume the First," "Volume the Second," and "Volume the Third."
Source => chipublib.org

2. Romantic Rejections Inspire Classics

"Oh! Just hand me an Austen-tatious ice pack, for a romantic rejection has never felt this good!" When Jane Austen swiped left on Harris Bigg-Wither's proposal, little did she realize it would be the ultimate swipe-right for literary-inspired relationships: This heartbreakingly hilarious moment in Austen's life inspired unconventional dynamics in her novels, such as Charlotte Lucas tying the knot with the oh-so-awkward Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice, and the love-hate saga of Fanny and Henry in Mansfield Park, much to her family's chagrin.
Source => digitalausten.org

Did you know Beatrix Potter may have secretly proposed via snail mail? Discover the mysterious love story and its impact on her life in our fun facts! 💌💔

=> Fun Facts about Beatrix-Potter

3. Jane Austen's Beach Escapades

Who says beaches are just for bikinis and surfboards? Jane Austen was hitting the waves way before Baywatch made it cool! Ditching sandcastles for seaside soirees, our dear Jane dipped her toes in the splashy shores of Regency-era England: Contrary to popular belief, Austen would frequently and delightfully indulge in bathing activities during her holidays at coastal hotspots such as Dawlish, Sidmouth, and the Lyme Regis, even sparking whispers of a mysterious beach romance within her life, although the tantalizing details elude confirmation to this day.
Source => theguardian.com

4. Jane's New Tenner Takeover

Move over, Darwin, there's a new 10-pound babe in town: Jane Austen replaced Charles Darwin on the British £10 note back in 2017, after the Bank of England received backlash for not featuring enough women on their currency. Austen's portrait, adapted from a sketch by her sister Cassandra, along with her iconic Pride and Prejudice quote, “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!” rubs shoulders with Queen Elizabeth on our beloved banknotes.
Source => slate.com

5. Groovy Novelist's Six Iconic Works

Austen Powers: Beyond the world of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen - the original groovy novelist - notched up a marvellous total of six iconic works. Fear not, for her literary prowess extends far beyond the realm of Darcy and Elizabeth with Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion, each continuing to wow the masses and tickle the intellects of readers globally.
Source => gradesfixer.com

6. Austen Family's Swashbuckling Hero

Ahoy, fellow Austen-aficionados! Did you know Jane Austen's family had their own seaworthy swashbuckler prowling the waters, making Jack Sparrow shake in his boots? Lo and behold: Jane's elder brother, Sir Francis William Austen, was a legendary Royal Navy officer who captured around 40 ships and played a crucial part in numerous battles during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars, even participating in the Battle of San Domingo. He eventually became Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station, and was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet before sailing into the sunset at the ripe age of 91.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Austen Parodies in Present-Day Academia

Imagine Jane Austen's works being the muse for a session of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?": At a University of Maine at Farmington Symposium Day, students from English 477 channeled their inner Austen to create parodies based on her works, presenting a delightful panel discussion on how they concocted their delightful imitations and even sharing samples of their parodical masterpieces, proving that Austen's pen has left an indelible mark on the funny bones of generations to come.
Source => englishumf.wordpress.com

8. Dragons Meet Darcy: Austen Adaptations

In a twist that would make Jane Austen as giddy as Bennet sisters at a regency ball, the 21st-century literary scene now witnesses the quirkiest of Austen adaptations with dragons playing Mr. Darcy: Austen in August is a month-long celebration featuring book discussions, author interviews, and a spectacular array of Austen adaptations, from modern reinventions to cross-cultural reimaginings and yes, even dragon-filled fantasy tales!
Source => modernmrsdarcy.com

9. From First Impressions to Pride and Prejudice

Before Elizabeth Bennet could ask "To post, or not to post," on her Finsta, and send her sister hurried pigeon posts about her latest encounter with a certain Mr. Darcy, Jane Austen had a bit of literary indecision: Originally titled "First Impressions" in 1797, the classic novel we now know as Pride and Prejudice underwent some revisions before being published with its current title in 1813.
Source => nypl.org