Jane Austen: The Girl with the Magic Pen!

This account of Jane Austen’s life is written in a friendly, conversational style, easy to read and informative. It gives a digestible amount of detail of life at the end of the eighteenth century, explaining aspects of society and class, parenting and schooling.

Jane’s story is, perhaps, less well known than that of the Brontës but there are similarities: daughter of a clergyman, Jane was surrounded by books and the expression of ideas; the family wrote their own plays and shared a love of wit and quick repartee. Largely unfettered by formal schooling, Jane experienced an enviable degree of freedom as she grew up.

Billed as a suitable tie-in with the Key Stage 3 (11-14 year olds) history curriculum, the book is certainly readable enough by that age-group. Recent TV and film adaptations may have stimulated interest, but I can’t imagine many young people having a great deal of interest in Austen’s life otherwise before KS4 (14-16 year olds).

The book ends with a useful chronology of Jane’s life, and a ridiculous multi-choice quiz. (Sample question: After her death, fans of Austen’s work – flocked to visit her grave, erected a statue in her honour, released a hit single in her memory? You will have to read the book to find out which…)