Английский язык. Часть II. Коныгина Г.И - 6 стр.

of human nature. She ridicules the silly, the affected, and the vain. Austen’s
finely crafted plots, quick wit, keen commentary and irony are inexhaustible de-
light to readers.

D Nowadays millions of book-lovers eagerly read and reread Jane Austen’s
works of fiction. Her writings attract readers greatly and her novels are
continuously in print. Modern critics are fascinated by exceptional perfection of
plot construction, character presentation and style elegance. In sum, the artist
Jane Austen has attained worldwide renown, her genius has gained the universal
appreciation which it undoubtedly deserves.

E The steadfast support of her family was crucial to Austen's development as a
professional writer. Jane started writing fiction very young. At the age of six,
she was writing verses. At the age of fourteen, Jane produced numerous amusing
and instructive pieces of writing that were comic imitations and exuberant
parodies of the sentimental novels popular at that time.

F In December 1800, Jane’s father unexpectedly announced his decision to
retire from the ministry, leave Steventon, and move the family to Bath. Jane was
dismayed at the perspective of leaving her native place. Soon after the relocation
to Bath her father died. The remaining family members were left in a precarious
financial situation. For the next four years, they lived in rented quarters and
shared houses with relatives.
    Eventually, in 1809, the Austen women settled in the village of Chawton.
Here they had a cottage which became Jane's last home and which is at present
Jane Austen's House Museum where one can see an extensive collection of
family mementoes and documentary material. Now Jane led a quieter life, did
not socialize much with the neighbouring gentry and was at leisure to devote
herself to writing. She wrote her novels almost daily, on the small round table,
sitting in the busy family parlour.

G Biographical information concerning Austen is "famously scarce", according
to one scholar. It is definitely known that Jane Austen was born into the landed
gentry on 16 December, 1775 in Steventon, in the south of England. Her father,
the Reverend George Austen, served as rector of the rural parish. He
supplemented this income by farming and tutoring. Her mother was a woman of
ready wit, famed for her impromptu verses and stories. Jane Austen's immediate
family was large: six brothers and one sister. They were affectionate and high-
spirited people. Jane was greatly attached to her elder sister, Cassandra. She was
Jane’s lifelong companion and confidante. Of her brothers, Austen felt closest to
Henry, who was his sister's literary agent.



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