The Wisdom of Jane Austen

The men and women who shaped our world—in their own words.
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The Wisdom Library invites you on a journey through the lives and works of the world’s greatest thinkers and leaders. Compiled by scholars, this series presents excerpts from the most important and revealing writings of the most remarkable minds of all time.  

THE WISDOM OF JANE AUSTEN  

“Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility.”
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Few novelists are as beloved as Jane Austen. For more than 150 years, her books have been read and reread by fans who cherish her satirical wit and acute insight, and modern generations have discovered her irresistible characters through film and television adaptations. Though rooted in the social mores of the early nineteenth century, Jane Austen’s works are timelessly appealing, and her observations remain surprisingly relevant in our very different times. The Wisdom of Jane Austen gleans nuggets of advice—alternately reflective and savagely witty—from her impressive literary legacy and correspondence, revealing her views on subjects as diverse as love, marriage, education, fashion, friendship, pride, poverty, success, sense, and of course, sensibility. This collection of gems reveals the very essence of Jane Austen—delightfully, abundantly wise.