JaneAustenremainsoneofthegreatestwritersofalltime.Almosttwohundredyearsafterherdeath,hernovelssuchas“PrideandPrejudice”and“MansfieldPark”continuetoentrancegenerationsofreaderstheworldover.ThisfilmshattersanyassumptionthatAustenherselflivedtheelegantRegencylifeofherfinanciallycomfortableheroineswhoultimatelyfindtheirtruelove.
InsteaditrevealstherealJaneAustenaspartofstrataofRegencysocietymuchcruellerinitstreatmentofwomenandharsherinitseconomicrealitiesthanhernovelsandtheircurrenttelevisionadaptationsconvey.Anditdiscoversawomanmoretragicinherownpersonallovelifewhodoesnotenjoythe“happyending”thatshebestowsuponherownfemalecharacters.
Throughreadingsanddramaticreconstructions,TheRealJaneAustenpiecestogethertherealityofAusten’sexistencehermodestupbringinginHampshireasoneofsevenchildrenofaclergymanherdisappointmentinloveandthefamily’spovertyfollowingthedeathofherfather.
ThroughherwritingJanefoundfinancialindependencewithouthavingtomarry.TragicallyonlyfouryearslaterinJuly1817whilewriting“Persuasion”JaneAustendied.
FilmedinlocationsassociatedwithAustenincludingJane’sbirthplaceofSteventonandherlaterhomeinChawton,andillustratedwithextractsfromfilmandtelevisionadaptationsofAusten’swork,TheRealAustenpaintsavividportraitofoneofthegreatesttalentsinEnglishliterature.