Jane Austen Complete Set 1900-01

6b Jane Austen. Illustrated by Charles E. Brock. London: Macmillan and Co., 1900-01. Five Volumes with all Six Major Novels; Sense and Sensibility (1901), Pride and Prejudice (1901), Mansfield Park (1901), Emma (18901), Northanger Abbey & Persuasion (1900)

Notes

Jane Austen (1775–1817) is among the most celebrated authors in English literature, renowned for her sharp wit, perceptive social commentary, and enduring explorations of love, marriage, class, and the complexities of human relationships. Her six major novels—Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey (1817), and Persuasion (1817)—offer intimate portraits of English society during the late Georgian and Regency periods, particularly the lives of women navigating the expectations and limitations of their social standing. Through memorable heroines such as Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, and Anne Elliot, Austen challenged conventional ideas about marriage and female independence, blending romantic storytelling with subtle irony and keen psychological insight. Although her novels frequently culminate in marriage, their significance extends far beyond romance, examining the tensions between personal happiness, financial security, social obligation, and individual judgment. Her distinctive narrative voice and pioneering use of free indirect discourse helped shape the development of the modern novel, establishing her as one of literature's most influential observers of human nature.

When Sense and Sensibility first appeared in 1811, its title page identified its author simply as “By a Lady,” reflecting the social conventions and limitations faced by women writers in early nineteenth-century England. Her subsequent novels were similarly published anonymously, often credited only to the author of her earlier works, and Austen's name did not appear on the title pages of her novels until the posthumous publication of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion in 1817. Though admired by contemporary readers, including members of the British aristocracy, Austen enjoyed only modest fame during her lifetime. Her literary reputation grew steadily throughout the nineteenth century, particularly following the publication of her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh's A Memoir of Jane Austen in 1869, which introduced her life and personality to a wider audience. By the twentieth century, her novels had become established classics, inspiring generations of readers, scholars, and filmmakers. Today, Austen is a household name synonymous with classic romance, celebrated through countless adaptations, literary societies, and a devoted international readership.

Description

Complete set is beautifully bound in salmon and maroon decorated cloth. Gilt lettering to upper board and spine. Some sun fading to the spines. Softening to head and foot of spines as well. All edges gilt. Very good condition.