Jane Austen is one of the most famous English-language novelists, renowned for the elegance, wit, and clarity of her prose, and for her social criticism of Regency England. The daughter of a Church of England cleric, Jane began writing in her teenage years a series of sketches, plays and novellas for the entertainment of her family. In 1797 she completed her first novel 'Pride and Prejudice', then titled 'First Impressions,' but her father was unable to find a publisher for it.
Undaunted, Jane continued to work on the text for 'Sense and Sensibility' and in 1797-99, wrote what would be published as 'Northanger Abbey.' The latter text was accepted for publication in 1802, but the publisher, Crosby, declined to publish it and refused to return the manuscript and copyright unless Austen bought it back, which she decided against.
'Sense and Sensibility' was finally printed by Thomas Egerton in 1811. The author was not named, and the work was attributed to 'a Lady.' Published in three volumes and priced at 15 shillings, it probably had a print run of 1,000 copies or fewer. Despite its low-key publication the work sold out. A revised version of the text of 'Pride and Prejudice' was published by Egerton in 1813, priced at 18 shillings, to favourable reviews. Austen had sold the copyright to Egerton for less than she wanted however and she did not benefit financially from later editions of the book that was by far the most successful of the 4 novels published in her lifetime.
'Mansfield Park' followed in 1814, and the first edition sold out. 'Emma' was published in 1816 by John Murray, who also published the second edition of 'Mansfield Park.' The text of 'Persuasion' was completed in 1816 by which time Austen had regained control of the manuscript and copyright for 'Northanger Abbey.' She was seriously ill though and did not live to see these 2 novels published in 1818 by Murray as a four volume-set. Prefaced by her brother Henry's 'biographical notice', this was the first acknowledgement in print of Jane Austen as the author of her six novels.
Austen's reputation as a writer grew after her death and all 6 of the novels were available in new and affordable editions from the early 1830s onwards. By the early to mid-20th century, Austen's abilities as a writer began to be championed by scholars in Britain and North America. Moreover, her work was adapted for the stage and screen, bringing her work to a far wider audience.
First editions of Austen's works are much sought after, particularly in the original publisher's bindings or contemporary leather bindings, as they only had print-runs of between 1,000-2,000 copies. Also very collectable is the 1894 first illustrated edition of 'Pride and Prejudice,' the so-called 'Peacock Edition' after its striking cloth publisher's binding.
