Began drafting Pride and Prejudice (originally First Impressions)

Austen began writing in Oct. 1796 at only 20 years old, finished only 10 months later in Aug. 1797.

Sells "Susan"

Jane Austen

Jane Austen's brother Henry, acting through his lawyer, William Seymour, sells a revised draft of Susan (later to become Northanger Abbey) to the publisher Benjamin Crosby of London for £10. Crosby advertises the novel, but never publishes it.

Image: Watercolor painting of Jane Austen by Cassandra Austen, c. 1804. "Portraits of Jane Austen." Jane Austen Society of North America, https://jasna.org/austen/more-on-jane-austens-life/portraits/. 

Sense and Sensibility Published

Jane Austen's brother, Henry Austen, worked as an agent on behalf of Jane and got in contact with a publisher, Thomas Egerton. Egerton published the novel anonymously in October of 1811. The novel was well-liked, and by 1813, the first edition had completely sold out. 

Jane Austen Biography

Image: "Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen" by cwasteson is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Pride and Prejudice published anonymously

Published “anonymously” Jan. 28, 1813.

First Publication of Mansfield Park

(Image of the title page of the First Edition)

Mansfield Park was published more than once, by different people, during Jane Austens lifetime. The first time it was published was on the second of July, 1814, by Thomas Egerton, who had previously published Sense and Sensibility. Outside of publishing Austen's work, there's little to be said about his publishing repertoire. The novel initially launched to radio silence from critics, but was widely-loved by fans of Austen's previously released work at the time.

Img Src: (Jane Austen (1775-1817), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Katherine Frazier

Second Publication of Mansfield Park

The second time Mansfield Park was published was by John Murray in 1816. Egerton refused to publish a second edition so Austen and her brother Henry went to another publisher. Murray offered to buy the copyright for Mansfield Park but Austen turned him down and paid on commission again. Egerton and Murray were both better off for this choice as Austen did not make enough profit, only about £39, to be worth the second print. 

Pride and Prejudice "Peacock Edition" published

Pride and Prejudice (1940) Wins An Oscar

In 1941, Cedric Gibbons and Paul Grosse won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction In A Black-and-White Film for their work on Pride and Prejudice (1940). Gibbons and Groesse collaborated as the production designers for the film. Gibbons would eventually become the designer of the famous golden Oscars statuette. 

Sense and Sensibility Radio Drama

The Sense and Sensibility Radio Drama, produced by BBC Radio 7, adapted by Louise Page, and directed by Vanessa Whitburn first broadcast in 1991. It was divided into four parts that played over four days, so you can imagine the suspense that those who hadn't already heard the story felt when they had to wait an entire day to hear the rest. Jane Leonard played Elinor Dashwood, and Abigal McKern played Marianne. 

 

 

Persuasion (1995) Released

On April 16, 1995, BBC aired Persuasion on its television network for UK audiences. This adaptation, though made for television by BBC, had theatrical releases in the US and Australia. It is one of the most critically aclaimed adaptations of Jane Austen's work, won five BAFTA awards: Best Single Drama, photography/lighting, costume design, design, and original television music.

Bridget Jones's Diary (Pride & Prejudice Adaptation) Is Released

Bridget Jones's Diary Release Date

Bridget Jones's Diary, starring Hugh Grant, Reneé Zellweger, & Colin Firth, is released on April 13, 2001. Although many viewers do not realize the connection, the blockbuster film is a modern, humorous take on Pride and Prejudice. 

Mansfield Park TV Movie Adaptation

The 2007 Mansfield Park is a BBC television movie that is adapted from the novel of the same name. Billie Piper stars as the main protagonist Fanny Price and Blake Riston stars as Edmund Bertram. Critics found this to be a mixed bag, some praising the entertaining and strong female characters while others mostly criticized that the flim strayed too far from the book. This take on the novel has Billie Piper's Fanny Price seen in a "modern" look and itched to break out of her quiet and observant role, which is a significant difference from the novel. 

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters Cover Art

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monster is a parody novel by Ben H. Winters published in 2009. Winters’ is parodying Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility. In an Article he wrote for Slate.com titled, “This Scene Could Really Use a Man-Eating Jellyfish

How I wrote Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.” He states that the publishers told him that 60% of the novel had to be Austen, while 40% could be him. He said that this was a major relief because finding time for balls and social events is a little hard while being chased by monsters of the deep.

 If 60% of the novel stays true to the original S&S one might wonder what changes. To start off, much of the novel's locations are shifted to be much closer to the ocean, or rather, the ocean is shifted to be nearer to them. London itself is an underwater utopia for survivors of “The Alteration” An event in which sea monsters suddenly become aggressive towards humans and the sea levels of England rise. Some of the characters of S&S go through more dramatic changes in S&S&SM. The two most notable are Colonel Brandon and Sir John.

 In this adaptation Sir John is a madman living on an island full castaway style. While Colonel Brandon is subject to experiments that leave him with a squid beard. However, the overall story of S&S&SM stays true to Austen’s original. Moments of conflict from S&S are usually kept in but interrupted by ravenous narwhals or genocidal dolphins in Winters’ version.  While it may not be the most necessary adaptation, S&S&SM is able to once again capture the crisis that’s felt in the original work for modern audiences. I’d give it a solid 6.5 on the adaptation scale.

Emma (2020)

2020: Emma (2020) is one of the most recent Jane Austen Adaptations. Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design and Best Hair and Makeup. The film won Best Costume Design for the Chicago Film Critics Association.