真实的简·奥斯汀

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