This book is a masterful and eminently readable presentation of the life and works of England's greatest woman novelist and easily the most beautifully illustrated book on that author that has ever been published. Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels is essential reading for students of literature and of social history and for all Jane Austen and enthusiasts who want to gain new insights into her work. Eminent Austen scholar Deirdre Le Faye presents a meticulously researched overview of life in early 19th century England, from foreign affairs to fashion, from transport to drains; she goes on to consider each novel individually, explaining its action, its setting, the reaction of public and critics and Jane's own feelings about the book. - Back cover.