Special Issue: Jane Austen after 200 Years
One of the original bestselling authors, Jane Austen (1775-1817) has successfully managed to bridge the gap between what is often perceived as the non-negotiable chasm between canonical and popular literature. Her works, two centuries after her demise, are, in fact without exaggeration, more popular now than in her own period. Once written off as an author who provides the readers with a limited perspective of the world — as her characters are seemingly unperturbed by political events, Austen shows unparalleled finesse in depicting the characters and setting using a “fine brush” to artistically explore and exploit her “two inches of ivory”. What is evident, debates regarding her subject matter notwithstanding, is that Austen’s popularity has not faded.