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.