Jane Austen's universal truths

This text provides a selection of quotations from Austen, which seek to demonstrate Austen's knowledge of the human character which underpins elements of her writing.

The theme of this collection is the unchanging nature of human beings.

Readers may recognize, amongst their families and friends and acquantances, character types and social situations described by Austen nearly 200 years ago.

The quotations are ordered by themes, dipping into all Jane Austen's novels for apt comments on particular subjects.

These include the battle of the sexes, sorrow and joy, town and country, the gaining of wisdom, and our moral duty.

The text fuses the elegance and humour of Austen's writing with a collection of truths which are in themselves universal and timeless in their relevance.

The fiction of Austen has enjoyed renewed popularity, especially since Emma Thompson's production of "Sense and Sensibility" and the BBC's "Pride and Prejudice".