The Story of Jane Austen
Everything you need to know about Jane Austen and more!
Background
What Popular Novels You Have, Ms. Austen!
Austen's books were an instant success upon being released. Despite the difficulty of getting anybody to publish her books (she had to have her brother submit the drafts, as she was not taken as seriously because she was a woman), the public enjoyed her works. Women valued the books for having the point of view of a woman, not the traditional male-centered novels of the early 19th century, and the general public was amused and interested in her distinctive style of writing.
How Interesting!
Teenage Girls Now vs. Teenage Girls Then
How to communicate
2016: Cell phones, text messaging, social media, telephone
1800: Telegraph, limited telephone in some areas, slow mail service
Just for fun…
2016: Football games, extra-curricular activities, band practice, hanging out, watching movies, involvement in youth group
1800:Barn dances, fishing, sewing, tea parties (for the more affluent)
What’s for dinner?
2016: Pizza, lasagna, spaghetti, hamburgers
1800:Chili and cornbread, stewed duck, mince pie
Snacks, anyone?
2016: Potato chips, candy bar, soda
1800: Lemon puffs, gingerbread cookies
When I grow up, I want to be a…
2016: Engineer, lawyer, astronaut, CEO of a large company, veterinarian, teacher (and of course, mother and wife, too!)
1800: Mother, wife, teacher, nanny
Modes of transportation
2016: Cars, planes, subways, taxis, bicycles
1800:Horses, wagons/carriages, by foot, some train travel
A typical day
2016: Get up, get dressed for school, eat breakfast if there’s time; after school, go to soccer practice, hang out with friends, eat dinner, go to bed.
1800: Get up, do chores, eat breakfast with the family, go to school; after school, come home, do homework, more chores, eat dinner, go to bed.
At age 16…
2016: Involved in extracurricular activities, maybe a part-time job; thinking of college choices and career paths
1800: Thinking of marriage
The awesome things…
2016: Advances in modern medicine, modern conveniences, such as dishwashers and indoor plumbing, more diverse fashions, makeup
1800: Simpler more relaxed times, more family-oriented, God and church a priority, most food homegrown, healthier eating, fashions consisted of prairie dresses
The not-so-good-things…
2016: Peer pressure, more drugs, crime & poverty; breakdown in family, God is more commonly forgotten and excluded
1800: Death from now-curable diseases, life expectancy not as long, hard backbreaking work, travel was slow