On opening up this article, you may have thought, “Wow, someone really got on your nerves when talking about Jane Austen.” You would be correct. 

When I bring up my admiration of Austen’s work, I’ve been met with a variety of reactions. From a belief the novels are old-timey boring stuff to a dismissal of the romance genre, the long-deceased author faces stereotypes and criticism. In light of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, I’m here to prove them wrong. 

Look, I can understand not liking Austen’s work. Most people see a publish date like 1811 and think of pointless adjectives and conversation that is far too difficult to understand. It can seem like a lot of work, and let’s face it, Americans aren’t exactly big readers, so they may find all this discouraging, which is understandable.

However, I dare to argue that the language is part of what makes Austen so impactful. “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it eight years and a half ago.” 

I think that excerpt from Persuasion speaks for itself.

While the language may be more complicated and require a deeper analysis to fully understand, it’s incredibly beautiful and totally worth it to spend a bit more time on a far more layered paragraph.

Now some people may turn up their noses at the fact that Austen writes romances. Even if we ignore the fact that seven out of 10 of the top books of 2024 were romances or romantasy, I think we can acknowledge that romance shows up in many forms of media. Just because something has romance in it does not make it inherently trashy or dumb. And as a significant writer of romance, Austen paved the way for so many things we read or watch today.

So yes, many of Austen’s novels have a romance plot. However, that’s not all she writes. Her novels also contain serious discussions of class and gender. Austen highlights the reality of women during her time period, who in many cases do not have basic economic independence or the ability to inherit property. In Pride and Prejudice, for instance, the women in the novel could end up homeless if they do not find husbands. Marriage, in Austen’s world, is not just a romantic proposition, but an economic one. 

Thirdly, if Austen is difficult to read and only writes trashy romances, why are there so many adaptations? Austen’s six published works, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, have amassed many adaptations. 

Some successful adaptations stay true to the original text while others put Austen’s characters into a modern setting or add new story elements. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Bridget Jones’ Diary are examples of books based on Austen’s works that were so successful they were adapted into movies. Clueless, a 90s film with Alicia Silverstone based on Emma, made $56,631,572 at the box office. Pride and Prejudice was adapted in 1940, 1995, again in 2005 and another adaptation is currently in production. Through the decades, Austen’s work holds onto its appeal, maintaining relevance for a 21st century audience. 

Whether you prefer a second-chance romance, a rivals to lovers story, a tale of sisterhood, or a gothic satire, Austen has it all. And even if she isn’t your cup of tea, Austen has made an impact on the way we read romance and tell stories.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Charlotte Moser at [email protected].