Jane Austen

Books by Jane Austen

Jane Austen (1775-1817) only published four novels in her lifetime, but the stories still resonate today with countless screen adaptations, modern retellings and a multitude of recommendations on Five Books.

Interviews where books by Jane Austen were recommended

The Best Jane Austen Books, recommended by Patricia Meyer Spacks

Jane Austen was a British novelist who died in 1817 at the age of just 41, but whose books have stood the test of time. In the 21st century, her novels continue to be not only studied in school but also read for pleasure. We asked the distinguished Austen scholar Patricia Meyer Spacks to talk us through the best Jane Austen novels and explain what it is that makes them special.

Ten Classic British Novels

Since Five Books was set up in 2009, we’ve interviewed more than 2,000 experts on all manner of subjects. Here’s our roundup of the ten classic British novels that have been recommended most often, starting with Middlemarch, described by Virginia Woolf as “one of the few English novels written for grownup people”.

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