Jane Austen was an English novelist born in 1775 who wrote 6 major works exploring the expectations of women in early 19th century English society. She examined the difficulties women faced regarding inheritance, financial security, and finding a suitable husband. Her novels Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma were published during her lifetime, while Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published posthumously. Though she never married, Austen gained recognition as a brilliant observer of her society and its prejudices through her witty and insightful narratives.