“...it is very well worth while to be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it. Consider - if reading had not been taught, Mrs. Radcliffe would have written in vain - or perhaps might not have written at all.”

English novelist of the early 19th century, Jane Austen is best known for her sharp social satire and keen observations of English class and gender dynamics. Her works, including *Pride and Prejudice* and *Emma*, explore marriage, morality, and personal agency with wit and precision.