The novels of Jane Austen have captured the imaginations of generations around the world for over two centuries. Not only do these books maintain a special place in literary and popular culture, but there is also an entire multimillion-dollar industry of adaptations, organizations, and merchandise surrounding Austen and her work. Austen is one of the most beloved novelists of all time, and since her early death at age 41, she has become nothing short of a legend. And with legendary status comes the inevitable bending and embellishment of the truth.

In the six lectures of Who Was Jane Austen? Sorting Fact from Fiction, you’ll join literary scholar Stephanie Insley Hershinow to explore some of the most enduring myths surrounding Austen and her work. As you dive into the Regency period and the details of Austen’s life, you’ll hear her debunk many longstanding assumptions and misrepresentations that have shaped her image in the popular imagination.

Many of the original myths surrounding Austen were constructed by her own family, and most of her letters were destroyed to preserve her reputation as a sweet and unassuming spinster with no pretentions to fame or fortune. While we may now lack many of the primary sources that would reveal a more complete portrait of the author, a thorough reading of what we do have reveals a complex and fascinating woman who has been too long overshadowed by her own mythology. Join Professor Hershinow as she peels back the layers of myth and misconception to uncover the real Jane Austen.