Post by The Author on May 25, 2011 9:20:45 GMT -5
Austen published all of her novels in the Regency period, during which King George III was declared permanently insane and his son was appointed as Prince Regent.
Throughout most of Austen's adult life, Britain was at war with revolutionary France. Fearing the spread of revolution and violence to Britain, the government tried to repress political radicals by suspending habeas corpus and passing the Seditious Meetings Act and the Treasonable Practices Act, known as the "Gagging Acts". Many reformers still held out hope for change in Britain during the 1790s, but by the first two decades of the 19th century, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars had exhausted the country and a deep conservative reaction had set in.
While Austen's novels rarely explicitly touch on these events, she herself was personally affected by them, as two of her brothers served in the Royal Navy. When Napoleon was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Britain rejoiced. However, economic hardships in the 1810s increased the income disparity in the country and class conflict rose as the Industrial Revolution began. (Source: Wikipedia)
It is important to note that many of Jane Austen's heroes (and villains) are soldiers. Because the country was at war, one might wonder why the soldiers were not fighting. The reason for this is that many of the soldiers in Austen's works (particularly Pride and Prejudice) are militia, amateurs with little training who were required to defend the country, particularly along the English Channel, where many feared Napoleon would attempt an invasion. No invasion ever took place.
Other soldiers, such as Sense and Sensibility's Colonel Brandon, were past the retirement age for soldiers at that time, even though by today's standards they would not be considered "old." Persuasion's Captain Wentworth was a naval officer, and was released from service after the defeat of Napoleon.
Throughout most of Austen's adult life, Britain was at war with revolutionary France. Fearing the spread of revolution and violence to Britain, the government tried to repress political radicals by suspending habeas corpus and passing the Seditious Meetings Act and the Treasonable Practices Act, known as the "Gagging Acts". Many reformers still held out hope for change in Britain during the 1790s, but by the first two decades of the 19th century, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars had exhausted the country and a deep conservative reaction had set in.
While Austen's novels rarely explicitly touch on these events, she herself was personally affected by them, as two of her brothers served in the Royal Navy. When Napoleon was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Britain rejoiced. However, economic hardships in the 1810s increased the income disparity in the country and class conflict rose as the Industrial Revolution began. (Source: Wikipedia)
It is important to note that many of Jane Austen's heroes (and villains) are soldiers. Because the country was at war, one might wonder why the soldiers were not fighting. The reason for this is that many of the soldiers in Austen's works (particularly Pride and Prejudice) are militia, amateurs with little training who were required to defend the country, particularly along the English Channel, where many feared Napoleon would attempt an invasion. No invasion ever took place.
Other soldiers, such as Sense and Sensibility's Colonel Brandon, were past the retirement age for soldiers at that time, even though by today's standards they would not be considered "old." Persuasion's Captain Wentworth was a naval officer, and was released from service after the defeat of Napoleon.