Jane Austen: Literature and Legacy

A moderately successful author in her own lifetime, Jane Austen has since become a global phenomenon: her writings are now read the world over and successive generations of readers have been captivated by her innovative fusion of romance and reality. Why do Austen’s novels continue to resonate so deeply across the centuries? Join this course to explore the stylistic techniques she invented and to discover how Austen’s work continues to influence literature and popular culture today.

This course focuses on the novels of Jane Austen, four published in her lifetime (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma), two published posthumously (Persuasion, Northanger Abbey), and one unfinished fragment (Sanditon). You will examine key themes in Austen’s novels, such as the roles of family and femininity, of class, manners, status and authority, and you will learn about Austen’s pioneering and distinctive narrative techniques, including her use of free indirect discourse, epistolary narration, and natural dialogue. You will consider the various contexts of Austen’s writing (historical, literary, social, political); the reception of her work in numerous prequels and sequels; the critical reassessment of her works encouraged by feminist or postcolonial approaches; and the cultural phenomenon of Austen adaptations in theatre, film, and ‘fan-fiction’, from traditional interpretations to modern re-imaginings such as Bride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’s Diary.

This course provides a thorough introduction to the life, works, and influence of Jane Austen, and is perfect for students seeking to develop their knowledge of this popular author and their skills of literary analysis.

By the end of this course, you will:

• Possess a comprehensive understanding of the life and works of Austen
• Be able to close-read and critically engage with Austen's works and analyse their historical and cultural contexts.
• Understand and critically assess the key debates regarding Austen and her works.
• Develop a critical vocabulary for discussing Austen.

This course would suit students of the Humanities, especially those with an interest in English Literature, Theatre, or Dramatic Arts. There are no specific prerequisites for participation but close literary reading of extensive amounts of text will be central to the course, and experience of undergraduate level study of literature is therefore recommended.

Available as a Residential course on the following dates:

Session 2: 20th July - 7th August 2026

Click below to find out how to apply.