JaneAustenremainsoneofthegreatestwritersofalltime.Almosttwohundredyearsafterherdeath,hernovelssuchas“PrideandPrejudice”and“MansfieldPark”continuetoentrancegenerationsofreaderstheworldover.ThisfilmshattersanyassumptionthatAustenherselflivedtheelegantRegencylifeofherfinanciallycomfortableheroineswhoultimatelyfindtheirtruelove.
　　InsteaditrevealstherealJaneAustenaspartofstrataofRegencysocietymuchcruellerinitstreatmentofwomenandharsherinitseconomicrealitiesthanhernovelsandtheircurrenttelevisionadaptationsconvey.Anditdiscoversawomanmoretragicinherownpersonallovelifewhodoesnotenjoythe“happyending”thatshebestowsuponherownfemalecharacters.
　　Throughreadingsanddramaticreconstructions,TheRealJaneAustenpiecestogethertherealityofAusten’sexistencehermodestupbringinginHampshireasoneofsevenchildrenofaclergymanherdisappointmentinloveandthefamily’spovertyfollowingthedeathofherfather.
　　ThroughherwritingJanefoundfinancialindependencewithouthavingtomarry.TragicallyonlyfouryearslaterinJuly1817whilewriting“Persuasion”JaneAustendied.
　　FilmedinlocationsassociatedwithAustenincludingJane’sbirthplaceofSteventonandherlaterhomeinChawton,andillustratedwithextractsfromfilmandtelevisionadaptationsofAusten’swork,TheRealAustenpaintsavividportraitofoneofthegreatesttalentsinEnglishliterature.