Persuasion (Dover Thrift Editions) Page 25
by Jane Austen
Born into a family of modest means, Austen brought humor, intelligence, and a cynical snap to her heroines and her subject matter, which subverted the expectations of the popular and sentimental romances of the era. Her audacious social commentary and sophisticated realism won Austen approval from upper-class opinion makers as well as readers. But it was Austen's witty and ironic observations of class and gender divisions that were so distinctive--and today, so influential and universal. With a lasting impact on popular culture, Austen's canon of work still holds a mirror to each new generation of readers.
