I fell in love with Jane Austen more than 25 years ago when I was a college student spending a semester in London. <\/p>\n
Loaded down with inexpensive Penguin Classic paperbacks, I worked my way through all of Austen’s novels while huddled beneath a down duvet, the radiator blasting away against a remarkably chilly British winter. While the snow fell outside, I fell in love with Lizzie, Emma, Elinor and Marianne, and all the rest of Austen’s heroines\u2013not to mention her heroes.<\/p>\n
In the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to make several return visits to England, and each time I’ve been able to connect with Jane Austen in new ways. These trips led to my trio of Austen-related novels, each centering around a group called the Formidables\u2014a secret society that protects precious Austen artifacts. <\/p>\n
Although the Formidables are a product of my imagination, my devotion to Jane Austen and her work is very real. Here are some of the many lessons I’ve learned from her over the years.<\/p>\n