What a compelling documentary about the life of one of England's greatest authors.
Lucy Worsley is always good value on account of her knowledge, understated enthusiasm and presentational style (notwithstanding the negative views of some) and this is an intelligent and highly informative programme. It also gives huge insights into the lives of people in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, highlighting some of the quite intriguing and, for a modern audience, inexplicable class differentials that then existed.
Although Jane had very 'well-to-do' connections' she was still not really acceptable in the best society, even by her own brother. As for being a published author, Jane was simply not allowed to be named as such, given the mores of the time. Her own accounts nonetheless show a woman who had great feelings for those who provided her with support and service, regardless of her own 'superiority'.
From the documentary it seems clear that Jane's novels reflected her own real life experiences which brings them even more into focus and makes her times even more tangible. It was a very different world and we have Jane Austen to thank for giving us such a realistic glimpse of the lives of people of her situation some 200 years ago, not only through her novels but also through her other writings, those of other family members and mundane elements such as her household accounts.
This is fascinating social history and it is so sad that she died so young. Had she been granted a few more years she may even have challenged Dickens as England's greatest novelist and observer of her times.
