This volume contains the first and last novels Jane Austen ever wrote: Northanger Abbey and Persuasionboth of which were published posthumously. Her first novel, Northanger Abbey is a satire of the popular Gothic novels of the time that has at its heart a woman who, unlike her peers who crave wealth or social acceptance, wants only for an authentic happiness based on morality. Persuasion is the story of Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman who is surprised to find that her family has rented their house to her now-married fiancE from seven years previous. The stage is set for humorous situations and the promise of a rekindling of old flames. Jane Austen (1775 1817) was an English author known primarily for her novels, which critique the 18th century English upper classes and contemporary novels of sensibility. Her use of irony coupled with biting social commentary and realism have led to her wide acclaim amongst scholars and critics, her work contributing to the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Other notable works by this author include: Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), and Mansfield Park (1814). Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this book now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.