The History of England

Jane Austen, one of the nation’s most beloved authors, whose face adorns our currency, surely needs no introduction, but while many are familiar with her groundbreaking novels, few have come across her short burlesque work The History of England. Billed a history ‘from the reign of Henry IV to Charles I by a partial, prejudiced and ignorant historian’, The History of England pokes fun at the overly verbose and grand histories of Austen’s day. Written when she was just fifteen, this is a comic tour de force that shows Austen’s wit developing into the satirical prowess she is remembered for.