Jane Austen's novels are a solid part of the literary canon and have never been out print. They have been made into many modern movies and are common household names; however, they are largely misunderstood by the general public.
On the surface, Austen's novels all involve characters from provincial communities in rural England who seem to be removed from greater social movements, war, industry, colonization, and imperialism. This could not be further from the truth.
Jane Austen For Beginners explores Austen's true intention of her novels: to address money, the marriage market, class movement, and a radical upheaval appearing the social fabric of English and British societies.