Poor Jane Austen. I heard on NPR this morning that a painting reputed to be of her is up for auction today. However, many experts believe the painting couldn’t possibly be a portrait of Jane. Why not? The girl shown is too pretty! Obviously, female writers must be unattractive word-nerds, more accustomed to sitting in the corner observing rather than dancing the night away as the belle of the ball.
It’s doubtful we’ll ever know the truth, but it is interesting to ponder whether English literature would be lacking one of the greatest opening lines ever if Jane had only had a few more dates
