Jane Austen’s novels scrutinize the English middle classes.

Her novel Emma, about youthful hubris and the perils of misconstrued romance, is first published on December 23, 1815.

Around early 1809, Austen's brother Edward had offered his mother and sisters the use of a large cottage in Chawton village that was part of Edward's nearby estate, Chawton House.

Jane, Cassandra, and their mother moved into Chawton cottage on July 7, 1809.

In Chawton, life was quieter than it had been since the family's move to Bath in 1800.

The Austens did not socialize with the neighboring gentry and entertained only when family visited.

Austen wrote almost daily, but privately, and seems to have been relieved of some household responsibilities to give her more opportunity to write and be productive as a writer once more.

During her time at Chawton, Austen has successfully publishes four novels, which are generally well-received.

Through her brother Henry, the publisher Thomas Egerton had agreed to publish Sense and Sensibility, which had appeared in October 1811.

Reviews had been favorable and the novel had become fashionable among opinion-makers; the edition had sold out by mid-1813.

Austen's earnings from Sense and Sensibility have provided her with some financial and psychological independence.

Egerton then published Pride and Prejudice, a revision of First Impressions, in January 1813.

He had advertised the book widely and it was an immediate success, garnering three favorable reviews and selling well.

By October 1813, Egerton had been able to begin selling a second edition.

Mansfield Park had been published by Egerton in May 1814.

Ignored by reviewers, it has been a great success with the public.

All copies had been sold within six months, and Austen's earnings on this novel are larger than for any of her other novels.

Austen learns that the Prince Regent admires her novels and keeps a set at each of his residences.

In November 1815, the Prince Regent's librarian invites Austen to visit the Prince's London residence and hints Austen should dedicate the forthcoming Emma to the Prince.

Though Austen dislikes the Prince, she can scarcely refuse the request.

She will later write Plan of a Novel, according to hints from various quarters a satiric outline of the "perfect novel" based on the librarian's many suggestions for a future Austen novel.