Jane Austen's novels are among the best-loved works of world literature, and her wit and gentle irony have entranced readers around the world in the two centuries since they were written. Her knowledge of human nature is remarkable, and her awareness of the importance of class, money and appearances makes her a peculiarly modern author : she addresses the politics of dating, courtship andd mating with an incisive intelligence that both foreshadows and outstrips romantic novels of today.