It’s sort of remarkable that Jane Austen has become probably the central figure in English literature after Shakespeare, and arguably the most beloved. All the more so because she never traveled far from home; her life was largely lacking in drama. Early critics accused her of leading an insular existence, ignoring the great issues of the day and limiting the scope of her stories to the home. And yet, as Eudora Welty has noted, “The interesting situations of life can take place, and notably do, at home.” Such was Austen’s genius that within her limited sphere she saw the whole of human nature. All of life is contained within her six novels. She remains our greatest psychologist and one of our wisest philosophers. To read her books is a first step towards acquiring wisdom.