Jane Austen – novelist, forthright letter writer, daughter and sister of
Anglican clergy – had a rarely-matched insight into human character.
Like Lent itself, she exposes frailty, caprice and pomposity without
losing a profound and compassionate understanding of human nature. Her
life was profoundly shaped by the church and Christian spirituality,
making her writings an ideal accompaniment for the 40 days of Lent.
Rachel Mann introduces Jane Austen, her world and her ideas, and, for
each day of Lent, offers commentary on a short excerpt from her writing
to explore how her faith can illuminate ours. She brings Jane's novels
into conversation with biblical and spiritual ideas and also with
today’s questions about class, sexuality and race.
Themes explored include: The Triumph of Love, Learning Wisdom, Seeing
Beyond the Surface to the Truth, Knowing Where Your Treasure Lies, The
Temptation to be Prideful and Prejudiced, The Pomposity of Religion,
Privilege and its Limitations, Duty and Good Manners, and much more.
Rachel Mann is a published poet and author with a PhD on the poetry of
Christina Rossetti. She is an Anglican priest in Manchester, teaches at
the Manchester School of writing and was poet in residence at Manchester
Cathedral.