| chapter | page |
| Preface | [v] |
| Chronology | [xiii] |
| I. | Austens and Leighs, 1600-1764 | [1] |
| II. | Steventon, 1764-1785 | [11] |
| III. | Warren Hastings and the Hancocks, 1752-1794 | [31] |
| IV. | Family Life, 1779-1792 | [46] |
| V. | Growth and Change, 1792-1796 | [67] |
| VI. | Romance, 1795-1802 | [84] |
| VII. | Authorship and Correspondence, 1796-1798 | [95] |
| VIII. | Godmersham and Steventon, 1798-1799 | [109] |
| IX. | The Leigh Perrots and Bath, 1799-1800 | [126] |
| X. | Change of Home, 1800-1801 | [141] |
| XI. | Bath Again, 1801-1805 | [165] |
| XII. | From Bath To Southampton, 1805-1808 | [189] |
| XIII. | From Southampton To Chawton, 1808-1809 | [209] |
| XIV. | Sense and Sensibility, 1809-1811 | [235] |
| XV. | Pride and Prejudice, 1812-1814 | [255] |
| XVI. | Mansfield Park, 1812-1814 | [273] |
| XVII. | Emma, 1814-1815 | [299] |
| XVIII. | Persuasion, 1815-1816 | [325] |
| XIX. | Aunt Jane, 1814-1817 | [341] |
| XX. | Failing Health, 1816-1817 | [369] |
| XXI. | Winchester, 1817 | [388] |
| Appendix: the Text of Jane Austen's Novels | [405] |
| Bibliography | [421] |
| Pedigrees | to face page [428] |
| | | I. | Austen | | II. | Leigh | | III. | Craven, Fowle, and Lloyd Families |
|
| Index | [429] |
|
| Portrait of Jane Austen | [Frontispiece] |