Chapter I. Introductory Remarks—Birth of Jane Austen—Her Family Connections—Their Influence on her Writings
Chapter II. Description of Steventon—Life at Steventon—Changes of Habits and Customs in the last Century
Chapter III. Early Compositions—Friends at Ashe—A very Old Letter—Lines on the Death of Mrs. Lefroy—Observations on Jane Austen’s Letter-writing—Letters
Chapter IV. Removal from Steventon—Residence at Bath and at Southampton—Settling at Chawton
Chapter V. Description of Jane Austen’s person, character, and tastes
Chapter VI. Habits of Composition resumed after a long interval—First publication—The interest taken by the Author in the success of her Works
Chapter VII. Seclusion from the literary world—Notice from the Prince Regent—Correspondence with Mr. Clarke—Suggestions to alter her style of writing
Chapter VIII. Slow growth of her fame—Ill success of first attempts at publication—Two Reviews of her works contrasted
Chapter IX. Opinions expressed by eminent persons—Opinions of others of less eminence—Opinion of American readers
Chapter X. Observations on the Novels