Jane Austen (1775 - 1817) was a major English novelist, whose brilliantly witty, elegantly structured satirical fiction marks the transition in English literature from 18th century neo-classicism to 19th century romanticism. Born in the village of Steventon, near Basingstoke, in Hampshire. The seventh of eight children, she was the daughter of a clergyman and part of a close-knit family. In 1801 the family moved to Bath until the death of her father. Then, after a period of impermanent homes, in July 1809 the Austen ladies moved to Chawton Cottage, Hampshire, where Jane was to complete most of her major works before her early death. A descendent of Jane Austen, Freydis Welland owns the collection of silhouettes by James Edward Austen-Leigha and put together the images and the quotes for In the Country, published in 2008 by the British Library, Life in the Country, The British Library Jane Austen Desk and Pocket Diaries 2010, and The British Library Jane Austen Journal. Freydis lives in Vancouver, Canada