Everyone knows that a good lasagna has layers. Between each pasta sheet lies a medley of seasoned meats, savory sauces, and gooey cheeses, all topped with more cheese or sauce to tease your taste buds. But for some, lasagna can be a nightmare, especially for those with lactose intolerance or celiac disease. Yet for many, it remains one of the most beloved culinary creations in history.

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Like a well-made lasagna, Jane Austen’s literary works are multi-layered, offering readers delicious tidbits of information. Some details are presented directly, while others are subtly hinted at—like seasonings only a true connoisseur can detect. Austen’s genius lies in her ability to weave these layers together, inviting readers to use their own knowledge and experience to uncover the deeper meanings in her work.

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Unfortunately, much of Austen’s brilliance is often overlooked today. This is due to our limited understanding of the political, financial, and social contexts of her time, as well as her keen insight into human nature. Many people mistakenly classify Austen’s novels as mere romance, leading to frustration with some of her pairings and plot resolutions. Some even claim her characters and stories feel flat. However, this perception comes from a misunderstanding: Austen wasn’t writing romantic fairy tales. She was crafting realistic fiction, sharply satirical and grounded in the realities of her time—a stark contrast to the highly fantastical Gothic romances popular in her day.

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What we now call "romance novels" were simply known as "novels" in Austen's time. Today, many books from her era are classified as "Gothic romance," but Austen and her contemporaries didn’t use this term. While she read these novels, her own writings satirize their conventions, suggesting she may not have been an ardent fan of their characters. Austen's works, especially her best-known novels, revolve around young women navigating the early stages of adulthood, but always with a satirical edge that critiques social expectations and human behavior.

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Austen was celebrated for her wit and sharp observations. To gain deeper insight into her mind and style, explore her juvenilia. Written in her youth, these early stories reveal her humorous take on the inconsistencies of the heart and her knack for using seemingly romantic situations to expose the follies and vices of people—and to ridicule the societal norms of her time.