Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, and Pride and Prejudice. Austen's work, long a part of the classical Western literary canon, is currently enjoying a boom in popularity with everyday readers. Membership in the Jane Austen Society of North America is up sharply. Although no one is sure why Jane Austen has become so hip just now, many think it has something to do with a return to traditional morality. Like, how to be strong enough to make your own choices, but still humble enough to seek the advice of others sometimes.
Literature is one of the few academic subjects left that teaches morality.
Such humanistic issues are an essential part of a high-tech education, according to Philip Khoury, dean of Humanities and Social Sciences. You must understand the human elements. Khoury also acknowledges that undergraduates are often seeking a break from technology, and Jane Austen certainly provides that. Although many of the students say recent movie adaptations of Austen's novels first piqued their interest in these classic works, they are quick to point out the differences between the two. She says many Jane Austen enthusiasts have delighted in the movies, despite their shortcomings, because of the rich visual picture they provide of life in Austen's day.