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.
Many modern readers identify aspects of themselves in Austen's characters.
It's the keenly accurate portrayal of complex human relationships between siblings, friends, parents and children. The kinds of experiences Austen's characters have, says Perry, remain contemporary because they are so fundamentally human. You really have to read the books to appreciate the psychological layering Austen brings to her stories. Austen, who died in 1817 at the age of 42, left the world only six complete novels. Her fans have learned to read and reread her works, and they say there's always something new to be discovered.