Giffin asks why Jane Austen is a phenomenon worthy of representation on British currency, and answers with a thorough evaluation of her reception over the last two centuries, focusing on how her critical assessment changes with shifts in social, political, religious, and philosophical views. He examines the lenses through which Austen is evaluated up to present times, with critiques informed by his background and perspective. Along the way, he discusses other authors, and compares the religious and philosophical questions that undergird Austen's works. Giffin is a writer, priest, and Anglican Franciscan who studies the 19th and 20th century novel in English, Franciscan studies, Hawaiian history, and Jewish-Christian relations. An Australian author recommended by our friends in JASA.  2021. Paper. NEW. $10.00