The Adventures of Mr. Harley and Other Stories

'Mr. Harley was one of many children. Destined by his father for the church and by his mother for the sea, desirous of pleasing both, he prevailed on Sir John to obtain for him a chaplaincy on board a Man of War. He accordingly cut his hair and sailed.'

A short but interesting flash fiction story dedicated to a midshipman on board the Perseverance.
Written by a teenage Jane Austen, who loved to read her work to her family, these short stories are a perfect insight into the mind of young Austen.



Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of the most beloved British writers of all time. During her short life, she published six novels: ´Sense and Sensibility´, ´Pride and Prejudice´, ´Mansfield Park´, ´Emma´, ´Northanger Abbey´ and ´Persuasion´, which are all considered literary classics today.

Her writing is full of sharp observations on the society in which she lived, as well as ripe with timeless irony, and a solid dose of humour. She has created immortal characters that have inspired countless authors, novels, and movies such as Bridget Jones and Clueless.
The most notable adaptation is Joe Wright's 2005 Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession).