There are few writers who have as devoted a following as celebrated novelist Jane Austen. But is she really the “first” great English female author?

A rare-book dealer traces the books that Austen admired. Many were by women writers who were the literary stars of their day.

An American rare-book dealer, Rebecca Romney, has managed it, by searching where Austen’s secrets lie hidden in plain sight: ...

Jane Austen’s Bookshelf’ presents women whose writing Austen admired — and how modern author Rebecca Romney found them.