Did you know Jane Austen faked her own marriage?

English novelist Jane Austen, shown here in an original family portrait, was born in December 1775. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

British author Jane Austen, known the world over for her insightful take on 19th century society, created fake marriage documents with two separate men, archives have revealed.

In her novels, Austen wove tales of heroines navigating the patriarchal customs of the time to find stability and social status through advantageous marriages. But the author herself never wed.