Mute and inglorious Jane Austens

This Thanksgiving I developed a greater appreciation for Jane Austen's accomplishment. Wednesday night I was trying to read in a living room while the TV was on, 2 people were having a conversation, and 1 person was on the phone. I thought I would go mad. Austen did most of her work in a shared room and had to wait for others to go elsewhere before she could concentrate. When she wanted to read, I bet there would be someone else there interrupting. She didn't write when someone else was in the room, and no wonder! I don't think it was modesty. I think it was practicality.