Jane Austen’s ‘First impressions’

Some time ago I noted a few remarkable works of fiction that had taken ridiculous efforts before being accepted by a publisher. I mentioned Samuel Beckett, Paul Auster and Eimir McBride. I’ve since learned that Jane Austen submitted to a publisher a manuscript called ‘First impressions’ in 1797. From what we know of her thoroughness, it would not have been ordinary. The work was eventually published in 1813 under the title Pride and prejudice.