The Moral Imagination of Jane Austen

Course Description

The conservative intellectual tradition in the English-speaking world contains not only great works of political thought but also signifigant imaginative contributions. As Russell Kirk observed, the conservative believes that the “moral imagination” is the power of ethical perception that discerns and aspires toward right order—both within the soul and within society. This imagination is cultivated through poetry, art, religion, and the great tradition of humane literature.

Therefore, this online course examines Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park as a timeless expression of the moral imagination. Written at the midpoint of Austen’s career, Mansfield Park is one of her most intriguing works—experimental, counterintuitive, and deliberately provocative. Its heroine has inspired more debate, admiration, and even hostility than perhaps any other literary figure. Austen’s bold narrative choices continue to surprise and challenge readers two centuries later, inviting reflection on the claims of permanence and change as well as themes of manners, marriage, and morality.

To study with the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal is to enter a community committed to what Dr. Kirk called the Permanent Things. This course invites participants into that community, offering not only the chance to engage with Austen’s fiction but also a learning experience marked by friendship and the pursuit of wisdom and virtue. It also offers a great opportunity to learn from one of America’s most inspiring scholars and teachers of Jane Austen. The final session of this course will be held on Jane Austen’s 250th birthday.

Applications are due by November 7, 2025. The class size will remain small to ensure a humane and high-quality learning experience. Please send a letter of interest and résumé to Dr. Darrell Falconburg, Academic Program Officer, at dfalconburg@kirkcenter.org.

Dr. Leta Sundet is an Assistant Professor of English at Hillsdale College. She earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts from New Saint Andrews College in 2012, followed by an M.A. in Theology and Letters in 2013. She went on to receive a second M.A. in English Literature (2015) and a Ph.D. in English Literature (2022) from the University of Dallas. Dedicated to both scholarship and teaching, Dr. Sundet is a popular teacher in person and online. She is known for her engaging, thoughtful instruction and her ability to guide students into a deeper appreciation of imaginative literature.