Spoken as a man who has never read Austen. Her insight into human nature is pretty remarkable and that allows her to develop fascinating characters and to reveal the incredible foibles wrought by human nature.
Your post was not directed at me ... however, I do not believe this was thread was meant as a commentary on English Literature ... only, perhaps, Eng.Lit. as entertainment ...
But, while we are at it ... I think it would be pretty difficult to dismiss Thomas Hardy as "chick lit" ... few "chicks" have the intestinal fortitude for a steady diet of Hardy ...
I have long had the huge Yale edition of the Bard's complete works on a dictionary stand in my library and read a page or two every time I pass by ...
And who could omit the likes of Wilkie Collins, George MacDonald, Sir Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Christopher Marlowe ... and on and on and on ... from their list of favorites? [And we won't even mention all of the wonderful poets ...]
Just the ones mentioned are enough to cure you of your Zzzzzzzzz ... LOL
A-freakin-men. I love to read Paul Johnson, and you need not read much of him before it becomes very clear the man is in love with her (retroactively, as Johnson is still alive). I had to read her to see what it is all about - and yeah, it sure as hell is warranted.