Third in a Series
Jane Austen is one of England’s most celebrated authors, and 2013 marks the 200th anniversary her most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice. It was first published in 1813.
VisitEngland has compiled a list of the locations that featured in the lives of Jane Austen and the characters she created in her novels so that readers can follow in their footsteps.
Bath’s Influence on Jane’s Writing
Jane Austin moved with her family to Bath, England, at the age of 26. They lived in Bath for five years in a series of regency townhouses – not sure what a regency townhouse is, but I have a feeling it’s a bit posher than my poky little flat in Hong Kong.
The time that Jane spent in Bath had a profound impact on her, creating in her a desire to write. Could the 20 something have imaged that she would become one of the world’s most respected and best loved authors?
Jane Austen Centre
The Jane Austen Centre in Bath is a must-see for all fans of Pride and Prejudice. It reveals Jane’s experiences in Bath and the city’s influence on her writing.
Bath’s Georgian architecture has changed little since Jane’s time, so a walking tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and its remarkable heritage. The Jane Austen Centre offers dedicated Austen city tours every Saturday and Sunday. Tours cost £6 per person.
The houses where Jane lived and the settings for the novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion can all be seen within a mile of the Jane Austen Centre on Gay Street. Experienced guides from the centre bring the tours to life, giving appropriate quotes from Austen’s novels and letters en route.
Jane Austen Festival
Bath’s annual Jane Austen Festival draws visitors from far and wide. Running from 19 to 21 September 2013, next year’s festival promises to be the biggest and best yet, with more than 60 events taking place over a nine day period.
Highlights will include the impressive Grand Regency Promenade, led by the 32nd Cornwall Regiment and the Worcester Yeomanry Cavalry; productions by the Artifice Theatre Company held at the Guildhall and the Old Theatre, and the Regency Costumed Masked Ball in the Pump Rooms.
Walk in the Footsteps of Jane Austen
This is the third in a series on Jane Austen and the places that shaped her life – and the lives of the characters she wrote about in her novels.