By Rachael Tearney.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, in a small Hampshire village, a baby girl was born whose influence on the English literary canon would be absolutely unparalleled.
Jane Austen was born on 17th December 1775, during a bitter winter. One imagines the snowy, sleepy village of Steventon, with its thirteen families, safe inside their homes—the flickering firelight spreading warmth through the chilly air.
Christmas garlands draped from the mantels, the scent of yuletide puddings mingling with the exotic aromas of coffee and hot chocolate, delighting the senses and brightening the eyes of little children patiently waiting for the morning.
Or perhaps one hears the voices of a family gathered around the pianoforte, lifting their souls in song, carolling and offering prayers of thanksgiving. Maybe an elderly aunt embroiders a handkerchief, a present for a beloved niece, while a kindly uncle reads aloud as the last of the candle burns down. The lanes and meadows surrounding Steventon Parsonage are filled with a sense of expectation as Christmas approaches.
Into this idyllic rural scene, a child was born—the daughter of an Anglican rector, George Austen, and his wife Cassandra Leigh, a woman of respectable connections but moderate income. Jane was the youngest daughter of the Austen brood, and her elder sister, Cassandra, would become her lifelong companion and confidante.
Despite becoming the darling of romantic fiction and the architect of the romantic ideal, Jane herself never married.
The Life and Legacy of a Literary Giant
Jane Austen’s life has been the subject of countless documentaries, yet she was not wildly successful in her lifetime. Though her first book, Sense and Sensibility, published anonymously with the aid of her brother, received tolerable reviews and became fashionable, the novel as a genre was still somewhat contentious. Many believed that reading too many novels could stir passion and lead to unbecoming behaviour in young women—something Jane explored to great comedic effect in Northanger Abbey.
Yet it was the business of publishing, rather than lack of talent, that prevented Jane’s financial success. This determined that her life would be spent in fairly humble surroundings, not the great luxurious mansions seen in her novels, such as Pemberley, the grand estate destined to be the home of Elizabeth Bennet, her most famous literary heroine.
Jane’s works have since been dissected by literary critics, endlessly adapted for television and film, and enjoyed by generations of fans. Her writing is witty, lively, and filled with comedic characters, some so absurd they verge on caricature—none more so than the cringingly sycophantic and pompous Mr Collins, who simply cannot fathom why his hand would be refused.
She repeatedly tackled the subject of marriage—should it be for love or money? We may think we have moved beyond this question today, believing we only ever marry for love, but do we really?
Do we not owe Jane a debt of gratitude for arguing so passionately that men should declare their intentions and that women should have the right to refuse them—especially if they belong to the likes of Mr Collins?
More poignant is the plight of Elizabeth Bennet’s friend, Charlotte, who, though she does not love Mr Collins, accepts his hand because she wants very much to be a mother and knows that time is running out. This dilemma remains relevant today.
Chivalry Is Dead? Not If Jane Austen Has Anything to Say About It
They say chivalry is dead, and yet Jane Austen’s work has never been out of fashion. Indeed, her influence has launched careers and spawned an entire industry—none more so than the creation of Mr Darcy, a name now synonymous with the perfect man.
He inspired the hugely successful Bridget Jones’s Diary books and movie franchise, the final instalment of which is set for release on Valentine’s Day. Arguably, the entire Chick Lit genre, which has grossed millions for modern authors, owes its success to Jane’s popularity.
Romantic fiction remains the best-selling genre in the world, and books—far from becoming obsolete in our digital age—are thriving.
A Revival of Beautiful British Books
Of late, there has been a renewed fashion for beautifully designed books. Several British publishing houses are specialising in aesthetically stunning editions of classic literature:
- Manderley Press produces exquisitely bound hardback books redesigned for a new generation of readers.
- Chiltern Classics, established in 2018, takes inspiration from the original 1800s prints of Austen’s novels, producing editions that are a thing of beauty.
Gold-edged pages, intricate covers, and the pleasure of holding a beautiful book add an extra sense of joy to the words within.
Celebrate in Regency Style
Jane wrote her books in the Recency era, an age of elegance, etiquette and exploration. She was born into an expanding world as Captain James Cook mapped and discovered Hawaii, venturing as far as Antarctica and Australia and Fletcher Christian established his mutinous colony on Pitcairn; an act that would lead to his county’s joining the Asia and Pacific Trade Agreement in 2024.
Though the odd army officer or sea captain may navigate their way into the pages of Jane’s stories, she herself only set sail for the restoring waters of Bath Spa. It has been said that Janes’ world was very small, she wrote only of polite English society. Yet is this devotion to the faithful representation of this bygone era that has sealed her enduring popularity.
Jane Austen 250th Anniversary Events
This year as part of the 250th anniversary of her birth you can enjoy a taste of the finer things in life with a regency Afternoon Tea at The Lane, Covent Garden.
Steventon will hold the Jane Austen Country Fair in July.
The town of Alton frequented by Jane and her sister Cassandra holds an annual Regency Week every June.
In 1809 Jane moved to Chawton Cottage, with her mother and sister, the house was provided by Jane’s wealthy brother. The Chawton House exhibition and events are launching in October.
Southampton is holding the Jane Austen Exhibition at God’s House Tower from November to February.
Bath holds the annual Austen Festival in September which promises to be extra special this year.
Also hosting special services and events this year is Winchester Cathedral, where Jane was buried in the summer of 1817. At the time, she was an anonymous writer of some success, after her death, her final novels were published under her own name. It could now be said that it is a truth universally acknowledged Jane Austen was perhaps the greatest female novelist of all time.
Follow Rachel at @WritesRachael
DATES FOR THE DIARY:
- Regency Afternoon Tea at The Lane, Covent Garden
- Jane Austen Country Fair in Steventon (July)
- Regency Week in Alton (June)
- Chawton House exhibition & events (launching in October)
- Jane Austen Exhibition, Southampton (November – February)
- Bath’s Annual Austen Festival (September)
- Special services & events at Winchester Cathedral (Jane’s final resting place)
Main Image: Jane Austen Av Ukjent/University of Texas. Lisens: Falle i det fri (Public domain)
