Jane Austen's Life & Legacy

Jane Austen’s life & legacy I discovered the world of Jane Austen as a young adult, after I had finished high school and already determined that English literature was neither my forte nor favourite subject. When however, I read my first Jane Austen novel, Persuasion , I finally understood the power of a great work of fiction. Jane Austen’s iconic novels are so captivating and her characters so enduring, that they can hook even the most unliterary of us. Her fiction speaks across generations and remains utterly relevant today. Her major novels, originally published fresh and realistic, even in the modern Her works under the pseudonym ‘A Lady’, have in - day. They show that although societies and In her short life—she was only 41 when spired generations of literature fans, the - cultures change over time, people really she died—Jane Austen wrote six major atrical performances, movies and modern do not. works of fiction, all of which have joined adaptations. For example, Amy the ranks of the greatest novels ever writ - Heckerling’s 1995 movie Clueless is a fun JHane eArus telni wfase born on 16 December ten in the English language. They are Pride and comedic re-telling of Emma. In 1775 to a socially respectable middle class and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, 1996, Helen Fielding created a witty new Emma, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park. family in Hampshire. She was the seventh version of Pride and Prejudice with her smash An avid reader from a young age, Jane of eight children and part of a very close- hit novel, Bridget Jones’s Diary . Over the last began writing stories at the age of 12. In knit family. Her older sister Cassandra 200 years, Jane Austen’s novels have addition to her major novels, she wrote was one of her closest confidants rarely been out of print. Even Winston dozens of short stories as a teenager, Churchill was a fan, crediting her with mostly for the entertainment of her fam - helping him win the Second World War. ily. She penned these between 1787 and Powerful narratives and a memorable 1793 and later compiled them into three cast of characters, such as the independ - bound notebooks now referred to as ent-minded Elizabeth Bennet or the mag - Juvenilia. When she was 20, she began nanimous Emma, bring alive Jane’s her first novel, Elinor and Marianne, world. They provide a window into the which would later become Sense and English middle and high class society of Sensibility. the early 19th century in a way that feels www.focus-info.org FOCUS The Magazine 11 throughout her life. Jane never married, To learn and experience more about Jane’s England why not visit: despite a brief betrothal in 1802 that lasted about 18 hours. Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton House Faithfully restored and meticulously Jane lived in Steventon, where she was maintained, this is Jane’s actual home in Chawton. Here you can have a look at her born, until age 25 when she moved with bedroom, samples of letters, her belongings, and the desk and sitting room where she her family to Bath. When her father died wrote her six major novels. www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk in 1805, the family briefly relocated to Southampton before settling at Chawton The Jane Austen Centre This centre tells the story of Jane Austen from the vantage point House in Hampshire. of her time in Bath. www.janeausten.co.uk Jane remained at Chawton until the end of her life, and it was here that she en - The Jane Austen Festival The city of Bath hosts an annual Jane Austen Festival where tered her most prolific writing period. hundreds dress up in regency costumes and celebrate the city’s famous former She revised and completed Sense and resident. The festival always opens with a Grand Regency Costumed Charity Sensibility. In 1811, this became the first of Promenade through the streets of Bath. It also includes concerts, theatrical her novels to be published. Then in 1813, performances, readings, talks, tours and workshops. This year’s festival is Jane published Pride and Prejudice , also highlighting Northanger Abbey and will be held 8-17 September. The promenade anonymously with ‘By the author of Sense will take place on 9 September. Tickets are on sale now, but note that you do not and Sensibility ’. These novels were well re - need to buy a ticket to watch the procession. www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk ceived and she followed them with the publication of Mansfield Park in 1814 and Jane Austen Summer Ball Organisers of the Jane Austen Festival also put on an annual Emma in 1816. In 1817, she began a satire summer ball, complete with pre-dance lessons. This year’s ball will take place on 1 called Sanditon, but unfortunately never July. Tickets are on sale now. www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk finished it. She had become ill late in 1816 and her health continued to deterio - Jane Austen 200 Hampshire Cultural Trust is working with Jane Austen’s House rate. Jane died at a hospital in Winchester Museum and other partners to put on a series of events, competitions, walks, talks, on 18 July 1817. No one knows for sure performances and exhibitions to celebrate Jane’s life and work in 2017. For details, how she died, but theories include see www.janeausten200.co.uk. Addison’s disease, lymphoma, or even ar - senic poisoning, since ink in that day contained arsenic and her hands would Winchester Cathedral Jane is buried here, and situated beside her grave the Cathedral have been nearly continuously covered in hosts a permanent exhibition of her life and work. www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk it. Jane Austen is buried in Winchester Cathedral, and she is honoured by a plaque in ‘Poet’s Corner’ of Westminster Places that may have inspired some of the Abbey in London. dramatic and memorable settings in Jane’s In 1818, her brother Henry oversaw the stories include: posthumous publication of her final novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Godmersham Park Walk and Heritage Centre. This is the estate inherited by Jane’s Her England brother, Edward, after wealthy cousins Etchings of Jane’s life are found all over adopted him. Jane visited Godmersham the English countryside where she lived, Park frequently where she mixed with her and one of the great joys of living in brother’s fashionable and wealthy England is the opportunity to see and ex - friends, experiences that undoubtedly perience some of the same places that in - informed her descriptions of England’s spired her. privileged classes. This year marks the 200th anniversary www.godmershamheritage.webs.com of her death, so there is an exceptionally robust array of events and activities taking Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. Although she place for enthusiasts. Also in 2017, Jane is never visited it, this house very likely being revealed as the new face of the £10 inspired Mr Darcy’s fictional estate of note. It will include her portrait, an Pemberley. It was even used as Pemberley image of her writing table and a view of in the 2005 film version of Pride and Godmersham Park—the home of her Prejudice. www.chatsworth.org brother, Edward Austen Knight, and a place where she spent a considerable St Nicholas Church, Steventon, amount of time. Hampshire. Jane attended mass here and it is easy to imagine one of the many weddings she wrote about happening at a Stephanie Sandoval is the former Editor of FOCUS Magazine. She loves to explore church very much like this. and learn the stories behind historical sites in her adopted home of England. She can www.stnicholascenter.org be reached at [email protected]. 12 FOCUS The Magazine March/April 2017 www.focus-info.org.

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