Jane Austen Centre

I visited the Jane Austen centre in Bath today and it was a very interesting experience. I didn't know what to expect but there was quite a lot of information and artifacts about Austen's life and the inspiration for her various novels, of which Bath is a great one.

Jane Austen was born on 16th December 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire. Her father was George Austen and her mother was Cassandra Austen. Jane was educated by her father as he educated all his children. Her mother encouraged creative writing a lot to Jane and her siblings, but none reached the level of professionalism that Jane did. Her oldest brother, James, was a writer in his early life but he had to give that up to take over his father's work as he was the families heir. Her other siblings followed different interests. Her brothers Charles and Francis William for example were successful Navy recruits. Francis became Admiral of the Fleet and Charles became Rear-Admiral. Jane's brother Henry was one of her few brothers who became associated with Jane's work as he was her literary agent and was responsible for publishing her books and choosing the names of some.

Jane was 11 years old when her writing talent was discovered. She wrote her first novel, the History of England by a partial prejudice, & ignorant historian, at the age of 15. She grew up in Steventon but spend 5 years living in Bath. Although she didn't like it much in Bath and missed the countryside and her home.

Jane lived in five homes in Bath. She moved around that much in Bath at one point after her father died and the family got into financial trouble. This was after 1806. However, by 1809, the brother Edward who had been adopted by Mr. Austen's Patron Thomas and Catherine Knight who couldn't get children of their own, inherited the Knight's fortune and gave his mother Cassandra a home in Chawton, Hampshire.

Jane wrote her last couple of novels while living in Chawton. Namely: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
She died on 18th July, 1817, in Winchester, Hampshire at the age of 41. Her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published after her death in 1818.

Because of her great and significant contribution to English literature Jane will be featured on the ten pound note starting 2017. She will replace Darwin on the note. The Bank of England governor mentioned this abuot the change coming 2017: ''Jane Austen certainly merits a place in the select group of historical figures to appear on our banknotes. Her novels have an enduring and universal appeal and she is recognized as one of the greatest writers in English literature.''

I haven't read the novels myself but I feel inspired after visiting the Jane Austen centre and I might some day pick up these famous novels myself.