Jane Austen 250

Honouring the writer who changed my life

Jane Austen, the novelist I most admire above all, and the woman who literally changed my life, was born in 1775 – 250 years ago this year.

Austen’s cool judgment, ironic detachment, and extraordinary talent infused her novels with depth and charm, securing their place among the most popular novels of all time. Today, Jane Austen is the third most written-about woman of all time.

I’ll be adding to this page throughout this milestone year, gradually creating a rich archive of material that celebrates her enduring legacy.

This year, on the 250th anniversary of her birth, I’ll be publishing new material on this page every month, giving you my take on her brilliance. Make sure to come back regularly to see what is new.

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I invite you to join the Jane Austen Society of Australia (JASA), a member-based association that brings together lovers and admirers of Jane Austen in this part of the world. JASA was established in 1989, and since then has grown to be Australia’s largest literary society, with around 650 members in Australia and overseas. JASA welcomes new members to join their vibrant society. Please visit the website to learn more.

Of all great writers she is the most difficult to catch in the act of greatness.” ― Virginia Woolf

January

Jane Austen: Her Life and Works

A great place to start your Jane Austen discovery journey is with my video talk – Jane Austen – Her life and works. In this fully illustrated 50 minute video I discuss Jane Austen’s life and work and give you my views on why Jane Austen needs to be read today. Watch it free on my YouTube channel.

Join me on a journey through her life and works – your life might never be the same again! And then share it with a friend.

February

The 6 finest novels written in the English language

Although composed over two centuries ago, Jane Austen’s novels remain brilliant examples of literary mastery. Her genius lies in her ability to weave compelling narratives that explore universal themes—love, ambition, social mobility, and personal growth—while also capturing the subtleties of everyday life. Her books sparkle with wit and irony, yet beneath their polished surface lies a profound understanding of human nature.

Let’s explore the 6 finest novels written in the English language here.

March

Jane Austen’s home at Chawton

Jane Austen’s home at Chawton was rapidly becoming derelict. After Jane’s mother and sister died it had been divided into apartments for James Austen-Leigh’s estate workers. After that, it became a working man’s club. The garden was lost, the house was falling into disrepair and in real danger of falling down. But then, a remarkable woman visited the area, discovered the state of the property, and managed an amazing feat – she protected it for the future. I find this story totally fascinating.

April

The greatest novel the world has ever known

I believe Jane Austen’s Emma to be “the greatest novel the world has ever known.” In my view, no other novel can equal it for brilliance, depth of psychological perception, understanding of human nature, unrivalled use of language that never wastes a word, and utterly sublime romance and comedy. I’ve gathered links to just some of what I’ve written and presented about this iconic piece of literature.

May

Ruth Wilson’s Life of Passion, Perseverance, and an Austen Remedy

In the late 1940s, a 16-year-old girl from the country found herself captivated while watching Greer Garson’s portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice at the cinema. Elizabeth’s evolution from scepticism to love for Mr Darcy ignited a passion, and her English teacher, upon hearing of her newfound love for Jane Austen’s writing, gifted her a copy of the book. Thus began a love affair with Austen that would last a lifetime. Ruth Wilson’s journey is a fascinating one.

June

Equipping Oneself for a Holiday in Bath

In Persuasion, Captain Wentworth tells Anne Elliot of a new purchase: “‘though I came only yesterday, I have equipped myself properly for Bath already, you see’, pointing to a new umbrella: ‘I wish you would make use of it.’” Had Jane Austen’s novel been set much earlier in the Georgian era, the captain would never have thought of such a purchase, or been able to find an umbrella shop, if he had. So, what did Jane know about using an umbrella?

July

Austen’s Crime & Punishment

One day, I was on the No. 389 bus going into the city from my Paddington home, and the bus was held up at the traffic lights just near the old Darlinghurst Gaol in Sydney. While I waited, my mind wandered to a hanging that took place outside that prison on a warm summer’s day. A crowd of over 10,000 people watched the gruesome punishment. The criminal, who had murdered an elderly woman, was connected to Jane Austen’s family.

August

Austen Statues

For much of history, Jane Austen stood apart from other celebrated authors in one unique way—no statue had been erected in her honour. That changed in 2017, with two more appearing in 2025. These statues, each deeply connected to place, mark the enduring power of Austen’s work and the complexities of honouring a figure whose brilliance transcends time.

September

Anniversaries of Adaptations

While Jane Austen’s novels have never gone out of print, their film and TV versions have also played a big part in keeping her voice fresh for new audiences. Remarkably, several of the most beloved screen adaptations also celebrate milestone anniversaries this year—making this 2025 anniversary year a perfect moment to look at how film and television have interpreted, reinvented, and popularised her work.

October

In the Shadow of the Cathedral

8 College St, Winchester. photo: Harriet Jordan

I’ve just come back from leading a literary tour in England, and one of the most special days was our visit to the house where Jane Austen spent her final weeks. My group and I stood in front of the narrow frontage of 8 College Street in Winchester, a modest lodging-house just a short stroll from the Cathedral and right beside Winchester College, where several of her nephews were educated. There’s a plaque above the door to mark the spot, but of course the house itself tells a much greater story—the last chapter of Jane Austen’s life.

November

Such Different Accounts of You

When Colin Firth’s Mr Darcy emerged from a lake in 1995, membership of Jane Austen Societies across the world skyrocketed. Then, in 2005, Matthew Macfadyen’s Darcy flexed his hand. But even before Laurence Olivier’s Darcy picked up a bow and arrow in 1940, readers of Pride and Prejudice were entranced by Fitzwilliam Darcy. This time I’m sharing a presentation by Harriet Jordan who looks at five readily accessible screen adaptations of Pride and Prejudice to explore how each version draws on Austen’s character but refashions him to suit the conventions of its time, giving us new Darcys for new generations.

December

Austen Addiction

Once upon a time … a young girl was growing up in a house full of books. A house where stories drifted through the rooms with gentle enchantment. Lazy afternoons often found this girl blissfully stretched out along the end of her parents’ bed, a pillow cradling her head as she listened to her mother read aloud. Those moments were the happiest of her childhood and she listened entranced, never dreaming how completely that moment would shape the course of her life.

Concluding the year-long celebration

32 years ago, when I walked into a church hall in North Sydney to attend my first meeting of the Jane Austen Society of Australia, I never dreamed that this was literally the first step of the rest of my life. New friends, social contacts, and other literary societies all stemmed from that day, but I was completely unaware of the radical change that was ahead.

My lecturing career has given me enormous satisfaction, introduced me to many people, provided an income, and even earned me public recognition, but no talk ever gives me as much joy to present as a talk about Jane Austen. I could talk for hours about her life, her work, and her legacy. Jane Austen, quite simply, altered the course of my life!

And so I conclude my year-long celebration of Austen’s 250th anniversary. Each month, I’ve opened a doorway into her world and I hope these stories have added depth and pleasure to your encounters with her work. Austen’s genius does not rest in the past; it lives on in every fresh reading, every conversation sparked, every reader newly introduced to her pages. Thank you for walking with me through this wonderfully Austen-filled year.

There are thousands of books available about Jane Austen. Books on her life, on the era in which she lived, books connecting Jane Austen with food / fashion / the clergy / places such as Bath and Lyme / names / the navy, and the list goes on. For this talk, I turned to my large collection of Jane Austen books and selected some special favourites. It wasn’t easy, but I hope you’ll find the books I introduce you to interesting.

There’s so much more here …

If you’re keen to learn more about Jane Austen, you’ve come to the right place. Scroll down to where I list many of the books, movies, and resources available – about her life, her times, her characters, style, and influence. It’s a compilation of items that I have referenced over many years and is by no means exhaustive, rather, just a starting point for your own Jane Austen journey.

Please use this search field to help find all the many articles about Jane Austen on this website.

Jane Austen Books

It is sometimes wondered (by those who don’t understand) whether Jane Austen’s fiction is relevant in our modern world. Should students be studying her works in schools and universities? If her characters drive carriages while we drive cars, does this not make her stories dated? Not at all! Human nature has not changed in two hundred years and Jane Austen’s acute understanding of what makes people tick is demonstrated on every page of her novels.

There are hundreds of books available about Jane Austen and I’ve linked to some of these below. Books on her life, on the era in which she lived, books connecting Jane Austen with food, fashion, the clergy, places such as Bath and Lyme, names, the navy, and the list goes on. There are the critical books, which analyse her style, irony, themes, responses to politics, her characters and her intentions – books that give us a deeper and richer appreciation of her brilliant novels. There are books about her rise to superstardom, there are novelised versions of her life, there are books about the film versions and theatrical versions, there are sequels, prequels, retellings, and adaptations. I have read hundreds of books about Jane Austen and am always eager for more.

Get the book, watch the movie and more

Here is where to buy Jane Austen’s books in print, ebook or audio. Find books about her that I can recommend, watch a movie version, enjoy related videos, websites and much more.

BOOKS BY JANE AUSTEN
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Emma by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Persuasion by Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s books, audio versions narrated by Juliet Stevenson

Juvenilia titles by Jane Austen

BOOKS BY JANE AUSTEN – FREE DOWNLOAD
Some free versions are better than others, please feel free to try these, but I cannot guarantee the quality.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Free downloadable version in kindle or epub format. (Select from the available versions.)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Free downloadable version in kindle or epub format. (Select from the available versions.)
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen Free downloadable version in kindle or epub format. (Select from the available versions.)
Emma by Jane Austen Free downloadable version in kindle or epub format. (Select from the available versions.)
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Free downloadable version in kindle or epub format. (Select from the available versions.)
Persuasion by Jane Austen Free downloadable version in kindle or epub format. (Select from the available versions.)
If you are unsure of how to add these files to your ereader, look here.