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.

Please provide your email address, and I’ll notify you when this page is updated. You won’t receive emails for anything else. Subscribe here. (If you already receive Notes From A Book Addict each month, it will contain updates.)

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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 has an exciting year planned with special guests from across the world, culminating in a fabulous Weekend Conference close to Jane Austen’s actual birthday in November. Do make sure to have a look at the program.

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

Come back next month to find out …

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

A Tale of Austen Addiction

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.

May

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 a second planned for 2025. These two statues, each deeply connected to Hampshire, mark the enduring power of Austen’s work and the complexities of honouring a figure whose brilliance transcends time.

June

Ruth Wilson’s Jane Austen Remedy

In the late 1940s, when she was 16, Ruth Wilson first fell in love with Jane Austen in a Griffith cinema, watching Greer Garson’s Elizabeth Bennet judge, reject, and then fall in love with Mr Darcy. This sparked her lifelong love affair with Austen’s novels. In her 80s, she embarked on an academic journey, enrolling in a PhD program at the University of Sydney. Her journey is fascinating.

July

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.

August

The best books about Jane Austen

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.