Saving Jane Austen’s Home
A live video talk
“Let me introduce you to a heroine. Her name was Dorothy Gwynnyd Darnell. It is thanks to this remarkable woman that we can today visit the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton.”
These words marked the beginning of a feature talk I presented at a Jane Austen Society of Australia meeting recently.
Please watch this video talk FREE OF CHARGE, with my compliments.
Do you know how Jane Austen’s home at Chawton, which was rapidly becoming derelict, was saved for the nation? Do you know the story of the remarkable woman who managed to do this? I’ve discovered what motivated this quiet achiever and I’ll share Dorothy Darnell’s amazing accomplishment in this talk.
Our Chawton home – how much we find
Already in it, to our mind,
And how convinced that when complete,
It will all other Houses beat.
― Jane Austen
Dorothy Darnell had long loved the novels of Jane Austen. On a visit to the township of Chawton she found Jane Austen’s house in a terrible state of disrepair. So Dorothy set about the task of saving the house and establishing a Jane Austen society.
What took place after that is nothing short of remarkable. A story of true tenacity and determination to save an important piece of history that I find totally fascinating.
Why do people want to visit the homes of famous writers? What drives us to go to such houses, what should be put on display there, and what is the function and role of a literary museum? I’ll delve into the whys and wherefores of a literary house museum, discuss what it is that visitors hope to gain from such an experience, and what the responsibilities of curators are. I ask you to consider why you would visit a literary house museum?
In a first for the Jane Austen Society of Australia, a meeting was recorded live to share with JASA members. Like most organisations, JASA has been unable to hold regular meetings for many months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. JASA worked within health and safety guidelines to arrange the meeting and the small group of people in attendance adhered to safe Covid-19 practices.
Prior to sharing it publically, this recording has been edited to remove the JASA agenda and items not of general interest. The meeting venue is a suburban church hall.
Have you visited Jane Austen’s House Museum? Of another literary house museum? What drew you to it? Let’s discuss it here.
I could talk for many hours about everything to do with Jane Austen. If you’re keen to learn more, you’ll find lots of interest here on my own website, and there are many fabulous books available – about her life, her times, her characters, style and influence. And of course, there are so many Jane Austen films – about her life, and of course versions of her novels. Some are truly dire (like the Billie Piper Mansfield Park) and others are superb (like the Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibility), but you can make up your own minds about the rest.
Here is where to buy the book in print, ebook or audio. Find the books on my recommended reading list, watch a movie version, enjoy related videos, websites and much more. Have anything to add here? Let me know.
BUY THE BOOKS
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
What Matters in Jane Austen?: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved by John Mullan
Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin
A Dance with Jane Austen by Susannah Fullerton
Jane Austen and Crime by Susannah Fullerton
Jane Austen and Food by Maggie Lane
Jane Austen’s Names: Riddles, Persons, Places by Margaret Doody
Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels by Deirdre le Faye
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.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, narrated by Elizabeth Klett
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, narrated by Elizabeth Klett
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, narrated by Karen Savage
Emma by Jane Austen, narrated by Elizabeth Klett
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, narrated by Elizabeth Klett
Persuasion by Jane Austen, narrated by Elizabeth Klett
MOVIES
Some free versions are better than others, please feel free to try these, but I cannot guarantee the quality.
Streaming Guide from JustWatch Australia: Sense and Sensibility various versions
Streaming Guide from JustWatch Australia: Pride and Prejudice various versions
Streaming Guide from JustWatch Australia: Mansfield Park various versions
Streaming Guide from JustWatch Australia: Emma various versions
Streaming Guide from JustWatch Australia: Persuasion various versions
Streaming Musicals: Emma The Musical
A playlist for Jane Austen
LINKS
Susannah Fullerton: Jane Austen – Her life and works
Susannah Fullerton: Literary Readers’ Guide to Emma
Susannah Fullerton: Jane Austen, Her Life and Works
Susannah Fullerton: Emma. (2020 movie)
Susannah Fullerton: Writers On The Money
Susannah Fullerton: Literary Jigsaw Puzzles
Susannah Fullerton: People and their Bookcases
Susannah Fullerton: Literary Films
Susannah Fullerton: Love and Friendship
Susannah Fullerton: Elizabeth Jenkins, Jane Austen’s first biographer
Susannah Fullerton: Jane Austen’s Death
Susannah Fullerton: “I have lost a treasure” wrote Cassandra
Susannah Fullerton: Jane Austen Societies Around the World
Jane Austen Society of Australia
Jane Austen Society of Australia Facebook
Generally my video talks are a paid item, but I’ve decided to make this one freely available. Please enjoy it with my compliments.
Please use this link to access your video.
I was lucky enough to attend Susannah’s talk and it was wonderful. Run, don’t walk to see the video!
I was eager to listen to this talk because its Jane Austen content, but I found myself equally captivated by the broader theme of literary museums and what attracts us to the homes of famous authors. Susannah brought this topic to life with fascinating details about specific house museums, the practical concerns of their operation, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. A timely and timeless presentation!
Only you could make such a physical topic of an author’s home so interesting and touching.
Thank you, Susannah, an excellent talk. I always find it fabulous to visit an author’s home and look about me, to try and get a feel for them. I do hope as many as possible stay open after this COVID-19 times.
Have you been to Jane Austen’s House Museum? Are you a Jane Austen Society member? Let’s discuss your thoughts here.
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