Jane Austen, whose books are admired for their wit and social observation, was born and lived most of her life in Hampshire. Its countryside and people provided the inspiration for many of her novels, literary classics including Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park.
2017 marked the 200 anniversary of Jane Austen’s death.
Celebrate this extraordinary author’s creativity, talent and life in Hampshire in a year packed with exhibitions, talks, walks, writing competitions and performances.
Jane Austen in East Hampshire
In 1809 Jane, her sister Cassandra and their mother settled in Chawton, near Alton. Here she wrote or revised her novels.
Jane Austen’s affection for Chawton is shown in the following lines:
Our Chawton home - how much we find
Already in it, to our mind,
And how convinced that when complete,
It will all other places beat,
That ever have been made or mended,
With rooms concise or rooms distended.
Jane Austen’s House Museum
Jane Austen's House Museum in Chawton is the house where Jane Austen lived and wrote. It is the most treasured Austen site in the world.
It was in this country cottage that Jane's genius flourished and where she wrote, revised and had published all her major works, including the timeless Pride and Prejudice.
The Museum is open 7 days a week.
Jane Austen 200 documentary
East Hampshire District Council was keen to ensure that the celebrations during Jane Austen 200 were captured for future visitors to appreciate.
To fulfil this wish, local film company Alt House Media was commissioned to promote the annual Regency Week celebrations held in Alton, and to broadcast Jane's close links with the area. You can watch the full film on YouTube.