Jane Austen Info
Information on Jane herself, her novels and her world
News​
Jane Austen's ring goes on display
February 2014
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You may have seen in the news that Kelly Clarkson had controversially purchased Jane Austen's turquoise and gold ring. After a campaign to stop Kelly from taking the ring out of the UK, the ring is now on display at the Jane Austen House museum in Chawton.
The museum holds two other pieces of jewellery known to belong to Jane - a turquoise bracelet, and a topaz cross (given to her by her brother Charles Austen - you may notice simalarities with Mansfield Park events!).
Jane Austen descendant launches the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation
April 2014
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Carolyn Jane Knight (guesses for which sibling she is descended from!) is launching a Jane Austen Literacy Foundation to raise money for education projects around the world.
Carolyn is to launch the foundation at the World Literacy Foundation on Wednesday 16th April in Oxford.
Jane Austen House museum launches fundraising appeal
May 2015
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The Jane Austen House museum at Chawton has launched a fundraising appeal to purchase an original letter written by Cassandra Austen shortly after Jane's death. The letter is addressed to Fanny Knight and Cassandra describes her sister as a "dear angel".
The letter is currently on loan to the museum and they have from May to July to raise £10,000 in order to purchase the letter. To find out how you can contribute to the appeal visit: http://www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk/#!cassandras-letter-appeal/c1k1e
"Real" Mr Darcy claims to be uncovered by historian
May 2015
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I am very skeptical of this claim, but Dr Susan Law claims to have found the "real" Mr Darcy upon whom the famous character was based. Dr Law believes him to be based on the first Earl of Morley, John Parker, who was married to a friend of Jane Austen.
Dr Law claims to have built a convincing argument, but even she claims she cannot be 100% sure.
Jane Austen to be face of Bank of England £10 note
July 2013
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Females have never had a strong showing on Bank of England notes, and Jane Austen has been chosen to be the face of Bank of England's £10 note replacing Charles Darwin. The note is expected to be distributed in 2017.
Jane Austen waxwork unveiled
July 2014
Although there is only one confirmed portrait of Jane, Melissa Dring, a forensic artist, and costume designer Andrea Galer, worked together to create a fullsize waxwork of Jane. The waxwork took three years to create and is now on display in the Jane Austen Museum, Bath.
Jane Austen Guiness World Record
September 2014
Every year in September Bath holds the annual Jane Austen Festival, and this year a Guiness World Record was broken for the ‘Largest Gathering of People Dressed in Regency Costumes'. The record was originally set by the same festival in 2009.
Adrian Lukis, George Wickham from the 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, opened proceedings. Adrian was guest of honour, having become the festival’s patron earlier in the year.
Jane Austen exhibition at Victoria Art Gallery
June 2015
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"Jane Austen's Bath" is a new exhibition at Victoria Art Gallery, Bath which will be at the gallery from 4th July until October 2015.
There are several highlights to the exhibition including several manuscripts, two letters written to Cassandra (borrowed from Jane Austen House Museum, Chawton) and a hand-written poem written by Jane.
Please find below recent Jane Austen related news. For other information, please follow my Twitter @JaneAustenInfo.
Sense and Sensibility used as cover for hackers
August 2015
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Not a happy news story. Jane Austen's great work is being used by computer hackers to hide malicious malaware code. By using the literary text, the hackers can bypass antivirus software as it does not identify the text as a threat.
The text used is mostly at random but Sense and Sensibility seems to have been the biggest target.
Success for Jane Austen House museum letter appeal
July 2015
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Following the Jane Austen House museum's fundraising appeal over the summer, I am pleased to report that the appeal was a success!
The letter from Cassandra Austen to her neice Fanny Knight will be on display at the museum and extra money raised will be used to maintain the display.
The museum has created a recording of the letter for you to enjoy: http://www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk/#!cassandras-letter-appeal/c1k1e.
Jane's spectacles and writing desk to go on display
July 2015
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Jane's portable writing desk, spectacles and an early manuscript are to go on display at the Willis Museum in Basingstoke in January 2016.
The exhibition will mark the announcement of Jane Austen 200 in which celebrations will take place across Hampshire 200 years after Jane's death.
