News for Austen Enthusiasts: September 2023

Autumn is in the air here in Jane Austen's England - Northanger Abbey season is fully in swing! With another Jane Austen Festival season been and gone, it's time to cosy up with a good book and strap in for spooky season. But before we do that, let's catch up on all the Jane Austen news and updates you might have missed this month.

Jane Austen Festival revellers catch eyes on public transport! 

At the Jane Austen News, we've been delighted to catch up with everyone's stories from this year's Jane Austen Festival. Of course, the jewel in the crown of the event is always the Grand Regency Costumed Promenade - our parade in which Austen fans from all over come together in Regency Dress. Not everyone could arrive by carriage, of course, with many opting to take public transport. The BBC caught many of our revellers on the way from Bath to Trowbridge for afternoon tea - what a spectacle!  

Read more on the BBC >>

Wisden explores Austen cricketing connection

In a recent article for Wisden, the almanac and bible for all things cricketing, writer Emma John explores Jane Austen's connection with cricket, as well as delving into the history of the sport and involvement of women. Even this writer, who is not a cricket fan at all, found it quite fascinating. 

Read on the Wisden website >>

Mansion with Coleridge, Wordsworth and Mansfield connection at risk of collapse

Some unfortunate Jane Austen news this month. Piercefield House, a Grade II-Listed mansion in Wales' Wye Valley, may be at risk of collapse, a structural engineer has said. The mansion and its surroundings inspired the work of Coleridge and Wordsworth, and it has been speculated that it may have inspired Jane Austen in her writing of Mansfield Park. Sadly, it looks like it's fallen pretty badly into disrepair and is now at risk of collapsing completely.  

Read more at The Guardian >>

Georgian period lido reopens in Bath 

Thanks to a lengthy campaign by volunteers and support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK's oldest lido has reopened to the public. Cleveland Pools in Bath closed some forty years ago, but has been given new life by a funding boost and sustained local influence. Great work everyone!

 Read more at the BBC >>

Booker Prize Shortlist Arrives

We like to keep up on book news more broadly here, so it's always exciting to see a new prize shortlist. The Booker Prize shortlist dropped this month, featuring six exciting titles - though, unusually, only one is by a Brit. The winner will be announced on 26th November. 

Read more at the Guardian >>

As always, we would love to know if we have missed anything, as well as all your thoughts on the news! 

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