News for Austen Enthusiasts: October 2025

Is it just me, or did the nights feel like they closed in so suddenly this year? It felt like one day I was sipping a drink in the park at 8pm, and the next it was cold and dark before I left my desk. It's certainly got me in the mood to curl up on the sofa with a hot chocolate, thick blanket, and a riveting read. I think Northanger Abbey is the most Autumnal of Jane Austen's novels. What is your favourite read for these long nights?

Here's all the Jane Austen news and updates you might have missed in October! 

Would Jane Austen have been cancelled for her letters?

The Cheltenham Festival thrilled the bookish world during October, drawing in authors and readers from all over the country to celebrate reading and literature. One of Jane Austen's highest-profile fans and fictional biographers, Gill Hornby, attracted media attention for her comments about Austen's letters at a Cheltenham event. She suggested that we should count ourselves lucky that Cassandra Austen burnt most of their correspondence, as having it open to scrutiny would have likely led to Austen's 'cancellation' on university campuses. What do you think? Is Hornby right, or is this a stretch of the imagination?

Read more at the Times and Sunday Times >>

Jane Austen statue unveiled at Winchester Cathedral

Over the last year or so, we've been following the controversial plans to erect a statue of Jane Austen at Winchester Cathedral. Despite a few objections, the yeas had their day, and a new statue of our favourite author was unveiled this month. The life-sized statue of Jane Austen was sculpted by Martin Jennings and depicts her standing by her writing table.

Read more on the BBC >>

The Conversation launches new Jane Austen podcast 

To mark 250 years of Jane Austen, The Conversation is releasing a six-part podcast series on the life and work of Jane Austen.  Host Anna Walker will be talking to a glittering array of the UK's top Jane Austen experts to find out who our favourite author really was. 

Listen to it here >>

Julie Andrews narrates Pride and Prejudice podcast

The year of Austen has been such a corker; it's like every A-lister wants in on the fun. Now, Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp herself, Queen of Genovia, Dame Julie Andrews, has joined in. She is working her way through Pride and Prejudice, serialised in 25 parts, and you can listen to all of it for free on BBC Sounds.

Read more at the Guardian >>

Audible debuts all-star Pride and Prejudice

Of course, Audible also had to muscle in on the action. Though I'm a cheerleader for the Rosamund Pike version, I have to admit that Bill Nighy as Mr Bennet, Harris Dickinson as Darcy, and Will Poulter as the dastardly Wickham sounds pretty delicious. 

Read more at the Guardian >>

The Guardian comes to the defence of new adaptations

It is a truth pretty universally acknowledged that most Jane Austen fans approach a new adaptation of one of our favourite novels with a healthy dose of scepticism; we have to admit that we have a soft spot for some of them. Maybe it's time, even, to open our hearts to new possibilities. In a new article, the Guardian's editorial has argued that the reinvention of works by the likes of Austen and the Brontes keeps them alive for audiences and readers alike.

Read the full Guardian view >>

Bridgerton Season 4 release schedule delights and dismays 

Steamy Regency romp fans will be delighted to hear that Bridgerton is back, with the new season to be released in two halves in January and February of 2026. Whilst fans will be delighted to hear that the show is back sooner than anticipated, some are growing frustrated with Netflix's half-and-half approach to releasing series, arguing that it disrupts the flow of the plot. What do you think? Do you like this format, or would you rather see a more traditional episode-a-week format, or maybe the whole lot all at once?

Read more at ShowSnob>>

AS ALWAYS, WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF WE HAVE MISSED ANYTHING, AS WELL AS ALL YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEWS!