Jane Austen's Hampshire

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a reader in possession of a good book gains further pleasure from knowing where the author lived, loved and found inspiration. In the case of Jane Austen, this was predominantly in Hampshire, the historic and beautiful county where she spent most of her days. By following in the steps of Jane Austen through Hampshire you will discover the great cities she knew, market towns where she shopped, villages where she lived and visited friends, country parks where she strolled, country houses where she danced and churches where she worshipped. Jane was born in 1775 in her father¿s rectory in the small village of Steventon where she spent the first twenty-five years of her life. She grew to love the area and declared herself proud to be `a Hampshire Austen¿. In 1809, after a brief period living in Bath and Southampton, Jane eventually settled with her mother and sister Cassandra in the cottage at Chawton which is now opened as a museum dedicated to her life and works. Early in the spring of her 41st year Jane became ill and moved to Winchester, to be closer to the doctor who was treating her. She died on 18 July 1817 and was buried in the nave of the grand cathedral. Hampshire provided the cradle for Jane Austen¿s talent and the peace and stability for the blossoming of her genius. All her novels were conceived and written in Hampshire, the county where she was born and where she died. In this fascinating and beautifully illustrated book, Terry Townsend takes us on a journey of discovery through this most characteristic of English shires, tracing the life of one of English literature¿s most beloved figures.… (more)