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Jane Austen's links to Southampton are being celebrated with new events added to Visit Southampton's year-long celebration of the author's life. The celebrations aim to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the author's birth and provide insight into Austen's life in Southampton, her local friends, and her place in Georgian society. The new events, which include exhibitions, talks, walks, and a Regency birthday ball, highlight the author's influence on the city.
A new exhibition, "A Very Respectable Company – Jane Austen and her Southampton Circle," at the SeaCity Museum will run until the end of October. It will focus on Jane Austen's female network of friends in the area, who are believed to have been the inspiration for her female characters. The exhibition features never-before-seen paintings, letters, and personal items, including the Austen Family Household Book of recipes and silhouettes started by Austen's grandmother.
A Regency ball will be held on December 13 at Townhill Park House in celebration of her birthday. Guests are expected to attend in full Regency regalia for an evening of dancing and entertainment. Southampton's compact size makes it a walkable city, and visitors can explore various aspects of Austen's life through guided and self-guided tours.
A new "In the Footsteps of Jane Austen" guided tour is set to run twice weekly from April to September. It will shed light on the time Austen spent in Southampton. The Sarah Siddons Fan Club will also hold eight costumed theatrical rambles in honour of the beloved author.
Other highlights include a fun retelling of "Pride and Prejudice" on stage at the Mayflower Theatre from June 10 to 14. Southampton's connection to Austen is lesser known, but the author visited the city twice and lived here from 1806 to 1809. She attended a boarding school in the city, celebrated her 18th birthday here, and lived in Castle Square with her brother and his family.
Southampton clearly influenced her writing, with some of her novels being worked on during her time here. The full programme of events can be found on the Visit Southampton website..
