Celebrating Jane Austen

Lezing

Celebrating Jane Austen

In this lecture we will look at certain aspects of her life, her works and the historical, literary and personal context that might explain her continuing appeal. I will give some information on the regency period and specifically the position of women in that society but also the authors who inspired her and her educational background.

In December 2025 it will be 250 years ago that Jane Austen was born. After Shakespeare she is considered to be the most popular, critically acclaimed and widely read author in English history. Even in the Netherlands she had and still has many fans. There is a Dutch website, janeausten.nl and a Jane Austen Society of the Netherlands, who have a Facebook group and who regularly organise regency dance workshops. Moreover, the bookshop Bruna still sells her novels in translation. There have been numerous films and TV series based on her life and works and even prequels, sequels and spin-offs. For those interested in delving deeper into her works we are scheduling a short course of 3 lessons in March, April and May.