At Home with Jane Austen

Some of us attended the lecture and book signing by author Kim Wilson (JASNA-Wisconsin member) on Oct 2 at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center in Buckhead.  The event was sponsored by the Royal Oak Foundation. 

There are many books that cover the most prominent of Austen's homes, but this one is more comprehensive than most.  It even includes photos and commentary on the seaside resorts that the Austen family was known to have visited for weeks at a time during the summers. For example, Wilson notes that Mrs. Austen and her daughters along with Edward Austen's family and family friend Martha Lloyd spent part of September 1805 in Worthing. After describing this resort, Wilson comments:

"It seems very probable that Worthing provided Jane with considerable inspiration for her own fictional seaside resort, Sanditon.  The parallels between Worthing and Sanditon  are striking, with many of the locations and amenities of Worthing having an equivalent in Sanditon, including a promoter, Edward Ogle, who strongly brings Jane's character Mr. Parker to mind.  The Austens stayed at Stanford's Cottage, which had beautiful views of the sea from its bow windows.  Set back from the south side of Warwick Street, the house still stands and is now occupied by a restaurant." The accompanying photos and paintings show scenes from Worthing including Wick's Baths which Cassandra Austen patronized. 

We'll have a copy of this book on display at our October 18 meeting.  Copies may be purchased from Barnes&Noble:  At Home with Jane Austen