All Things Austen

Warraki
Sep 5, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Oct 26, 2021

Jane Austen

Undoubtedly Bath's most famous author, Jane Austen, set 2 of her novels in Bath, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

Jane's most dedicated fans (Janeites) dedicatedly arrive in Bath every September dressed in Regency costumes to honor their heroine. In preparation of All things Austen with the arriving fandom, I just finished reading Persuasion. I quite enjoyed it. I'm too new to pass for an avid fan, but I am learning more about Jane's writings.

From September 10 to September 19 Janeites will reenact the era with balls, promenades, teas and talks. Whilst I would love to attend "Pugs and Prejudice" or "Rummaging Through the Reticule" I will be viewing as many of the attendees in costumes as possible and I will be attending a Regency dance class. Never doubt, I am sure to have interesting anecdotes from my lesson.

Here is the programme should you wish to attend.

https://www.janeaustenfestivalbath.co.uk/festival-programme/

But what did Jane really think of Bath? Jane was critical of Bath and its society when her father moved the family here after his retirement. She complimented the area and their home in her writings, but as an unmarried woman, depending on financial support, she appeared bored at the social requirements for husband hunting.

A rendezvous at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath was superb and enfolded us right into the Austen household. Mr. Bennett, actor Martin Salter, greets us as we enter the house. The Centre normally receives about 60,000+ visitors a year.

The Austen family had 6 boys and 2 girls. Jane became engaged for one night 2 weeks before her 27th birthday only to wake up in her petticoats and realize she didn't love Harris Bigg-Wither enough to spend the rest of her life with him. Speculation suggests that she enjoyed her independence and life as a writer more than Mr. Bigg-Wither's proposal.

Let's imagine for a moment...Jane Bigg-Withers, only a horse would approve.

Janes' adoring sister Cassandra's engagement ended tragically, right out of an Austen novel. Cassandra's betrothed, Mr. Thomas Fowle, died of yellow fever in the Caribbean where he went to make his fortune so he could marry Cassandra.

Jane's parents were married at St. Swithens Church.

"I really believe I shall always be talking of Bath, when I am at home again–I do like it so very much…. Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?" Northanger Abbey. Jane may not have been thrilled to be in Bath but she gave some of her characters voice to like it.

In Persuasion Anne Elliot was not a fan, following Jane's lead.

Shall we take a turn Mr. Darcy.

Bank of England put Jane's face on the 10 pound note on September 2017 coinciding with the 200th anniversary of her death. Bath Gin loosened her up enough to smile so they put her mischievous smile on their gin bottle.

Jane and I often write together at her house.

Then we grab some breakfast and gossip.

Must be a sentiment of King Bladud's pig.

Magic Mineral Water in the Pump Room at the Roman Baths. Music serenades you on entry to the pump room, notes soaring to the gorgeously decorated Georgian ceilings as you wait to be served the sulfuric, healing spring water. In the 18th Century this was the place to see and be seen taking the waters. Flavor? Sulfuric with 43 minerals, I wouldn't want to drink the large amounts considered a curative.

"They set off in good time for the Pump Rooms. Mr Allen, after drinking his glass of water, joined some gentlemen, and the ladies walked around noticing every new face and almost every new bonnet "– Northanger Abbey

About Town

The Southern California connection, Edwina Troutt was born in Bath, oldest survivor of the Titanic who died at 100 in Redondo Beach, CA.

So many fabulous bookstores and opportunities to meet the authors. Marrying 2 of my favorite things to do, Mr. B's hosted a walking book group, The Paperback Ramblers, with Nick Hunt the author of Outlandish. Nick took us on a fantastic walking tour exploring unlikely landscapes from his book: a patch of Arctic tundra in Scotland; the continent’s largest surviving remnant of primeval forest in Poland and Belarus; Europe’s only true desert in Spain; and the fathomless grassland steppes of Hungary. Our Mr. B's host, Sam Drew, tried to create the feel with various locations in Bath for Nick's readings.

Mr. B's Emporium was named one of the ten best bookshops in the world in 2015. The owners decided to leave their legal professions and open a bookstore after visiting Powell's Books in Portland and the Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle.

One of the children's corners.

If you ever fancied yourself running a bookstore, there is an airbnb experience in Wigtown Scotland (click on link). You stay above the bookstore and run The Open Book during the day. Wigtown in SW Scotland, population 900, is Scotland's National Book Town. Leave it to Harvey an American who loves books to create this experience.

American Museum

I chaperoned a Brothers Grimm event at the American Museum. The tales played out reminded me of Grimm's influence growing up in my imaginative childhood in Minnesota.