Jane Austen Country: The Life and Times of Jane Austen

When Jane Austen, the daughter of a country clergyman, was born in the picturesque village of Steventon in Hampshire in December 1775, few people could have guessed the impact she would have on the world of literature. With just six completed novels, “Sense and Sensibility”, “Pride and Prejudice”, “Mansfield Park”, “Emma”, “Persuasion” and “Northanger Abbey”, Jane Austen is one of that rare collection of classic authors to have remained popular throughout the ages. Although this program touches upon Jane Austen’s literary abilities, it is in fact far more concerned with the great lady herself, and her own fascinating life at a time in England’s history when Georgian elegance was at its most graceful. Take a tour around the English landscape and see the lovely locations that inspired Jane Austen’s novels. From the beautiful Hampshire countryside of her birth, follow in Jane’s footsteps to the West Country city of Bath and discover what she really thought about the high society that frequented its fine public buildings. Visit the seaside splendor of Lyme Regis, a great holiday favorite with the Austen family and then witness the rural charm of Chawton Cottage, Jane’s own beloved home that’s now a museum dedicated to her life and works. Above all else, Jane Austen was a great countrywoman at heart, making this program an absolute must for both lovers of literature and the English countryside.