The Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England

Why Does Jane Austen Have Such a Cult Following?

The Jane Austen Centre located in Bath, England is devoted entirely to the world and writings of Jane Austen. You may have been forced to read her works in English class, but who was she really? Why is she so famous, centuries after her life?

After all, her stories are full of whiny bitches and passive aggressive drama. It’s not like the women do anything fun like lose their virginity to the hottie at the bar, or smoke joints. There’s never any police chases or gang violence. So, what gives?

Because Jane Austen is a bad ass bitch. 

She made daring statements with her writing. Austen’s opening line of Pride and Prejudice is renowned:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

She’s poking fun at the fact that higher society was obsessed with socially advantageous marriage during the Georgian era. In other words, marry for the sake of improving your situation, not a silly thing like love.

As you’ll learn at the Jane Austen Centre, Jane Austen is famous for developing a unique point of view in her writing. She uses a third person point of view in her writing. She uses a third person point of view through the eyes of one character. In plain speak? Even though the story is mostly told through one character, he or she has insight into the whole of everyone’s lives. 

Austen also features female characters who went against the norm and lived their truth. Ideals for women which certainly were not in vogue at the time.

Austen and Bath

Another huge reason for the adoration of Austen? The settings within her novels are what we all secretly dream about. 

Austen’s stories take place in England during the Georgian/Regency era. Austen frequently transports us to 19th century balls, where the women dress in beautiful full length gowns of muted colors and sport long evening gloves. Men appear in their most dashing suits or formal Regency military attire. Men say things to young women like, “May I have this dance?” Speaking of which, the dances are all choreographed and respectable. Sorry to say, there was no twerking in the time of Austen. But, can you imagine if there were?

The author takes us to a time of dressing up for afternoon tea and delicate, yet delicious, pastries. Through her work we wander through whispering green trees blowing in the wind, and we hear the quiet bubbling of brooks and rivers. Austen charms us through quaint farms and flower gardens. Characters are often outwardly polite to one another, and act with formality. However, gossip and betrayal are conducted discreetly through society’s important social circles.

Jane Austen Centre Walk About

Austen set plenty of her writings in Bath. She lived there, and the environment influenced much of her writing.  Therefore, the Jane Austen Centre came into existence.

Before you even enter the museum, you have the opportunity to greet some statues outside. Afterwards, tickets are available in the gift shop.

Following the purchase, guests are ushered into a beautiful room to watch a short video on the life of Jane Austen. After which, a guide in period costume gives guests a brief history lesson about Austen and her family. 

Next, feel free to examine several portraits which are thought to be Jane herself, but cannot be proven so. There is only one portrait of Jane that exists, done by her sister. Therefore, even experts are not entirely sure what she looks like, which means she might very well look like half unicorn and half ice cream truck. 

Among the exhibits, there is a life-size wax figure of Jane Austen.  If it truly captures her likeness, she has a plain type of beauty that I think any reader of her works would come to expect. The allure of her female protagonists (such as Elizabeth Bennet) are typically their wit and intellect, not so much beauty.

There are plenty of opportunities to learn about the life of Austen and her time in Bath. Guests can read excerpts from letters and novels written by the Jane. In addition, one can peruse the outfits and artwork from her time period.

Playing Dress Up and Make Believe

The best part of the Austen experience is the opportunity to dress up in Regency era clothing and pose with the arrogant hunk himself…MR DARCY! 

Another unique experience at the Jane Austen Centre is trying your hand at quill writing, as Austen would have done in days long ago.

Shop til you Drop

For any Jane Austen fan, the gift shop is a mecca of anything related to the author and her works that you could possibly need or want. There are bedding sets, jewelry, tote-bags, cocktail recipe books – all inspired by Austen and the era in which she lived and wrote. Many of the items have quotes from her characters. I got myself a tote bag that says, I love Mr Darcy. My best purchase? Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett Christmas ornaments!

Tea Party

We only had a few hours in Bath, as this stop was part of a full day tour of England. So, we did not get to enjoy tea time. However, the Jane Austen Centre offers afternoon tea in its Regency Tea Room. Wait staff dressed in period costumes provide a fun and elegant high tea experience, complete with a plethora of treats and 15 options of loose leaf tea.

Not only did I learn about Jane Austen on my trip to England, I followed Shakespeare’s ghost as well!