Jane Austen's World Through Family Eyes

Jane Austen's World Through Family Eyes: Heirlooms, Stories & Heritage.

Step into Jane Austen's world as you’ve never experienced it before, through the eyes of her family. Caroline Jane Knight, the last of Jane’s nieces to grow up at Chawton House on the ancestral estate where Jane herself lived and wrote, takes you inside her unique childhood in the heart of Jane Austen’s literary legacy.

From sharing ancestors and traditions to eating off the very Wedgwood dinner service Jane ate from and wrote about in 1813 and wandering the same halls, Caroline's upbringing was steeped in Austen heritage. With family stories, childhood memories and precious family heirlooms passed down through generations, Caroline shares how growing up surrounded by Jane's legacy shaped not only her own life but her understanding of the remarkable woman behind the novels.

This presentation weaves together personal reminiscences, family treasures, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the family's guardianship of Jane's memory. Discover how Caroline’s everyday life at Chawton House was touched by Austen heritage, from the library filled with centuries-old books to the tearoom where she met countless Austen admirers from around the world, all seeking to feel closer to their literary heroine.

Caroline Jane Knight is Jane Austen's fifth great niece and author of Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage, Founder and Chair of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Patron of Jane Austen Regency Week, and Co-founder of The Austen Pathway. Stay after the presentation to meet Caroline, purchase a book, or have one signed.