The city of Southampton is set to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.
Launching in November, Southampton will celebrate its strong connection to former resident Jane Austen with an extensive programme of events, coinciding with what would have been her 250th birthday, on December 16.
The city’s Jane Austin 250 initiative will kickstart with a major exhibition at God’s House Tower, featuring the novelist’s travelling writing desk alongside an innovative and contemporary interpretation of her life and literary works, with the exhibition open until February 2025.
Walking trails and theatrical performances will also take place – including a retelling of Pride and Prejudice on stage at the Mayflower Theatre – with more events to be revealed over the course of the year and into 2025.
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While Austen’s links to Bath and north Hampshire have been well publicised, her ties to Southampton are lesser known.
She went to school in Southampton and, as well as visiting several times over the intervening years, she also lived in the city between 1806 and 1809.
It’s the latter connection that will be part of Southampton’s celebrations, shining a spotlight on Jane Austen’s Southampton story.
Visitors are invited to explore different perspectives of her life and the relevance of her storytelling for the city in 2025.
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