Episode description

As we move into February, we are delighted to release our second episode… Here you’ll find snowdrops, marriage proposals, stage costumes, dusting and polishing, Mary Queen of Scots, ‘A good salve for sore Lips’ and *that* letter from Persuasion – all bound together with original music and sounds recorded in the House itself.

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A Jane Austen Year transports you to Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, the idyllic Hampshire cottage where Jane Austen lived and wrote her globally beloved novels – now a beloved museum.

Each month, join us on a seasonal journey through Jane Austen’s novels, the story of her life and the world she lived in. Discover scenes, letters, recipes, and objects from the museum collection, bound together with readings and sounds recorded in the House itself.

Each episode is recorded by the people who work at Jane Austen’s House, caring for this special place and protecting it for future generations.

‘February’ was voiced by: Lizzie Dunford, Jenny Durrant, Jessica Halmshaw, Amelia Harvell, Emma Moffatt, Sophie Reynolds and Rebecca Wood, with a guest appearance by Dominic Gerrard.

Find out more about some of the objects featured in this episode:
Letter from Jane Austen to Cassandra, 4 February 1813
Watercolour of Fanny Knight by Cassandra Austen
Costume design by Rex Whistler for Pride and Prejudice (1936)
Martha Lloyd’s Household Book

Episode website: https://janeaustens.house/news/podcast/

Script: Sophie Reynolds
Cover Artwork: Jessica Halmshaw
Sound & Original Music: Dominic Gerrard

This series was written and recorded at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birthday in 2025.

If you enjoyed it, we think you’d also love our new book A Jane Austen Year – a gorgeous coffee table book full of pictures, extracts and stories.

Every purchase supports our work, caring for and preserving Jane Austen’s House for future generations.