Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s Emma in 2016

This year is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s Emma and a new exhibition at Jane Austen’s House Museum in Hampshire focuses on the novel’s publication.

The much-loved novelist has been a household name for more than two centuries and, Emma in Print, from March 23, gives visitors to Austen’s House Museum in Chawton the chance to explore “the stories behind the publication of the novel.”

An exhibition highlight is The Prince Regent’s first edition copy of Emma on loan to the museum from Her Majesty The Queen. Jane Austen dedicated the novel to the Prince Regent on the suggestion the Prince’s librarian, James Stanier Clarke. Austen’s correspondence with Clarke through manuscript letters, and the business dealings with her new publisher John Murray, also form a part of the display.

Other events in 2016 include two writing workshops with an ‘Emma’ theme:  Deception, Romance and Irony: Constructing the Perfect Plot on April 16 and Bullies, Snobs and Heroes: Compelling Characters in Action/Populating Your Fiction with Compelling Characters on May 21; and picnics in the garden, including a special Picnic Day with performances by Madding Crowd on July 10. Scenes from Emma will also be performed in the garden by the Foot in the Door Theatre Company on Monday, May 2. Visit the museum website for a full list of events,

An eight-day Jane Austen Regency Week will take place between June 18 and 26 in and around the market town of Alton and nearby Chawton including Regency-style music, dining, drama and film, talks and walks, a vintage fair as well as a Regency Day with ball and dancing workshop.

As part of the festival, Jane Austen’s House Museum is planning a Midsummer Evening Opening on Tuesday, June 21 when the head gardener will be leading small groups around the garden, talking about the planting, and her future plans for the garden.