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Auf den Spuren von Jane Austen: Die Schauplätze ihres Lebens und ihrer Romane
Tour the homes and settings of Jane Austen, one of the most widely read and beloved authors in English literature.
“I shall be very glad to see you at home again, and then...who will be so happy as we?”—Jane Austen
From her youth in a country rectory in Steventon, a small village in Hampshire, England—where she wrote her first stories for her friends, Volume the First, Volume the Second, and Volume the Third—to the fashionable spa town of Bath, to the seaport of Southampton, to her final years in her last settled home at peaceful Chawton Cottage, where she penned her most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s life was hardly that of a shutin.
A regular visitor to London, to the seashore for holidays, and to the estates of friends and relatives, Jane carried her own notion of home with her wherever she went and drew inspiration for her brilliantly witty novels from every new experience. She wrote most everywhere she traveled, accompanied by her portable writing desk.
With gorgeous photography and illustrations, At Home with Jane Austen explores Austen’s world, her physical surroundings, and the journeys the popular author took during her lifetime. Author Kim Wilson ties Austen’s novels to places where she lived, visited, and even attended school, ending with her final months in temporary lodgings in Winchester, England. Jane Austen’s enduring legacy is the final chapter of this beautiful and eye-opening book.
“I shall be very glad to see you at home again, and then...who will be so happy as we?”—Jane Austen
From her youth in a country rectory in Steventon, a small village in Hampshire, England—where she wrote her first stories for her friends, Volume the First, Volume the Second, and Volume the Third—to the fashionable spa town of Bath, to the seaport of Southampton, to her final years in her last settled home at peaceful Chawton Cottage, where she penned her most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s life was hardly that of a shutin.
A regular visitor to London, to the seashore for holidays, and to the estates of friends and relatives, Jane carried her own notion of home with her wherever she went and drew inspiration for her brilliantly witty novels from every new experience. She wrote most everywhere she traveled, accompanied by her portable writing desk.
With gorgeous photography and illustrations, At Home with Jane Austen explores Austen’s world, her physical surroundings, and the journeys the popular author took during her lifetime. Author Kim Wilson ties Austen’s novels to places where she lived, visited, and even attended school, ending with her final months in temporary lodgings in Winchester, England. Jane Austen’s enduring legacy is the final chapter of this beautiful and eye-opening book.
hardcover
First published September 23, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 23, 2020
Reviewed for Books and livres
Reading this beautifully illustrated book was a delight : not only is the text interesting and accurate, but the engravings, maps, paintings and photographs were a real pleasure to look at. That's why I bought it in the first place, to enjoy the pretty pictures and make my shelves look good, but I read it and didn't regret it. I was more or less outside of the #JaneAustenJuly2020, because it's not one of the challenges, but it's my last physical book about Jane Austen and I wanted it read and out of the way !
The book is separated in different chapters about the different places she lived in, including her travels and different locations by the sea. At the end, you will also find different internet references, a bibliography and an index.
I learned that Jane could talk to deaf people "with her fingers", something I've never seen mentioned anywhere. I worked for some time in a library where I began learning sign language, so it quite interested me. It is supposed that she learned it through her brother George, the one who apparently had a mental issue.
There are memories of her from her family, including this, which brings her to life : "I remember that when Aunt Jane came to us at Godmersham, she used to bring the manuscript of whatever novel she was writing with her, and would shut herself up with my elder sisters in one of the bedrooms to read them aloud. I and the younger ones used to hear peals of laughter through the door, and thought it very hard that we should be shut out from what was so delightful. I also remember how Aunt Jane would sit quietly working beside the fire in the library, saying nothing for a good while, and then would suddenly burst out laughing, jump up and run across the room to a table where pens and paper were lying, write something down, and then come back to the fire and go on quietly working as before."
I really recommend this book to Jane Austen lovers, but also, why not, to people who want to be introduced to who she was. I also found these videos on the net : (the videos are on the blog, the link above is direct)
Lucy Worsley : Behind closed doors
(a documentary on Jane Austen and the different places she lived in)
Caroline Jane Knight : Jane and me
(Caroline is Jane Austen's fifth great-niece
and talks about Chawton, where she grew up)
Reading this beautifully illustrated book was a delight : not only is the text interesting and accurate, but the engravings, maps, paintings and photographs were a real pleasure to look at. That's why I bought it in the first place, to enjoy the pretty pictures and make my shelves look good, but I read it and didn't regret it. I was more or less outside of the #JaneAustenJuly2020, because it's not one of the challenges, but it's my last physical book about Jane Austen and I wanted it read and out of the way !
The book is separated in different chapters about the different places she lived in, including her travels and different locations by the sea. At the end, you will also find different internet references, a bibliography and an index.
I learned that Jane could talk to deaf people "with her fingers", something I've never seen mentioned anywhere. I worked for some time in a library where I began learning sign language, so it quite interested me. It is supposed that she learned it through her brother George, the one who apparently had a mental issue.
There are memories of her from her family, including this, which brings her to life : "I remember that when Aunt Jane came to us at Godmersham, she used to bring the manuscript of whatever novel she was writing with her, and would shut herself up with my elder sisters in one of the bedrooms to read them aloud. I and the younger ones used to hear peals of laughter through the door, and thought it very hard that we should be shut out from what was so delightful. I also remember how Aunt Jane would sit quietly working beside the fire in the library, saying nothing for a good while, and then would suddenly burst out laughing, jump up and run across the room to a table where pens and paper were lying, write something down, and then come back to the fire and go on quietly working as before."
I really recommend this book to Jane Austen lovers, but also, why not, to people who want to be introduced to who she was. I also found these videos on the net : (the videos are on the blog, the link above is direct)
Lucy Worsley : Behind closed doors
(a documentary on Jane Austen and the different places she lived in)
Caroline Jane Knight : Jane and me
(Caroline is Jane Austen's fifth great-niece
and talks about Chawton, where she grew up)
August 28, 2014
2014- A delightful coffee table book. I can picture one curling up with it and a cup of tea on a long winter's afternoon/evening. A good selection of quotes from the books and Jane's letters(and her mother and a few others). Perhaps nothing groundbreaking, but all very enjoyable. I was surprised about the watercolor from perhaps Anna Austen Lefroy, showing Chawton Cottage and perhaps Jane and Cassandra walking in the lane.
January 16, 2018
First of all: This is such a beautiful book. It's beautifully designed and filled with charming illustrations, maps, old photographs and colourful pictures of newer date. It's clearly meant to be a coffee table book: a book to browse through and enjoy as much for its pictures as for its words.
Nevertheless, I chose to read it traditionally anyway. Front-to-back, page after page of gorgeous illustrations, quotations and historical facts. Wilson's mission isn't to tell something new with this book. She doesn't analyse or lets her minds wander: she simply provides a historical timeline and backs it up with quotations from Austen's letters or her books. If you've ever read an Austen-biography, you won't find anything new in here.
Except for the pictures. Pictures of the legendary writing desk and the rose-covered frontdoor. Pictures, that makes you dream of visiting Chawton, Steventon or perhaps even Bath. And that's an experience in itself.
(Oh, and do note: as there isn't an abundance of material on Jane Austen's various homes, the book also describes Austen's travels and has an entire chapter dedicated to horse carriages and such. Not exactly what one expects from the title, but the material is sparse, after all.)
Nevertheless, I chose to read it traditionally anyway. Front-to-back, page after page of gorgeous illustrations, quotations and historical facts. Wilson's mission isn't to tell something new with this book. She doesn't analyse or lets her minds wander: she simply provides a historical timeline and backs it up with quotations from Austen's letters or her books. If you've ever read an Austen-biography, you won't find anything new in here.
Except for the pictures. Pictures of the legendary writing desk and the rose-covered frontdoor. Pictures, that makes you dream of visiting Chawton, Steventon or perhaps even Bath. And that's an experience in itself.
(Oh, and do note: as there isn't an abundance of material on Jane Austen's various homes, the book also describes Austen's travels and has an entire chapter dedicated to horse carriages and such. Not exactly what one expects from the title, but the material is sparse, after all.)
January 5, 2015
As an ardent admirer of the impeccable research and informative prose found in Kim Wilson’s previous works – Tea with Jane Austen and In the Garden with Jane Austen – I was beyond excited to see she has yet again published another comprehensive and artfully arranged tome about Jane Austen’s life and time. Instead of focusing on tea or gardens, Kim Wilson takes readers on a virtual tour of the many places Jane Austen lived and visited, and gives insight to what she saw, did, and experienced in all these places. With one hundred and twenty color images and one hundred and forty-four pages filled with a bevy of information readers can truly see the places and sights that encompassed Jane Austen’s world.
At Home with Jane Austen is divided into eleven chapters which cover the places Jane Austen lived, such as Steventon, Bath, Southampton, and Chawton; and places where Jane Austen visited and traveled to for brief periods of time, such as London, boarding school, Godmersham Park, Stoneleigh Abbey, Lyme, Worthing, and Winchester. Besides a well-researched write-up of Jane Austen’s experience and history in each locale, every chapter cites passages from Jane Auten’s works, letters exchanged between the Austen family, and stunning and lush large high-quality images that greatly enhance this edifying work of nonfiction. I loved how the chapters were segmented and arranged to proceed in a timeline that was concurrent with Jane Austen’s life, very well organized! I also greatly appreciated how all the images had captions nearby and being able to use the very extensive and helpful index located in the back of the book.
While I loved learning about where the Austen’s lived and traveled I think my favorite aspect of this book was seeing and understanding more of how they lived. What were their daily duties and routines, what were their social activities, what was their home life like in each place. I also loved seeing the comparison made between places Jane Austen visited and places she created in her works of fiction. It was interesting to suppose her inspiration for places like Mansfield Park, Sotherton Court, Barton Cottage, and Pemberley came from her travels across England.
A thoughtful, engaging, and superbly executed compilation! A must read for any Janeite who wants to share a visit with Jane Austen at home. I sincerely hope we will see more books of this nature from the talented pen of Kim Wilson (my fingers are crossed for something about music – maybe Music with Jane Austen?) Brava, Ms. Wilson! This one is another gem!
At Home with Jane Austen is divided into eleven chapters which cover the places Jane Austen lived, such as Steventon, Bath, Southampton, and Chawton; and places where Jane Austen visited and traveled to for brief periods of time, such as London, boarding school, Godmersham Park, Stoneleigh Abbey, Lyme, Worthing, and Winchester. Besides a well-researched write-up of Jane Austen’s experience and history in each locale, every chapter cites passages from Jane Auten’s works, letters exchanged between the Austen family, and stunning and lush large high-quality images that greatly enhance this edifying work of nonfiction. I loved how the chapters were segmented and arranged to proceed in a timeline that was concurrent with Jane Austen’s life, very well organized! I also greatly appreciated how all the images had captions nearby and being able to use the very extensive and helpful index located in the back of the book.
While I loved learning about where the Austen’s lived and traveled I think my favorite aspect of this book was seeing and understanding more of how they lived. What were their daily duties and routines, what were their social activities, what was their home life like in each place. I also loved seeing the comparison made between places Jane Austen visited and places she created in her works of fiction. It was interesting to suppose her inspiration for places like Mansfield Park, Sotherton Court, Barton Cottage, and Pemberley came from her travels across England.
A thoughtful, engaging, and superbly executed compilation! A must read for any Janeite who wants to share a visit with Jane Austen at home. I sincerely hope we will see more books of this nature from the talented pen of Kim Wilson (my fingers are crossed for something about music – maybe Music with Jane Austen?) Brava, Ms. Wilson! This one is another gem!
May 26, 2024
Such a lovely heartfelt rendering of the Divine Jane ( as she is called by Dr. Cornel West), through a beautifully detailed exploration of the places she lived and visited. Having been to Chawton Cottage (now The Jane Austen House Museum) as well as Winchester Cathedral, Sydney Gardens in Bath, and 8 College Street ( where she died), this book had a lot of personal significance for me. I will never forget seeing her beautiful little writing table for the first time. I am a lifelong Janeite, through and through. The photos and artwork are particularly well chosen.
November 3, 2018
A pretty "coffee table book" with lots of photos of the various places Jane lived that still exist today, as well as illustrations of places and domestic scenes from Jane's time period. The narrative provides a general overview of Jane's life, arranged by locations (and also including a chapter on the expense and hazards of carriage travel). I enjoyed the texts that Wilson drew on to add flavor to the places described — Jane's letters and novels, of course, and some from her family, but also memoirs from contemporary writers and guide books and such. Although there is a bibliography at the back, I was disappointed to find that there were no endnotes, so one doesn't know exactly where many of the quotes come from (I'm a research nerd and a professional librarian; I can't help but notice these things).
Oh, how I long to do a Jane Austen pilgrimage! (I am lucky enough to have made it to Chawton and Winchester, but I would dearly love to spend a few months wandering through all of Jane's places.)
Oh, how I long to do a Jane Austen pilgrimage! (I am lucky enough to have made it to Chawton and Winchester, but I would dearly love to spend a few months wandering through all of Jane's places.)
December 28, 2023
Insightful and delightful.
This coffee table sized "At home" overview to the places Jane Austen lived is arranged thematically, not chronologically. The book goes beyond lovely period pictures and lists, and also provides insights into how these places might have influenced Ms. Austen's works via quotes and witticisms, excerpts from family letters originating in those spaces, and details from period publications, as well as excerpts from her novels. Illuminating and amusing in how Wilson captures some of Austen's wit and voice.
This coffee table sized "At home" overview to the places Jane Austen lived is arranged thematically, not chronologically. The book goes beyond lovely period pictures and lists, and also provides insights into how these places might have influenced Ms. Austen's works via quotes and witticisms, excerpts from family letters originating in those spaces, and details from period publications, as well as excerpts from her novels. Illuminating and amusing in how Wilson captures some of Austen's wit and voice.
June 28, 2019
Gorgeous volume looking at all the different houses and places that Jane Austen stayed in over the course of her lifetime. Nothing new here but the text is approachable and thorough with so many lovely images, both contemporary to Jane (painting obviously) to modern-day photographs of what these homes look like now. I particularly appreciated the research that went into describing the Steventon home since that was destroyed long ago.
July 18, 2019
I consider this a 'coffee table' book. The pictures are beautiful, as are the descriptions of the areas, their history & relation to Jane Austen's life and the lives of her family members, their family lives & history, correspondences between them all, etc. It was wonderful & easy to see how Jane incorporated her time & experiences at these various places in her novels and in the lives of her characters. It is a very nice book.
March 31, 2019
What a nice book. Some very pretty photographs of some of the places Jane Austen lived. And paintings or line drawings, as well. And some likenesses of both Jane and other people in her life.
The accompanying narrative was great, too, linking certain places and happenings in Miss Austen's real life with events, people and places in her various books.
The accompanying narrative was great, too, linking certain places and happenings in Miss Austen's real life with events, people and places in her various books.
August 3, 2021
This goes through where Jane Austen lived and travelled. There are plenty of big photographs and the text is easy to read, and interesting.
Two things I think could be added that would be helpful:
1) a map of England with all the places marked
2) a chronological list of where she lived, visited, and travelled
Most of these places are on the must-visit list for when I go to England!
Two things I think could be added that would be helpful:
1) a map of England with all the places marked
2) a chronological list of where she lived, visited, and travelled
Most of these places are on the must-visit list for when I go to England!
August 4, 2017
The only negative thing I have to say about this is, that it felt like some of the pictures were chosen at random and were only included to fill the page. Other than that it was a very enjoyable read.
October 25, 2018
Lovely overview of the places Austen lived or visited throughout her life. Photos and illustrations were excellent, text was pretty straightforward, a good read. Made me want to visit Lyme and the Cobb. This is a short and easy read, I just got sidetracked by other things. :)
May 13, 2017
Photos and drawings accompany the descriptions of places where Jane Austen lived and the homes of family and friends that she visited. There is also much about how her family lived.
September 27, 2017
Beautiful book on Jane Austen that tells the history of her life and her homes.
March 7, 2018
Beautifully illustrated book detailing all the places Jane Austen lived and visited, with quotes from her letters and from her novels
September 18, 2018
Beautiful book! The pictures, text, layout are all lovely and pleasing.
January 18, 2019
It was fascinating to hear about the life of the authoress. Yay for strong, independent women!
May 15, 2019
I loved reading about the places where Jane Austen lived and worked and the history.
February 17, 2020
An interesting look and research of places Jane Austen called home.
September 18, 2020
It was a delightful and visually enriching read. I enjoyed it immensely.
November 22, 2020
I enjoyed reading this approachable piece of scholarship. The photos are very good.
January 28, 2022
I really liked the way this book is set up and all the pictures and illustrations were really cool to see.
February 27, 2024
Ein Buch für alle Austen Fans
July 24, 2024
4.5 stars
March 9, 2015
This book allows you to tour the homes and settings of Jane Austen, one of my favorite authors. From her youth spent in a modest country rectory to the fashionable spa town of Bath the reader follows her throughout her travels all the way to her final home at Chawton Cottage. The book is filled with photographys and illustrations and opens up Jane Austen's physical world to the reader. Jane Austen traveled extensively throughout her life between family and friends and used the homes and estates as inspirations in her novels. She wrote nearly every where she went. The last chapter discusses her enduring literary legacy.
May 18, 2015
This book is a combination of biography and travel guide. It's not your typical biography, it's more of a coffee table reference book to the life and places of Jane Austin. I found it fascinating. Her letters and her books were frequently quoted as source material for the multiple places that she called home or visited. It was enjoyable to see the photos of the locations she frequented. It was also interesting to see the early nineteenth century paintings of people and activities common to her era. Now I just want to read or reread all of her six novels.
April 11, 2016
Kim Wilson's thorough research into Jane Austen and her family's physical movements and moves over the years is detailed in this book. I'd like to have read more about their actual lives than their literal relocations over time, which are pieced together through a painstaking reading and pasting of their correspondence to one another. The book has beautiful full-color artwork and makes a great coffee table book, however much it lacks in substance, historical reference and interesting information.
November 20, 2014
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I have won this book through the Goodreads Giveaways.
While I am not a huge Jane Austin fan, my sister is and this is her Christmas present.
This is a beautiful book with fascinating information about Austin's homes both literal and literary.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
While I am not a huge Jane Austin fan, my sister is and this is her Christmas present.
This is a beautiful book with fascinating information about Austin's homes both literal and literary.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
January 14, 2015
Well researched with primary sources. Excellently illustrated. I particularly liked the author's ability to connect attributes of and events in the locations she describes so well in her book with the locations and situations in Jane Austen's novels. I also found it an excellent source of information on Austen's extended family and affectionate family dynamics within the social construct of her era, an aspect of her life and times that was new to me. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews