Encounters with Jane Austen - Celebrating Jane Austen at 250

This Autumn sees the publication of Encounters with Jane Austen, a sparkling new anthology that commemorates the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth. Edited and introduced by Professor Jennie Batchelor, the collection brings together over 30 writers, artists and scholars to share their personal, creative and often surprising engagements with Austen’s life and work. From essays and poems to short stories and interviews, it brims with affection, wit, and fresh perspectives on why Austen continues to inspire and enthral more than 200 years after her novels first appeared.

I was delighted to contribute a chapter on Jane Austen and the Gothic Novel, a subject close to my heart. My essay explores how Northanger Abbey both teases and pays homage to Gothic fiction, showing Austen’s playful engagement with the “horrid novels” of her day and her sharp eye for the ways fantasy and reality collide.

The official launch takes place tonight at the wonderful independent bookshop Books on the Rise in Richmond. And, if you’re in Richmond, I can’t recommend a visit to Books on the Rise enough - it’s a truly beautiful space to browse, read and talk books. And if you’re an Austen fan, Encounters with Jane Austen is a wonderful way to celebrate her 250th year and discover how wide-ranging her legacy really is.

Encounters with Jane Austen is published by Supernova Books an imprint of Aurora Metro Publications, a leading independent publisher in London, helmed by owner-publisher Cheryl Robson. Established for over 30 years, the stable of companies and imprints also includes Amber Lane Press and River Light Press.