Jane Austen

Jane Austen (1775–1817), author famous for novels such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. This life-size statue commemorates the 250th anniversary of Austen’s death. It depicts her with ringlets wearing her characteristic cap, standing next to the small walnut tripod writing table, where she wrote her novels, which is now displayed at her house at Chawton, Hampshire. There are no fully accepted contemporary portraits of Austen, but Martin Jennings drew on the available evidence to create this likeness. He had worked on the statue for nine years. At the unveiling he said,’ I want to expess her authority as an author. The power of her moral vision and something of that sparkling lightness we find in her books.’

Jane Austen was born at Steventon in Hampshire and lived in various places, before settling in Chawton. She became ill early in 1816 and the following year her sister, Cassandra, and brother, Henry, moved her to Winchester for treatment. She died there at a house in College Street in July 1817 and was buried in the north nave of the city’s cathedral.

Location: 9, Cathedral Close, Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire.