Chawton Cottage on Ten Must-Visit Private Homes list
Forbes has included Jane Austen’s House (the official name for Chawton Cottage) on its list of Ten Must-Visit Private Homes.
Jane Austen’s House Museum in Hampshire, England, is a fine example of a 17th-century cottage, but what makes visiting it worthwhile has more to do with who lived there than what’s left.
Austen penned three novels in the eight-room home: Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion, and she spent time there revising Pride and Prejudice. Through the end of the month, visitors can view the original manuscript of Persuasion, on loan from the British Library, as well as such original pieces as Austen’s piano and dining room furniture.
Take it from us, Gentle Readers: if you ever have a chance to go to Chawton Cottage, do it.
July 6th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Jane Austen’s House in Chawton is truly wonderful, and easily combined with a visit to Jane Austen’s grave in Winchester Cathedral. Just don’t make your visit with my two teenage sons, who put “Famous Authors’ Houses” and “Cathedrals” on the top of their list of “Most Boring Places to Visit in England.” We now refer to Winchester as “Whinge-chester.” Suffice it to say that my sons will not be among the audience for “The Jane Austen Book Club.”