““It was an honour to host Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday Celebration in Chawton, Jane’s literary home””
On a perfect June Sunday, with gentle warmth filling the air and homemade lemonade in hand, eighty guests gathered on the grass outside Dyers Barn at Chawton House, the home of our founder & chair, Caroline Jane Knight, to celebrate 250 years of Jane Austen, her enduring impact on humanity and the work of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.
More members of Jane's family (Caroline’s extended family), came together for a public event than ever before, joining Foundation Ambassadors, writing competition finalists, and devoted supporters from around the world. It was a celebration that brought together people from different walks of life, united by the continuing power of her words.
After gathering at Jane’s statue in the churchyard of St Nicholas church for a photograph, the party strolled across the ‘four acre’, as the Jane Austen’s family call the front paddock, to 16th century Dyers Barn.
In a celebration of Jane Austen’s enduring legacy, five wonderful speakers, each representing a different perspective on Jane's modern influence, shared short reflections that revealed the extraordinary breadth of her continuing impact.
Author Jessie Lewis spoke about Jane's influence on her writing career and the inspiration that drove her to complete a remarkable 50-kilometer hike around Bath earlier this year to raise funds for the Foundation. Her dedication exemplified how Jane's legacy continues to motivate extraordinary acts of commitment and creativity.
Author and creator Julia Grantham offered a personal perspective on how Jane Austen became her cultural bridge when moving from Russia to England. Jane's novels provided not just entertainment, but a pathway to understanding her new home while continuing to inspire her creative work in a testament to literature's power to transcend cultural boundaries.
Historian Dominic Selwood, against the beautiful backdrop of Chawton House parklands Jane new so well.
Historian, writer and novelist Dominic Selwood brought an academic lens to Jane's enduring relevance, exploring how her novels serve as invaluable historical documents that preserve detailed insights into a slice of Regency society. For historians, Jane's meticulous observations continue to inform our understanding of the past, proving that great literature serves multiple purposes across centuries.
Sophie Andrews, known to thousands online as Laughing With Lizzie, represented the digital generation of Austen enthusiasts. As one of social media's most popular Austen influencers, Sophie demonstrated how Jane's stories continue to find new audiences and create communities in spaces that couldn't have been imagined in 1775, yet are perfectly suited to Jane's wit and social commentary.
Amid the celebration, we shared news that marks a transformative moment for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation: to mark Jane's 250th year, we are now officially a registered charity in the United States. This milestone represents far more than administrative achievement - it's a crucial step in our strategy to expand literacy impact globally. Later this year, we'll launch the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation North American Friends, opening new pathways for American supporters to join our mission of connecting people through literacy worldwide and supporting literacy programs in developing communities.
Carla Balakgie, the President of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation North American Friends
The international dimension of Jane's impact was beautifully represented by Carla Balakgie, the President of the new Jane Austen Literacy Foundation North American Friends, who spoke about discovering Jane as a teenager growing up in America and developing a deep interest in "the condition of women", an interest that shaped her entire career as a nonprofit executive, including establishing two organizations supporting women.
Writing Competition Winner Lisette Abrahams (centre) with Caroline Jane Knight (second from left) and Foundation ambassadors (L to R) Sophie Andrews (aka Laughing with Lizzie), Julia Grantham, Jessie Lewis, Susannah Harker and Hazel Mills.
The afternoon's highlights included announcing our 2025 Writing Competition winner. From entries spanning over thirty countries, our judges selected three exceptional stories that will be transformed into audiobooks by world-renowned narrator Alison Larkin and published globally. After public voting, Lisette Abrahams was announced the overall winner title with Story Time, which Susannah Harker, Jane Bennet in the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice, read aloud to the delighted audience. Congratulations Lisette on your win! You can find out more about our writing competition results and writers for 2025 HERE.
Susannah Harker delighting the crowd with our writing competition Winning Story for 2025
The day's magical atmosphere was enhanced by Regency circus performer Hannah Carter, who entertained guests throughout the afternoon.
Regency Circus Performer, Hannah Carter
We sang "Happy Birthday" followed by three rousing "Hip hip hoorays" and shared birthday cake, united in celebrating not just Jane's birthday but her living legacy of bringing people together.
Caroline Jane Knight and Jane Austen’s birthday cake, made by Rebecca Chapple.
Jane Austen's impact on humanity isn't confined to literature classrooms or historical societies, important though they are. It lives in the daily work of authors, historians, educators, influencers, and nonprofit leaders (to name but a few) who continue to be shaped by her insight, wit, and understanding of human nature.
It also lives in the work of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation. We see Indigenous students in Australia choosing to download Pride and Prejudice more than any other book in the fourteen-year history of the Indigenous Reading Program. We see three, four, and five-year-old children in the most impoverished areas of Delhi participating in a Read to Kids program funded by supporters of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, along with literacy programs in Ghana, Lebanon, Syria, Timor, UK and for Ukrainian refugees. We see budding writers around the world put pen to paper to enter our free writing competition, inspired by Jane's storytelling.
As we expand our work in North America and continue our global literacy mission, we celebrate and honour Jane Austen who inspires us to create positive change in the world.
We will leave you with a wonderful video of Jane Austen’s 7th great niece, Pea, who lives in the grounds of Chawton House, in her first Regency style dress, having fun with Hannah Carter at Jane’s Birthday Celebration. The legacy continues:
Thank you to our ambassadors, volunteers and supporters, and everyone who joined Caroline for this unforgettable celebration of Jane Austen's 250th birthday. Together, we're ensuring her legacy of connecting people through literacy continues for generations to come.
Our Community in August
Join us for a special book club event!
We’re thrilled to welcome bestselling author Natalie Jenner for a casual tea and conversation on Saturday, August 16th at 3pm ET / 8pm BST.
Natalie will share the inspiration behind Austen at Sea, talk about her writing process, and answer your questions during an exclusive 30-minute Q&A.
After Natalie wraps up, we’ll dive into a lively discussion of the book together!
This event is open to all FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION tier subscribers. We hope to see you there!
It’s not too late to join us this August as we step into the world of Northanger Abbey, but not quite as you remember it.
In Loving Miss Tilney by Heather Moll, we explore a tender, forbidden love story through the eyes of Eleanor Tilney, the quiet heroine often overshadowed in Austen’s original. Now, she takes center stage in a Regency romance full of longing, loyalty, and defiance against societal expectations.
She’s forbidden to wed a nobody. He’s nothing in society’s eyes. What happens when childhood sweethearts face off against a tyrannical father, social scheming, and the fear of a lonely future?
If you’ve ever wished Eleanor had her own story—or wanted more from Northanger Abbey—this variation is for you. Join the discussion, bring your thoughts, and fall in love with Eleanor and Philip as we ask: What would you risk for love in a world that demands you marry for status?
OUT NOW! Raising money for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation!
Jane and the Blue Willow Princess tells a story of a young Jane Austen, playing in the garden of the Steventon Rectory, making up stories to entertain her family.
This beautifully produced book includes a quote from our founder and chair, Caroline Jane Knight, the last of Jane's nieces from Chawton House. A proportion of the profits from every sale will be donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.
Written by Catherine Little, illustrated by Sae Kimura, and published by Plumleaf Press, we are proud to be part of this lovely book. Thank you Plumleaf Press!