A Day in Jane Austen’s Chawton: Part II

As a continuation of my last blog post on Chawton, I’m excited to tell you about The Enchanted Book Club’s tour of Jane Austen’s house! Jane Austen lived across the way from Chawton House (her brother Edward’s home). After their father passed away, Edward inherited a few properties and eventually gave one of them to Jane.

The quaint home is a true celebration of Jane. Based on what I know of her, I think she would be quite happy with what they’ve done with it. Upon entering the sitting room, I was greeted by a tour guide who cheerfully answered all of my questions. “Did you know that first editions of Jane Austen books would have had cardboard covers?” she asked. The guide went on to explain that the reason regency libraries are so stunning is because the wealthy invited bookbinders into their homes and chose their own custom bindings. That’s why old libraries often look so beautifully cohesive with their leather-bound covers!

The sitting room is covered in whimsical yellow wallpaper (you can even get a copy of Pride and Prejudice that matches!) and one of Jane’s writing desks is displayed there. I was struck by how small it was. It made me think of all of the classic masterpieces that have been written in pen on such small surfaces — another reason why I’m endlessly impressed and inspired by classic female storytellers.

It was surreal to walk into Jane’s bedroom. The more time I spent in her world, the more I could see how she managed to write and edit so many of her novels in the countryside. It seems impossible to not be immensely inspired here. Between experiencing her countryside surroundings and undeniable gift for storytelling, I now have a deeper understanding of how heroines like Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse came to life. 

Much like many other experiences on this trip, visiting Jane’s home was a dream come true. If you get the chance to visit Chawton, I can assure you will not be disappointed. Between meandering through the garden and venturing through the home which includes the dining parlor (where Jane would work on her novels), the bedroom she shared with Cassandra (with a replica of the bed the sisters slept in at their childhood home), and Mrs. Austen’s bedroom (now known as the family room which celebrates the entire Austen family), you will truly be enchanted.

I could go on and on about what has made this literary trip so special (and I probably will!) but I must mention that one of the best parts is the group we traveled with. Being a member of The Enchanted Book Club means you have a community of kindred spirits who understand why you love the things you love—whose hearts light up by the same things that light up yours ❤️

After our afternoon in Jane Austen’s world, we headed to our hotel and enjoyed our first dinner of the trip. I gifted each of our guests a beautiful edition of Pride and Prejudice — a treasure that would always remind them of the week we spent together, enchanted by England.