Talk by Sharron McColl       

Two and a half centuries later, Jane Austen has evolved from an author into a massive cultural phenomenon.  Her legacy fuels a global community of scholars, fans, festivals, and tourism from Bath, to her home in Chawton. 

Her novels are not just love stories; they are survival guides.  She masterfully exposed the harsh economic realities of Regency England, where women lacked financial independence and were forced to marry for security.  Austen used sharp, brilliant irony to critique her society.  She wrote about women who possessed intellectual ability and independent thoughts at a time when society expected them to be entirely passive.

There will be tea, coffee and biscuits after the talk.