Jane Austen’s House Museum launches special website for Pride and Prejudice celebrations in 2013

Jane Austen’s House Museum has launched a special website to highlight all Pride and Prejudice events taking place in 2013 throughout the world. 2013 is the 200th anniversary year of the first publication of the novel which has been voted as the book the nation couldn’t do without.

Anyone who is holding a Pride & Prejudice event in 2013 can submit the details to the website so that fans of the novel will have the opportunity to discover events taking place anywhere in the world.

Madelaine Smith, Marketing and Events Manager at the Museum said ‘We have already heard of events taking place as far afield as Brisbane in Australia, and Brazil as well as many other events more locally.’

The Museum in the village of Chawton was once the home of Jane Austen and is the house in which she prepared Pride and Prejudice for publication. On 29th January 1813 Jane wrote to her sister Cassandra saying, ‘I have got my own darling Child from London’ referring to the arrival of her copy of the book which was originally published in three volumes. The Museum will be hosting a yearlong programme of events on a theme of Pride and Prejudice including exhibitions, talks, demonstrations and workshops.

Museum Curator Louise West said ‘We do not have the facilities at the Museum to offer events every day throughout the bicentenary, but we aim to be a hub and promote the conferences, exhibitions, meetings and events that will be happening around the world. The website will be one central point for Pride and Prejudice events as well as other articles and information.’

The website address is www.prideandprejudice200.org.uk.