“250 Years of Jane Austen”, a series to be found on our website
The English writer, an expert at depicting the heart's shackled impulses, was born on December 16, 1775. In 2025, the 250th anniversary of her birth is being celebrated with astonishing fervor, extending beyond the realm of literature. Why?
Two hundred and fifty years after her birth, Jane Austen's novels continue to be republished and adapted for film and television. The British author of such famous works as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice , and Persuasion is also the subject of countless memes and posts on TikTok and other social media—proof that younger generations are also hooked. Yet few writers have achieved such enduring popularity. What is the secret to this longevity?
Courrier International wanted to unravel this mystery in a six-part series:
Episode 1 - How did Jane Austen become my heroine?
Franco-German journalist Annabelle Hirsch didn't count herself among the novelist's fans. The excitement surrounding the 250th anniversary of her birth, however, inspired her to follow in her footsteps in the United Kingdom. She published her account of her discoveries in the German weekly Die Zeit.
Episode 2 - “Get ready for the chiffon and ribbons to come pouring out!”
It's a sign, if one were needed, of Jane Austen's importance in the UK. At the end of 2024, The Observer, the country's oldest Sunday newspaper, published an editorial to launch the commemorations of the writer's 250th anniversary. "She's one of us," it pleaded.
Episode 3 - In Bath, Jane Austen fans are the prettiest to go dancing
The English spa town, where the writer lived from 1801 to 1806, is the beating heart of Austen tourism. Every year, it welcomes many visitors eager to walk in the novelist's footsteps in period costume. And if possible, to attend a ball. Several British journalists have tried the experience.
Episode 4 - Don't Reduce Jane Austen to a Feminist Icon!
Our era loves to highlight female artists who fight against the patriarchal shackles. But if the Englishwoman is an immense writer, it is above all through her talents as a moralist, argues British writer and theologian Theo Hobson, in the conservative weekly The Spectator.
Episode 5 - Jane Austen in Pictures: A Look Back at 7 Iconic Adaptations
Since the first Hollywood adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, released in 1940, Jane Austen's work has continued to be a source of inspiration for screenwriters and directors. Here's a review.
Episode 6 - Why Jane Austen remains an icon for so many young women
The subject of a real craze on TikTok, the English writer continues to inspire many women of Generation Z. Why this craze? Perhaps because she offers them a role model who is the opposite of the “trad wife,” speculates the Italian weekly L'Espresso.
Courrier International
