The Real Jane Austen

Episode

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20130114

20130115 (R4)

Written by Paula Byrne.

Reader - Emma Fielding

In this new biography, best-selling author Paula Byrne explores the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen, Britain's most beloved novelist: her father's religious faith, her other brothers' naval and military experiences, her relatives in the East and West Indies, her cousin who lived through the trauma of the French Revolution, her residence in Bath, her love of the seaside, her travels around England and her long struggle to become a published author.

The woman who emerges in this biography is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear Aunt Jane' would allow.

Today a wooden writing box given to Jane as a gift from her father on her nineteenth birthday reveals that even as a teenager Jane Austen took her writing seriously. She wrote short stories full of outlandish jokes and lampoons of the popular fiction of the time to entertain her family.

28th January is the bicentenary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice.

Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder.

Produced by Allegra McIlroy.

Examining the forces that shaped the interior life of Britain's most beloved novelist.

20130115

20130116 (R4)

Written by Paula Byrne.

Reader Emma Fielding

In this new biography, best-selling author Paula Byrne explores the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen, Britain's most beloved novelist. The woman who emerges in this biography is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear Aunt Jane' would allow.

Today, an Indian shawl reveals the influence of Jane's family connections to the the East Indies Company and the wider world - taking us to the East Indies, revolutionary Paris and even riots on the streets of London.

Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder.

Produced by Allegra McIlroy.

Her aunt's travels in India and a cousin who witnessed close-up the French Revolution.

20130116

20130117 (R4)

Written by Paula Byrne.

Reader Emma Fielding

To mark this month's bicentenary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice, this new biography examines the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen.

Today, her brother Henry Austen's regimental cocked hat leads us into popular unrest and food riots, and the influence of her brother's military career on her writing.

Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder.

Produced by Allegra McIlroy.

Popular unrest and food riots, and her brother's military career.

20130117

20130118 (R4)

Written by Paula Byrne.

Reader - Emma Fielding

To mark this month's bicentenary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice, this new biography examines the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen. The woman who emerges is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear Aunt Jane' would allow.

Today, 'The Marriage Banns' uncover Jane's youthful flirtations and dalliances and a hastily retracted marriage acceptance.

Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder.

Produced by Allegra McIlroy.

Flirtations and dalliances and a hastily-retracted marriage acceptance.

05 LAST

20130118

20130119 (R4)

Written by Paula Byrne.

Reader Emma Fielding

Today, a pair of topaz crosses - given as a gift to Jane and her sister Cassandra from their sailor brother Charles - find their way into her fiction, and the only known picture of Jane, a watercolour painted by her beloved sister, reveals the enduring intimacy of their relationship.

Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder.

Produced by Allegra McIlroy.

The only known picture of Jane: a watercolour painted by her beloved sister Cassandra.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20130114	20130115 (R4)	Written by Paula Byrne. Reader - Emma Fielding In this new biography, best-selling author Paula Byrne explores the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen, Britain's most beloved novelist: her father's religious faith, her other brothers' naval and military experiences, her relatives in the East and West Indies, her cousin who lived through the trauma of the French Revolution, her residence in Bath, her love of the seaside, her travels around England and her long struggle to become a published author. The woman who emerges in this biography is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear Aunt Jane' would allow. Today a wooden writing box given to Jane as a gift from her father on her nineteenth birthday reveals that even as a teenager Jane Austen took her writing seriously. She wrote short stories full of outlandish jokes and lampoons of the popular fiction of the time to entertain her family. 28th January is the bicentenary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice. Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder. Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Examining the forces that shaped the interior life of Britain's most beloved novelist.
02	20130115	20130116 (R4)	Written by Paula Byrne. Reader Emma Fielding In this new biography, best-selling author Paula Byrne explores the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen, Britain's most beloved novelist. The woman who emerges in this biography is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear Aunt Jane' would allow. Today, an Indian shawl reveals the influence of Jane's family connections to the the East Indies Company and the wider world - taking us to the East Indies, revolutionary Paris and even riots on the streets of London. Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder. Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Her aunt's travels in India and a cousin who witnessed close-up the French Revolution.
03	20130116	20130117 (R4)	Written by Paula Byrne. Reader Emma Fielding To mark this month's bicentenary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice, this new biography examines the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen. Today, her brother Henry Austen's regimental cocked hat leads us into popular unrest and food riots, and the influence of her brother's military career on her writing. Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder. Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Popular unrest and food riots, and her brother's military career.
04	20130117	20130118 (R4)	Written by Paula Byrne. Reader - Emma Fielding To mark this month's bicentenary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice, this new biography examines the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen. The woman who emerges is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear Aunt Jane' would allow. Today, 'The Marriage Banns' uncover Jane's youthful flirtations and dalliances and a hastily retracted marriage acceptance. Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder. Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Flirtations and dalliances and a hastily-retracted marriage acceptance.
05 LAST	20130118	20130119 (R4)	Written by Paula Byrne. Reader Emma Fielding To mark this month's bicentenary of the first publication of Pride and Prejudice, this new biography examines the forces that shaped the interior life of Jane Austen. The woman who emerges is far tougher, more socially and politically aware, and altogether more modern than the conventional picture of 'dear Aunt Jane' would allow. Today, a pair of topaz crosses - given as a gift to Jane and her sister Cassandra from their sailor brother Charles - find their way into her fiction, and the only known picture of Jane, a watercolour painted by her beloved sister, reveals the enduring intimacy of their relationship. Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder. Produced by Allegra McIlroy. The only known picture of Jane: a watercolour painted by her beloved sister Cassandra.