

Kathryn Sutherland | Jane Austen in 41 Objects
Sat 26 Apr 2025 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm
More than 200 years after Jane Austen’s death, we are still uncovering clues about her extraordinary life.
Senior Research Fellow at St Anne’s College, Oxford, Kathryn Sutherland’s new book, Jane Austen: A Life in 41 Objects, offers a fresh perspective by exploring the biographies of objects she cherished, discarded, or that shaped her world.
From a teenage notebook and a muslin shawl to the dining-room grate at Chawton Cottage, each item reveals a new facet of Austen’s life. Poignant relics include the last manuscript page of her unfinished novel and a lock of hair kept by her sister, Cassandra. The book also explores objects inspired by her legacy, such as a Bloomsbury Group dinner plate, Grayson Perry’s commemorative pot, and Mr. Darcy’s iconic wet shirt from the 1995 BBC adaptation.
Kathryn Sutherland will be in conversation with a curator from Jane Austen’s house in Chawton to discuss this unique biography and bring Austen’s world to life, offering remarkable new glimpses into the life and times of one of our most beloved authors.
Talk length: 1 hour including Q&A, followed by a book signing
PLUS: If you’d like to continue your Jane Austen afternoon, please take a look below for the details of a delightful Guided Walk with Winchester Tourist Guide or perhaps enjoy an Afternoon Tea with our friends at the Winchester Royal Hotel.
Choose your tickets:
Venue address:
The Guildhall,
High Street,
Winchester,
SO23 9GH

A guided walk through Winchester
Jane had many connections with Winchester. This walk is an opportunity to explore these in the company of a professionally qualified Winchester Tourist Guide.
The walk will start at the Guildhall and take an hour, ending at the Cathedral where she is buried.
Tickets are £12 pp (excluding entry charges to the Cathedral) and available to book here.

Winchester Royal Hotel invite you to afternoon tea.
Why not complete your afternoon with a special Regency Tea.
Enjoy a selection of freshly made sandwiches, scones, sweet treats, and perhaps a spot of croquet on the lawn at the Winchester Royal Hotel.
4.00pm – Regency Tea at the Winchester Royal Hotel