A Virtual Visit to Chawton Cottage

Jane Austen spent her most productive years writing in Chawton Cottage, the house her brother Edward supplied to his two sisters and mother. This video is more about Jane's life in the cottage than of the legend of her benevolent ghost. The narrator mentions two jarring facts: that she was content to live a simple life (popular perception is that she was always worried about money) and that she died of cancer. Other than that, this video provides an excellent view of the gardens that surround the house and of its rooms.



The next video shows a different perspective of the cottage, with few duplications of the first video. One is more aware than ever of how small the rooms are in this house.



The third, very short video is of her bedroom. You can hear the creaking of the floor boards. Jane and Cassandra slept in separate but identical twin beds.



And the fourth video is of her bed with the quilt she made covering it. Click here to view it.

Copy of a quilt Jane was working on in a side bedroom in Chawton Cottage.

For a photographic visit of Chawton Cottage, click on this post by Tony Grant on London Calling.

View from Jane's window by Keith Mallet

Keith Mallet wrote a beautiful post about the view from Jane's window.

Jane Austen Musicale Throwdown

"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation, if you are speaking of music. There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully." - Lady Catherine de Bourgh

This week's throwdown question is this: As a Regency lady, which instrument would you prefer to play? The pianoforte, like Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Fairfax, Marianne Dashwood or Anne Elliot, or the harp, like the Musgrove sisters or Mary Crawford?

If I were a Regency lady, I'd prefer to play the
	pianoforte
	harp
pollcode.com free polls

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