Jane Austen, Her Writing and Her Craft Jennie Batchelor
Event details
We all know that Jane Austen was an accomplished and uniquely talented and innovative author. She was also a highly skilled embroiderer, patchworker and stitcher.
Discover how and why Britain's best-loved writer styled herself as the consummate craftswoman through a wide-ranging, illustrated talk on Austen's novels and needlework. Jennie Batchelor, Head of English at the University of York, discusses the relationship between the craft of writing and other forms of making in Austen’s life and novels.
At a time when the value of women’s work and accomplishments were being hotly contested, join us as we explore how Austen lived and styled herself as a consummate craftswoman.
‘Jane Austen, Her Writing and Her Craft’ is one of a number of events taking place as part of a special edition of YorkTalks. Celebrating University of York’s research at its best, we invite you to explore a dynamic landscape of curated talks, live performances and hands-on activities staged in the historic Heslington Hall and its grounds on the theme Heritage Reframed.
About the speaker
Jennie Batchelor is Head and Professor of English at the University of York. Her recent books The Lady’s Magazine and the Making of Literary History (2022), which won the 2023 Colby Book Prize, and the popular history-craft book, Jane Austen Embroidery (2020). In 2025 she was co-curator of Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter at Harewood House.
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