“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” This famous line opens the book “Pride and Prejudice”. After reading this line, I already knew that I was destined to become a lifelong Janeite. I know it’s cheesy and nerdy but I love her and her works. From then on, I have read and reread all of her 6 novels (have not had the chance to read Sanditon and Lady Susan yet), movie adaptations (BBC, Masterpiece Theater and Hollywood versions) and even Jane Austen inspired novels (good and bad). Jane Austen’s acerbity, wit and creativity captivated and inspired me so much that I even started following JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America). My sister still thinks it’s an overkill but I am unstoppable 🙂 My devotion to Jane Austen and her works led me to Hidden Britain Tours. When I was planning my winter trip in 2010, I happened upon their website and it mentioned a Jane Austen Country Tour. Boy, was I ever so happy?  I immediately contacted Phil Howe and booked a date for December 16, 2010. The date was very fitting, too because it was also Jane’s birthday. What better way to spend this day than soaking in the “cradle of her genius” (Hidden Britain Tours)?
I stayed in Bath for a few days before my Jane Austen tour. Bath also played an enormous part in Jane life. She spent years here after her father retired. I had the opportunity to visit the Jane Austen Centre on Gay Street. I also visited the various places where they lived. The most prominent one is Number 4 Sydney Place  across from the Sydney Gardens. It is on the outskirts of bath but still very much within walking distance to the city center. Then came the big day. After spending three days in Bath, I took the train to Basingstoke and met up with Phil Howe inside the train station. He was a  congenial and lively Hampshire ambassador. I really picked his brain about all things Jane Austen. He showed me where she used to hang out with friends, her parish church, her brother’s house, and most importantly, where she spent the rest of her life when she moved back from Bath. Below are some of the photos I have taken during this trip:
Number 4 Sydney Place in Bath
Madam Lefroy’s house
St. Nicholas Church in Steventon (that’s me standing in front of the church)
The garden attached to the Chawton House
The Chawton House – this is where Jane lived the rest of her young life
Her writing table
Cassandra and their mother’s headstones
The black patch near the lime tree was where Jane’s old house once stood
