Jane Austen's Paper Trail

The Conversation
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A series from The Conversation taking you on a  journey through Jane Austen’s life and times with the help of the UK’s top Austen experts. Over six episodes, one per book, we visit a scandal-filled bun shop in Bath, go for a windswept walk along the sea shore at Lyme Regis and attend a glittering Regency ball in York to find out more about the woman behind the novels. This is Austen as you’ve never known her before.

Episodes

  1. EPISODE 1

    The gossip

    In the first episode of Jane Austen's Paper Trail from The Conversation, we're delving into Austen's first novel, Sense and Sensibility where gossip – and the fear of it – plays a central role in the story. Through the rumours that swirl within its pages, we’ll find out what Austen herself thought about gossip, and the people who spread it. Along the way we travel to Sally Lunn's tearoom in Bath, where Austen herself often took tea – with Andrew McInnes of Edge Hill University. And then we dive into the role of gossip in Sense and Sensibility with Lucy Thompson, a lecturer in 19th-century literature at Aberystwyth University and Katie Halsey, professor of English studies at the University of Stirling. Gossip in the world of Jane Austen served several important functions: entertainment; intel; communication; miscommunication; and control. As reputations were fiercely guarded, one piece of misdirected or unfounded gossip could leave a young woman's honour in tatters. Deployed strategically, that was often precisely the point. And for women of Austen's time, being the subject of gossips could be a very dangerous thing indeed. Jane Austen's Paper Trail is a podcast from The Conversation celebrating 250 years since Jane Austen's birth. Host: Anna Walker Reporter: Jane Wright Senior Producer and Sound Design: Eloise Stevens Executive Producer: Gemma Ware Artwork: Naomi Joseph and Alice Mason The Conversation is an independent, not-for-profit news organisation. If you like the show, please consider donating to support our work. You can sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation here. Why Jane Austen is definitely not just for girlsWho was Jane Austen’s best leading man? These experts think they knowJane Austen 250 coverage on The Conversation

    36 min

  2. OCT 1

    Introducing Jane Austen's Paper Trail

    Introducing Jane Austen's Paper Trail, a new podcast from The Conversation. When she died aged just 41, Jane Austen's sister, Cassandra, burned most of her letters. What's left gives us tantalising clues about who she really was. Austen's characters jump to life on screen with a new adaptation for each generation… but 250 years after her birth, the woman herself remains an enigma.  Over six episodes, one for each of her books, Jane Austen's Paper Trail takes you on a journey through Austen's life and times with the help of the UK's top experts. We'll head to a scandal-filled tearoom in Bath to ask was Jane a gossip? Head to a glittering Regency ball to find out whether she was a romantic? And visit her house in Hampshire to find out what she thought about being a writer. Along the way we'll delve into the characters and themes that have made her writing so enduring for so many readers. Episode 1 arrives in early November. Never miss an episode – follow on your preferred app. Host: Anna Walker Reporters: Jane Wright and Naomi Joseph Senior Producer and Sound Design: Eloise Stevens Executive Producer: Gemma Ware Artwork: Naomi Joseph and Alice Mason The Conversation is an independent, not-for-profit news organisation. If you like the show, please consider donating to support our work. You can sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation here.

    1 min

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A series from The Conversation taking you on a  journey through Jane Austen’s life and times with the help of the UK’s top Austen experts. Over six episodes, one per book, we visit a scandal-filled bun shop in Bath, go for a windswept walk along the sea shore at Lyme Regis and attend a glittering Regency ball in York to find out more about the woman behind the novels. This is Austen as you’ve never known her before.

Information

  • Creator
    The Conversation
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 The Conversation UK
  • Show Website
    Jane Austen's Paper Trail

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