200 hundred years ago today, one of the great writers of the 19th c. died. Jane Austen.
I read today that the UK unveiled a new £10 note, printed on polymer, at Winchester Cathedral where the novelist is buried. A few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting the Cathedral and seeing her memorial stone in the floor of the aisle of the nave. There is also going to be a £2 coin in her honor. Sorry… honour. The bill will be issued on 14 September, which is also the 10th anniversary of the implementation of Summorum Pontificum. The bill will boast a quote from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Caroline Bingley says to Mr Darcy: “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!” The dreadful Caroline was, of course, not in the least interested in reading. Also, I read that bill will contain traces of tallow, an animal fat. If there are any Brits who don’t want to handle the bills because of this, please save them up and give them to me. I’d like to visit England this fall.
Also slated for release in 2020 is a new £20 featuring the painter J.M.W. Turner. You might recall that his The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her last berth to be broken up, 1838, in the National Gallery, was judged by some to be the greatest English painting. It is hard to argue against that.
Winston Churchill is on a new version of the £5 note. He is arguably the most important person of the 20th century. Yes, there are other great candidates, but Churchill has to be close to or at the top of that short list.
Have you never read Jane Austen?
From 2008… already!
UPDATE:
I thought I might watch a Jane Austen based movie tonight in honor.. honour of the author. I’m having a hard time finding one. Sense and Sensibility is a good one. I suppose Hunger Games is about the same, right? A woman author tells the tale of the difficult relationships of a young woman and other young people, all playing games according to social expectations….
