Ten wonderful days of celebrating all things Austen in the beautiful city of Bath
|
|
|
|
Jane Austen Festival Newsletter June 2026
|
|
|
|
Greetings to all our fellow Austen fans worldwide from the very hot UK!
Austen’s homeland has been experiencing a fan-fluttering heatwave, and we think it the perfect time to use Austen’s words to Cassandra, written in 1796:
“What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.”
|
|
|
|
Since our last correspondence, we’ve happily been able to add some coach tickets (modern, not horse-drawn… sorry!) for our trip to Lacock on Thursday 17th September. There are also still a few lunch and afternoon tea options available. So, if you didn’t quite make haste enough to get a coach ticket the first time round, you now - like Anne Elliot and Captain
Wentworth- have a second chance!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Those of you who have kept an eye on our programme this year will know that we are trying out something new for our bookclubs. Firstly, they are drop-in rather than pre-bookable. Yes, we know it is unthinkable to those who would “infinitely prefer a book”, but we noticed lots of people booking slots and then not turning up. So, we’re hoping that we can welcome far more people this way!
|
|
|
|
Secondly, instead of book clubs on one single book, we are trying a “zoomed out” approach, trialling looking at themes across all six of Austen’s novels (we’re leaving the Juvenalia, Sanditon and Lady Susan alone… maybe we can talk about them another year!).
|
|
|
|
In previous years, we’d ask people to suggest a question they would like to discuss when booking their bookclub space, however this year we won’t have a chance to. So, if you would like to suggest a question for discussion at any of the following book club titles, do go ahead and let us know!
|
|
|
|
Discussing Aunts in Austen!
|
|
The Great Outdoors in Austen
|
|
|
|
|
Letters in Austen's Novels
|
|
Locations in Pride and Prejudice (taking place in Lacock!)
|
|
|
|
|
Your suggestion could be something you think our attendees would find fun to discuss, something you think would get the whole group chatting, or a question that was a source of lively conversation in your own bookclub!
And finally, those who love variety and all things new will have spotted that we are hosting Telly and Film Discussion Club for the first time. We noticed that people who love sewing and who love books had a veritable basket-load of chances to get together with others, but our Telly and Film fans were a bit left out.
So, if you have any ideas for what should be discussed over a lovely cup of tea in Telly and Film Discussion Club (...remembering that anyone who wanted to fight to the death over 2005 vs 1995 P&P was told to take it outside to the duelling grounds; good vibes only please!), do drop us a line via the same button above.
|
|
|
|
Now all our 2026 Summer Balls are behind us, we know that- like many an Austen-heroine- our newsletter subscribers will be eager for us to name the dates of our next standalone balls.
|
|
|
|
Our Spring Ball will be held on Saturday 3rd April 2027.
|
|
|
Our Summer Ball will be held on Saturday 26th June 2027.
|
|
|
|
Now all our 2026 Summer Balls are behind us, we know that- like many an Austen-heroine- our newsletter subscribers will be eager for us to name the dates of our next standalone balls. Tickets for both our Spring and Summer Balls will go on sale on Monday 30th November 2026 at 13:00 GMT. There will be no priority booking period (therefore no need to purchase Festival Friends membership!) so, set an alarm or tell your lady’s maid to remind you to be at your device at the exact time they go on sale!
The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that this is the first time we are holding a spring ball in April. This is due to local council elections taking place in May, which mean we can’t use the beautiful venue that we usually welcome our summer guests to. “Election balls” were very much a thing in Georgian times, however, even if we could use the venue, we don’t see this being a particularly popular theme!
…all other details, including prices and themes, will be announced at a later date.
We will also be holding our Yuletide Ball on Saturday 11th December 2027… sale date to be announced in the future. Like an Austen novel, we don’t like to reveal everything all at once!
|
|
|
|
Please accept our best wishes for your health and happiness,
The Jane Austen Festival Team
Bath, UK
|
|
|
|
© JaneAusten.co.uk
40 Gay Street, Bath, United Kingdom, BA1 2NT
This email was sent to [[contact.email]] because you've subscribed on our site or made a purchase.
Edit preferences | Unsubscribe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
