In Search of Jane

In the UK this week there was the discovery of a possible 'lost portrait' of Jane Austen found. This opens up a world of possible interpretations of who Jane really was, both physically and mentally. The cult of Jane is going strong, with new biographies being published next year, as well as several mystery novels that seek to solve the question of how Austen died. One novel suggests that Austen may have been the victim of arsenic poisoning, and wants to cast new light on the mystery of her death.

One thing is clear, Jane Austen and her novels are still in the public eye, as they should be.