How might it change our image of the author? And what might the portrait reveal about Jane Austen and her world? Martha Kearney seeks answers as she follows Dr Byrne on her quest.

By chance, Romney, a rare-books collector, comes upon a 1778 novel by a woman who turns out to have been one of Jane Austen’s ...

Forensic artist Melissa Little created this likeness of Jane Austen using contemporary descriptive accounts from Jane's brothers, nephews and nieces. Melissa learned these techniques whilst ...

The portrait of novelist Jane Austen by James Andrews (Laura Lean/PA) Shortly after Austen died at the age of 41 in 1817, her sister Cassandra Austen burnt some of her letters – meaning there are gaps ...

The daughter of a clergyman, Austen anonymously published four novels in her lifetime with modest success, but she wrote seven in total and left another two unfinished when she died at the age of 41.

. Fanny Price-Mansfield Park: The author is best remembered for her bold, witty heroines like Lizzie Bennet, a rarity at the time, but one of Austen’s best qualities is in character range. Often ...

Helen Fielding is among famous faces taking part in a BBC documentary about Jane Austen as the British novelist’s 250th birthday is marked this year. The British author took elements of Austen ...