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.

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 ...

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 ...

. 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 ...

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 ...

Ballgowns are being stitched, bonnets brushed and tea rooms prepped as the United Kingdom prepares to celebrate the 250th birthday of beloved literary icon Jane Austen. Quite how the author ...

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.

Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding says that the voice of Jane Austen is “so strong and funny and perceptive” that authors have continued to copy and steal it for their own work. She is ...

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 ...