Jane Austen & English History

Uncover the scandal behind Jane Austen’s novels – rebellion, romance and royal secrets await. Followed by Q&A. Explore a world of rebellion, revolution and romance with Dr Amy Wilcockson, as we uncover the scandalous history and groundbreaking literature of Jane Austen’s Britain. From illegal secret marriages and high-profile royal divorces to courtesans publishing tell-all memoirs, and the turmoil of the Napoleonic wars – the Regency period and its people were complex, conflicted and endlessly fascinating. Dr Amy Wilcockson takes you on a whistle-stop tour of the early nineteenth century, weaving together reckless royals, Romantic poets, and pioneering female authors to reveal how the roots of modern celebrity culture and romance literature were first laid down two hundred years ago. Together, we’ll explore the diverse and challenging histories of this era, and discover how Jane Austen’s England is remarkably similar to our own. Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm - come down early to grab a good seat! Follow us on IG @seedtalks Speaker Bio: Dr Amy Wilcockson is a literary historian interested in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century people, culture, history, and literary works. She is currently an MHRA Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London, working on a new edition of the letters of the Romantic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her work has been published in the Times Literary Supplement, History Today Magazine, BBC History Extra and The Conversation. This talk is 16+ Testimonials from our guests ⭐ Truly riveting talks, always enjoy these - a great way to spend an evening with some pals. Already looking forward to the next one. - Alexander P ⭐ Expertly run, talks are always super informative and a lot of fun! Couldn’t recommend these enough! 5 star. - Owen S ⭐ Been to a few talks and all have been super interesting. An enjoyable evening to go to either alone or with friends. The talks make for stimulating conversation. Highly recommend! - Daisy J