It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen’s enduring popularity is alive and well in Alton, as the town launched its Jane Austen Regency Week with a very special unveiling. Hundreds of fans, many in full Regency costume, gathered this Saturday to witness the reveal of an impressive new bronze sculpture of the beloved novelist. The statue now graces a specially designed Regency-style garden outside Alton’s Assembly Rooms. Alton holds a cherished place in Austen’s story. While she lived in nearby Chawton for the final, most prolific years of her life, she often strolled the country lanes into Alton to shop, visit friends, or catch the London coach. Her brother, Henry, even ran a bank here, further entwining her life with the bustling market town. The sculpture, created by renowned artist Mark Coreth, has been funded by East Hampshire District Council and Alton Town Council, and is already attracting Austen enthusiasts from far and wide. The unveiling ceremony was led by Austen’s fifth great-niece, Caroline Jane Knight.
