About Jane Austen's Niece
Step Into Jane Austen's World With Me
Welcome to Jane Austen's Niece – the only place where you can experience Jane Austen's life, work, and legacy through the eyes of her family.
I'm Caroline Jane Knight, author of Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage and the last of Jane's nieces to grow up at Chawton House on our family's ancestral estate where Jane herself lived, wrote, and published her most beloved works.
My childhood was spent running through the same halls Jane knew, sitting at the very table where Jane sat, surrounded by family treasures, stories, and a library of books passed down through generations. All summer long I watched countless visitors' eyes light up as they visited Jane Austen’s House in the village and then stepped into our ancestral home, Chawton House, feeling Jane Austen's world come alive around them.
For 18 years, I was immersed in Jane's world – not through academic study or research, but through living it.
I share more than Jane's name and DNA. I grew up with:
Jane's Places: The rooms, landscapes, and village life that shaped Jane's experiences, perspective and her novels
Jane's People: Family stories about the real individuals who influenced Jane, inspired her characters and supported her writing career
Jane's Legacy: A firsthand understanding of how our family preserved and celebrated Jane's work through generations, including our work today
Some of my most treasured memories include dining from the same Wedgwood dinner service selected when Jane accompanied my fourth great-grandfather Edward to the Wedgwood showroom in 1813, a service given to my parents as a wedding present and still used on special family occasions today.
This Substack is where I bring you closer to Jane Austen's world with:
Intimate insights into Jane's life, work, and lasting impact
Exclusive glimpses into my childhood at Chawton House and my heritage
Family stories, traditions, and insights that you won’t find anywhere else
Never-before-shared photographs and artifacts from our family collection
Jane's family recipes recreated from our 18th-century cookbooks
Readings from family writings across generations, sharing Jane's story through the perspective of those who knew her best – her family
You'll also find:
Family perspectives on Jane that only we can share – Jane as seen by those who know her best, her family
"My Austen Heritage" Videos (for paid subscribers) featuring family history, chats with other Austen descendants (my family), and my personal insights
Behind-the-scenes access to the most prestigious events in the 2025 global celebrations for Jane's 250th birthday
Monthly live events with me, my family and special guests
I know firsthand how Jane Austen's influence has grown stronger over the decades – shaping not only my life but touching millions worldwide. With 2025 marking Jane's 250th birthday, there's no better time to join me for Jane Austen - woman, writer, legacy - through the eyes of her family.
Whether you're a lifelong Janeite or just discovering Austen's world, you'll find a warm welcome here.
Free Subscription
Regular insights into Jane Austen - woman, writer, legacy - through authentic family stories, my childhood at Chawton House and work with the Austen community today.
Paid Subscription - Join My Austen Heritage Family
Gain exclusive access to:
Monthly "My Austen Heritage" Videos featuring family history as told through generations, chats with Austen descendants (my family, including Jane Austen’s 6th and 7th nieces who live in Chawton village today), and my personal insights and memories
"Dine Like Jane Austen" – a monthly culinary series where I share authentic recipes recreated from my family's 18th-century cookbooks, the same dishes Jane would have enjoyed
Readings from family writings across the centuries, sharing how Jane's own family documented her life and legacy (including my own memoir Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage)
In-depth family perspectives on Jane's life, work, and characters – Jane as seen by those who know her best, her family
Private family archives and photographs rarely seen outside our family
Detailed room explorations of Chawton House with my personal memories
Behind-the-scenes content from major 250th celebration events
Live Q&A sessions with me and other family members
A Little Bit More About Me
I am the luckiest person I know. While my family fortune had depleted decades before I was born, growing up at Chawton House was an enormous privilege. I was inspired by the stories my family told me about Jane’s independence, wit, and the success she created entirely through her own talents and determination. She was a wonderful role model for a young girl.
I spent my childhood sitting in the same rooms as Jane, walking the same paths she trod, browsing the same family library, and dining at the very table where she once sat. We even ate from the same Wedgwood dinner service!
From my earliest memories, I watched in wonder as thousands of visitors made their pilgrimages each year to Jane Austen's literary home. Working in the tearoom my grandmother ran from the Great Hall of Chawton House, I conversed with countless Jane Austen enthusiasts from around the world, witnessing her profound impact on humanity.
At 18, inspired in part by my famous aunt's spirit of independence, I left Chawton to forge my own path, building an international career in marketing and business as a CEO, director, and social entrepreneur.
Twenty-five years later, in 2013, the 200th anniversary of the publishing of Pride & Prejudice started a chain of events that led me to establish the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation (where I serve as Founder & Chair), write Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage, and become Patron of Jane Austen Regency Week (an annual 10 day festival in Chawton and nearby Alton).
In 2013, after many years as the CEO of a marketing agency with over 200 staff, I channelled my business expertise into building my own coaching practice, working with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and creatives to help them flourish.
Most recently, I have launched The Austen Pathway, with my business partner Melissa Makarawicz (The Literary Assistant), to help authors master their marketing and build sustainable success. The Austen Pathway is the only program that combines Jane Austen's legacy of creative independence with modern business strategy.
As we approach the momentous celebration of Jane's 250th birthday in 2025, I'm thrilled to invite you to join me for an unprecedented year of global events, special insights, and family celebrations that will bring you closer to Jane's world than ever before.
What Subscribers Say
"Caroline's gift for storytelling makes each post a delight. She has this remarkable ability to transport you through vivid family memories and anecdotes. Her childhood at Chawton and family artifacts bring Jane's world to life in a way only someone who grew up in it could. It's like having Jane's niece personally guide me through the places, people, and traditions that shaped these beloved stories." – Elizabeth M., Paid Subscriber
"The way Caroline weaves family stories with historical context brings Jane Austen to life in a way no biography ever could. This is the closest I'll ever come to meeting Jane herself." – Thomas R., Paid Subscriber
"As a lifelong Janeite, I thought I understood Jane Austen. Then I discovered Caroline and realized I was missing the family perspective! Through her 'My Austen Heritage' videos and 'Dine Like Jane Austen' series, I don't just learn about Jane, I feel connected to her through her family." – Sarah L., Paid Subscriber
Connect With Me
I share my childhood in the heart of Jane’s literary legacy, in my memoir Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage, available in paperback, ebook and audiobook.
Beyond this Substack, you can find me:
Speaking at Jane Austen events worldwide
Sharing insights on my Facebook page
Leading the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation
Supporting authors and creatives at The Austen Pathway
I'm delighted you've found your way here, and I look forward to sharing Jane's world with you in a way only her family can.
With warm regards,
Caroline
