Celebrating Jane's 250th Birthday and Announcing Jane Bennet's Second Spring
A day I'll never forget, and a project Jane would love
Hello my friends,
Sunday, June 22nd, was a day I'll never forget. As Jane Austen's fifth great-niece, I had the extraordinary privilege of hosting a celebration of Jane's 250th birthday at Chawton House, on my family’s ancestral estate where Jane herself lived, wrote, and published her most famous works. The event was part of Jane Austen Regency Week (of which I am Patron) and for the benefit of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation and Chawton House.
The celebration started with about ninety people gathered at Jane Austen's statue in Chawton Churchyard, including Jane’s family and Jane Austen Literacy Foundation ambassadors, volunteers and supporters.
After capturing a group photograph (of most of us) with Jane, we walked across the parklands to Dyers Barn at the front of Chawton House for our celebration.
After I had welcomed everyone and spoke about the significance of Jane’s milestone year, speakers from wonderfully diverse walks of life shared how Jane had impacted their lives and work, in celebration of the extraordinary influence she continues to have on people today. Each story reminded us why Jane's voice remains so vital, so necessary, and so inspiring.
We sang a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday" to our dear Jane, complete with a gorgeous birthday cake (which I was delighted to present), followed by three hearty "Hip hip hoorays!" that I'm sure echoed across the Hampshire countryside. A Regency circus performer added visual delight to our festivities, bringing an authentic period flair that Jane herself would have enjoyed.
One of the day's highlights was announcing the winner of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Writing Competition 2025. To everyone's delight, the winning short story was read aloud by a very special guest - Susannah Harker, our beloved Jane Bennet from BBC's iconic 1995 Pride and Prejudice.
I have known Susannah for over a decade, since I invited her to join a tea party I was hosting Chawton House, with guests including Simon Langton (Director BBC TV Pride and Prejudice 1995) and Alison Larkin (author, comedian, actor and the world’s top selling Austen audiobook narrator). This was the start of a long friendship with both Susannah and Alison.
I missed all Jane Austen events last year, to support my husband in his fight with cancer (a fight he won) and it was extra special to catch up with old friends this year.
After the celebrations, Susannah and screenwriter Lucy Shuttleworth joined me at the Greyfriar Pub in Chawton village to discuss a project that I am delighted to share with you today: Jane Bennet's Second Spring.
As we sat in that historic pub, in the village that shaped Jane Austen's world and mine, we talked about a story Susannah has written, as the actress who had brought Jane Bennet to life thirty years ago, and what happened after the cameras stopped rolling.
Jane Bennet's Second Spring is the story of Susannah as "Susie," a woman in her late fifties who finds herself single, struggling financially, and invisible to an industry that once celebrated her. When her agent is about to drop her, she reluctantly becomes the face of a vaginal dryness cream campaign, embarrassingly appearing as her former character Jane Bennet. What follows is a journey of rediscovery, empowerment, and the radical act of refusing to disappear quietly.
It's funny, it's honest, and it's about what happens when you refuse to let society write your ending for you. It aligns with everything Jane Austen represented: the courage to tell women's stories authentically, the determination to maintain creative independence, and the revolutionary idea that women's voices matter at every stage of life.
Just as Jane Austen negotiated her own publishing deals and maintained creative control over her work, we've chosen to crowdfund this project. This gives us the freedom to tell Susannah's story authentically, without interference about what women "should" want to see, no watering down of the midlife experience.
I am delighted to join the team as Associate Producer with Susannah Harker, Lucy Shuttleworth, Alison Larkin and Gaby Malcolm (writer and Jane Austen expert). We're proving that when women support women, extraordinary things happen. Jane knew this when she championed other female writers. We knew this as we celebrated her birthday together. And we need you to know this as we embark on this new creative adventure.
This isn't just about watching a film, it's about being part of it. Our campaign offers incredible opportunities for supporters to actually participate in bringing this story to life, including the opportunity to be an extra in the film, attend the wrap party and premier, and to own an exclusive limited edition Jane Bennet bonnet, commissioned by Susannah herself:
Whether you've ever wondered what happened to Jane Bennet after her story ended, dreamed of being part of an Austen-inspired production, or simply believe that women's stories matter at every age, this campaign offers you the chance to be part of something truly special.
That Sunday in June, we celebrated Jane's 250 years, inspiring readers, writers, and dreamers. Today, we're taking that inspiration and turning it into action. We're creating a story that honours Jane's legacy while boldly addressing the realities women face in 2025.
I've seen Susannah's script, and I can tell you it captures everything that made our birthday celebration so special - wit, warmth, authenticity, and an unshakeable belief in the power of women's voices. It's a story that says women don't have expiration dates on their dreams, their voices, or their right to be seen.
Jane Austen taught us that the best stories come from truth, independence, and the courage to be authentically ourselves. Jane Bennet's Second Spring carries that torch forward, proving that some stories are too important to wait for permission to tell.
This is your invitation to be part of history, to support authentic storytelling, to champion women at every stage of life, and to prove that the most powerful stories happen when we support each other. Click below to find out more about the project and how you can get involved:
Together, we can create something wonderful.
Exciting times ahead!
Caroline
P.S. I can't wait to share behind-the-scenes updates with you throughout this campaign. From costume fittings to script readings, you'll get exclusive access to the magic of bringing this story to life. And who knows? You might just find yourself with a speaking role in the film!
Wow! Celebrating Jane's 250th *and* Susannah's project! Double the fun.
Exciting news, a little contribution has been pledged 🤞