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A simple search on "jane austen house" led us to the simple realization that, even in her brief and sheltered life, Jane Austen (1775-1817), novelist of English country life and manners, lived in more than one location. The county of Hampshire claims her as one of their own, and rightly so, since she was born in the village of Steventon, where her father was vicar. Though the rectory is gone, the 12th century church where her family worshipped still stands. Chawton, near Alton,
is described as her literary home -- she moved there with her mother and sister in 1809 and began her revisions of Sense & Sensibility, published in 1811, and Pride & Prejudice, published in 1813. Her mother and sister are buried in the Chawton churchyard, and the 17th century red brick Jane Austen House is now a museum. We clicked on the "About" link there to locate times and fees: the museum is open daily from March to December, weekends in January and February. You'll also find maps, routes, and driving directions to Chawton from London or Winchester. Anyone embarking on a Jane Austen pilgrimage may wish to stop in Winchester,
her final resting place, and a lovely cathedral town in its own right. Or visit Jane Austen's Bath, where she lived from 1801 to 1806, and where the novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are set. No tour of Jane Austen shrines would be complete without a stop at the Jane Austen Centre, located in the heart of historical Bath. If literary excursions are your cup of tea, be sure to browse the sites in Yahoo!'s Literature Museums category. There's even one just for the U.K.
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