This week, on 16th December, we reached the milestone of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. Austen is a phenomenon, as well as a person. It never ceases to amaze me when I sit and think about how the clever, witty and profound words from one woman’s pen have created a worldwide community of people who love, research, adapt, enjoy and quote her work so long after her birth.

I hope that if you are a fan, you have had a wonderful year partaking in many of the events, exhibitions, new books and adaptations to celebrate her big birthday, but also have had the chance to return to her novels and read them anew. It’s been a glittering year to love Austen, and I have been so fortunate to have had the chance to read many fantastic new books, take part in brilliant events like the BFI London Film Festival (I will never get over that!) and write for some brilliant media.

I wanted to share some projects I have been incredibly grateful to have been a part of this year in the name of my favourite author, and the person who inspired me to become an historian of women’s lives in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, Jane Austen:

BBC History Magazine

This year, BBC History have brought out a special issue to delve into Jane Austen’s life and times. I have contributed some pieces to the magazine, including the introductory essay, and one of my articles – all about what Austen’s work does and doesn’t tell us about the Georgian period – can also be found in the Christmas issue of BBC History Magazine.

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HistoryExtra Podcast Series

In September, I had a wonderful time with HistoryExtra’s Lauren Good recording a four-episode podcast series about the life of Jane Austen. The first episode came out this Sunday, and you’ll be able to find this wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The Historians Magazine Documentary

The Historians Magazine have this year put together two wonderful documentaries about Jane Austen to celebrate her birthday. The first, for children, came out earlier this year, and the second, Jane Austen and Bath, has been released this week. It was so much fun recording with Rosie and Katie at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath.

“Jane Austen: Literatur und Leidenschaft” Documentary

For any of you Austen fans in France and Germany, Florian Film’s documentary Jane Austen: Literatur und Leidenschaft will be broadcast on Arte on Christmas Day. I feel so lucky to have been able to take part in the filming for this production with a lovely team, which explores Austen’s life, literature and legacy, including people enjoying festival celebrations at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton.