England: The House of Jane Austen

In 2018, we went on a long tour of England. My husband's paternal aunt, our pishimoni, has been a resident of England for many years, living in a small place near London called Reading. Although she had invited us many times, we had never visited her house, so this time we decided to spend at least four or five days with her.

My aunt had arranged various tour plans for us, including visits to Oxford and Windsor Castle. While we were talking, I learned that Jane Austen's house was very close by. I immediately jumped at the idea of visiting the house. I hadn't liked 'Pride and Prejudice' much, but after reading 'Emma' during my postgraduate studies, I had come to know Jane Austen in a different way.

Jane Austen lived in a small house in the village of Chawton, near Alton in Hampshire. The house is now a museum. Her personal belongings are beautifully arranged there. She wrote six of her beloved novels while living in this house. The most surprising thing was that Jane Austen's piano is still functional. My daughter even played it.

The house has an attached garden with large trees . The garden was filled with blooming tulips. The entire house, the garden, and every item the author used are so wonderfully arranged that it was a delight to see.