JANE & ME: MY AUSTEN HERITAGE
"Not a work of fandom or fantasy — the authentic and extraordinary story of a life interwoven with Jane Austen's in many compelling ways."
— John Wiltshire, world-renowned Jane Austen scholar and author
About The Book
In this intimate memoir, Caroline Jane Knight — Jane Austen's fifth great-niece and the last to grow up at Chawton House — shares her extraordinary childhood at the heart of Jane's literary legacy. From exploring the historic rooms Jane knew, to dining from the same Wedgwood dinner service she helped choose, to hearing family stories passed down through generations, Caroline offers a perspective on Jane Austen's world that only her Chawton family can give.
What readers say:
"Couldn't put it down until I had finished. Touching, thought-provoking, and funny by turn — a fascinating account of growing up with an extraordinary heritage."
— Sandra, United Kingdom
"I literally felt transported back in time. Caroline has the fortitude and courage of her Aunt Jane, and some lovely writing skills of her own."
— Claudine, United States
"A must for Jane Austen fans, and for anyone who wishes to gain insight on how it feels to be displaced from a family home. I detected a certain strength and spunk in the author's voice that reminded me of an earlier voice in the family."
— Gerri, United States
Jane & Me is available from independent booksellers, online retailers, and as an audiobook. Wherever possible, we'd love you to support the independent booksellers who champion books like this one— the price is the same, and your purchase makes a bigger difference.
How To Buy Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage
In the United States:
Our preferred US bookseller
In the United Kingdom:
Our preferred UK bookseller
Audiobook - Worldwide:
Narrated by Alison Larkin
Also available on Amazon worldwide:
“Caroline Jane Knight's Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage is not a work of fandom or fantasy. It is the authentic and extraordinary story of a life interwoven with Jane Austen's in many compelling ways.
This book is a major contribution to the now vast library of works about Jane Austen. It sheds a great deal of light on country-house life in England in the twentieth century, as well as on the Knight and Austen families, and includes much information that will be thrillingly new to Jane Austen's readers and scholars.”
John Wiltshire, world-renowned Jane Austen scholar and author
Caroline's parents, Jeremy and Carol Knight, in The Library at Chawton House, 1968
Caroline in the arms of her godmother after being christened in the church, 1970
Caroline with her brother Paul and mother Carol in the Great Hall, 1985
For the first eighteen years of her life, Caroline Jane Knight grew up surrounded by the delights of a sixteenth-century English manor — the good cheer of family gatherings, centuries-old Christmas traditions in the Great Hall, the beauty of a country life, and the joy of helping her grandmother bake cakes and serve Jane Austen devotees in the Chawton House tearoom.
When Caroline's grandfather, Edward Knight III — Edward Austen's great-great-grandson and the fifteenth successive Knight squire of Chawton — died, it was no longer possible to maintain the family home of four hundred years. Caroline left at seventeen, heartbroken, and determined to leave all things Austen behind her.
She eventually carved out a highly successful career in business, which took her to Australia. But in 2013, the bicentennial of the publication of Pride and Prejudice started a chain of events that would take her back to her roots — and reunite her with her very great great-aunt, Jane Austen.
Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage is the story of that journey.
The Story Behind the Book
Fifteen per cent of profits from Jane & Me are donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, the charity Caroline founded in 2014 — continuing Jane's own legacy of literacy advocacy, mentorship and generosity in her name.
Every purchase is a small act of literacy philanthropy in Jane's honour.
Supporting Literacy in Jane's Name
Frequently Asked Questions
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Jane & Me is the memoir of Caroline Jane Knight, Jane Austen's fifth great-niece and the last of the family to grow up at Chawton House. Caroline shares her extraordinary childhood at the heart of Jane's literary legacy, the family's eventual departure from their four-hundred-year ancestral home, and her journey back to embracing her Austen heritage as an adult.
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Yes — while devoted Janeites will find much to delight in, Jane & Me is fundamentally a personal memoir about family, heritage, loss and rediscovery. Readers with no prior knowledge of Jane Austen find it just as compelling as lifelong enthusiasts.
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Jane & Me is available from Jane Austen Books in the United States, Chawton House online shop in the United Kingdom, and on Amazon worldwide in paperback and e-book. The audiobook, narrated by Alison Larkin, is available from Alison Larkin Presents, Audible and Spotify.
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Yes — Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage is available as an audiobook narrated by multi-award-winning narrator and actress Alison Larkin, who is also an Ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation. Available from Alison Larkin Presents, Audible and Spotify.
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Yes — fifteen per cent of profits from every copy sold are donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, the charity Caroline founded in 2014 to support literacy programmes in developing communities worldwide in Jane Austen's name.