The annual Jane Austen festival in Bath, the largest and longest-running of its kind, has returned for a special 250th anniversary edition. The 10-day programme, which began in 2001, draws thousands of visitors from around the world, with events such as balls, cream teas, and dance lessons selling out rapidly.
Among the attendees are Elizabeth and Peter, a couple from London who came specifically for the anniversary. Elizabeth, originally from Zimbabwe, says Austen's message of perseverance resonates with her personal experiences. Recent film and TV adaptations, including Bridgerton, have attracted a more diverse crowd, with many fans noting improved representation at the festival.
Author Joy Michelle Austin, from California, sells her contemporary Austen adaptations at the festival fayre. Her version of Pride and Prejudice reimagines prejudice as racial prejudice, with Caroline Bingley rewritten as a Nigerian American love interest. “For me as a woman of colour, it was important to write a story that we can see ourselves in,” she says.
The festival's popularity has led to high demand for tickets, with some events selling out within minutes. Unofficial events have sprung up across the city, including a Regency dress salsa class at a backpackers' hostel and an informal ball organised by newcomers determined not to miss out.
James, a software startup director and organiser of the unofficial Phoenix ball, emphasises the importance of the dances. The festival's appeal remains predominantly female, though men are present, often drawn by family connections to Austen's work.
