Anna Lou Walker

The novel that changed my mind – ten experts share a perspective‑shifting read For World Book Day, we asked ten academic experts to share a work of fiction that has challenged their assumptions and changed their thinking in a lasting way.

For World Book Day, we asked ten academic experts to share a work of fiction that has challenged their assumptions and changed their thinking in a lasting way.

Forget flowers: lovers in 18th- and 19th-century Ireland exchanged hair As a physical piece of a person that would outlast their human life, a lock of hair symbolised immortal love.

As a physical piece of a person that would outlast their human life, a lock of hair symbolised immortal love.

Love stories of the Berlin Wall – couples reunited via tunnels, hot air balloons and zip wires Many couples were forced to undertake dangerous, daring escape attempts to overcome their separation.

Many couples were forced to undertake dangerous, daring escape attempts to overcome their separation.

How much can we really know about Jane Austen? Experts answer your questions As Jane Austen’s Paper Trail draws to a close, there are still loose ends to tie up – and that’s where you, our listeners, come in. Listen to our Q&A episode.

Thanks so much for your excellent question Tara. It's been answered by our expert panel in the Q&A episode of Jane Austen's Paper Trail: theconversation.com/how-much-can...

Ask our experts about Jane Austen #janeausten250 Do you have any questions about Jane Austen's life and writing that you'd love to ask one of our experts? Send us an email or a voice note to podcast@theconversation.com or even leave a comment below Your question may be featured in our seventh BONUS Q&A episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail Over six episodes, we’ve been talking to experts leading research into Jane Austen and exploring places around England that were important to her. Listen to the full series wherever you get your podcasts and send us your questions about Jane Austen (or in the comment section)! #janeausten #janeausten250 #askanexpert #podcasts #podcastclips Listen to the full series: https://pod.link/1844385976

Do you have any questions about Jane Austen's life and writing that you'd love to ask one of our experts?

Send us an email or a voice note to podcast@theconversation.com or leave a comment below.

Your question may be featured in our seventh BONUS Q&A episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail!

Some Thoughts on the Common Toad | The Orwell Foundation "Is it wicked to take a pleasure in Spring and other seasonal changes?"

If you have five minutes spare today, George Orwell's short essay Some Thoughts on the Common Toad makes for some v hopeful reading amid the January gloom 🐸❄️ www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-f...

Reading the sky: how Irish weather lore preserved a deep understanding of the natural world Irish people have historically looked to the natural world to forecast the weather and make sense of their surroundings.

Irish people have historically looked to the natural world to forecast the weather and make sense of their surroundings.

Pimple patches have hidden our blemishes for hundreds of years – historian explains In the 17th century, patches were used to conceal blemishes like the scars left by diseases like smallpox or even syphilis.

In the 17th century, patches were used to conceal blemishes like the scars left by diseases like smallpox or even syphilis.

Our Jane Austen year – a free ebook, loads of expert insights and a six-part podcast December 16 marked 250 years since the writer’s birth – but at The Conversation, we have been celebrating all year.

December 16 marked 250 years since the writer’s birth – but at The Conversation, we have been celebrating all year.

Jane Austen celebrated Christmas with dancing, dinner parties and dangerous games It is likely that Austen met one of her earliest romantic interests at a Christmas party.

It is likely that Austen met one of her earliest romantic interests at a Christmas party.

Free ebook! To celebrate Jane Austen's extraordinary talent in this special year, The Conversation published a series of articles by Austen experts to complement our six-part podcast, Jane Austen's Paper Trail.

In this ebook, you can enjoy ten of those exceptional pieces: tcnv.link/RaEGIaY

Jane Austen’s happiness was complicated – her last heroine in Persuasion knew why The sixth episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail explores whether Austen was happy, through the pages of Persuasion.

📚🎧 I can't believe today is the final episode of Jane Austen's Paper Trail! But it might just be my favourite of the series. Today we're exploring whether Austen was happy, using her last published novel, Persuasion, as our guide. theconversation.com/jane-austens...

Jane Austen shunned literary fame – but transformed the novel from the shadows The fifth episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail explores Austen’s view of writing through the pages of Northanger Abbey.

📚 🎧 Episode five of Jane Austen's Paper Trail is out now! This week, we explore what Northanger Abbey reveals about Austen’s life as a professional writer, and how she viewed the novel as a moral force. Read more on what our experts had to say & listen here: theconversation.com/jane-austen-...

Five tips for becoming a cinephile in the age of streaming algorithms It can feel daunting for modern film fans to know where to start with curating their taste.

It can feel daunting for modern film fans to know where to start with curating their taste.

Jane Austen’s friendships defied social class – and empowered her writing The fourth episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail uses the novel Emma to explore the writer’s views on friendship.

📚 🎧 Episode four of Jane Austen's Paper Trail is out this morning! This week we're talking Emma – and exploring Austen’s female friendships, including one her family later tried to hush up… You can read more on what our experts had to say & listen here: theconversation.com/jane-austens...

Why it’s so hard to know what Jane Austen thought about slavery In the third episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, we speak to Austen experts about her politics and views on slavery, as we dive into the pages of Mansfield Park.

In the third episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, we speak to Austen experts about her politics and views on slavery, as we dive into the pages of Mansfield Park.

Medieval peasants enjoyed a surprising range of sick, annual and bereavement leave benefits Some peasants were entitled to up to a year and a day of leave if they were sick.

Some peasants were entitled to up to a year and a day of leave if they were sick.

Jane Austen's character from Sanditon, Miss Lambe, is having a moment One of the biggest and most urgent public debates of Jane Austen’s time wasslavery. It’s an issue most modern readers would like to see her coming down on the right side of. But did you know? Jane Austen only ever wrote oneblack character: Miss Lambe in the unfinished work Sanditon (1817). And the novel which deals most with the issue, Mansfield Park (1814), still only mentions slavery directly once. What we do know is that three of Austen’s brothers were engaged inanti-slavery activism. Her letters also show that she admired the abolitionists Thomas Clarkson and William Cowper. But while it’s tempting to assume Austen shared their convictions, it isn’t that simple – as Mansfield Park demonstrates. Listen to the latest episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail wherever you get your podcasts Listen to the latest episode: https://pod.link/1844385976 Read the article: https://theconversation.com/why-its-so-hard-to-know-what-jane-austen-thought-about-slavery-269053 #janeausten #mansfieldpark #janeausten250 #sanditon #podcastclips #podcast

Did you know? Jane Austen only ever wrote one black character: Miss Lambe in the unfinished work Sanditon (1817).

For more Austen facts, listen to Jane Austen's Paper Trail, wherever you get your podcasts.

Read the article: tcnv.link/GRLHmZ4

Why it’s so hard to know what Jane Austen thought about slavery In the third episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, we speak to Austen experts about her politics and views on slavery, as we dive into the pages of Mansfield Park.

🎧 📚 We're three episodes into Jane Austen's Paper Trail, a podcast series from @uk.theconversation.com. Today we talk Mansfield Park, and try to understand what Austen thought about the slave trade. It's one of my favourite episodes of the series.

theconversation.com/why-its-so-h...

Jane Austen perfected the love story – but kept her own independence In the second episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, we speak to Austen experts about her views on love, and the role of romance in Pride & Prejudice.

In the second episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, we speak to Austen experts about her views on love, and the role of romance in Pride & Prejudice.

In the first episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail podcast, uncover Austen’s relationship with gossip, how surveillance played out during the time period and take a deeper dive into her first novel, Sense and Sensibility.

Listen to the first episode: tcnv.link/7tBODqF

Jane Austen’s world ran on gossip – and she revelled in it In the first episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, a new podcast marking 250 years since the author’s birth, we speak to Austen experts about her relationship with gossip.

In the first episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, a new podcast marking 250 years since the author’s birth, we speak to Austen experts about her relationship with gossip.

The team behind this project has been an absolute dream to work with:
🎙️ Senior producer and sound design – Eloise Stevens
🚉 Reporting and production – Jane Wright and @naomijoseph.com
📣 Socials and promotion – Alastair Tibbitt and Alice Mason
🎧 Executive producer – @waresgemma.bsky.social

Jane Austen’s world ran on gossip – and she revelled in it In the first episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, a new podcast marking 250 years since the author’s birth, we speak to Austen experts about her relationship with gossip.

The first episode of Jane Austen's Paper Trail – a new podcast from @uk.theconversation.com hosted by me – is finally out! 🎧📚🫖 We visit Bath with Dr Andrew McInnes & over a plate of Sally Lunn’s famous buns (Austen's faves), he reveals the author's love of gossip.
theconversation.com/jane-austens...

Jane Austen’s world ran on gossip – and she revelled in it In the first episode of Jane Austen’s Paper Trail, a new podcast marking 250 years since the author’s birth, we speak to Austen experts about her relationship with gossip.

It's hosted by the wonderful @annalouwalker.bsky.social with help from Jane Wright and @naomijoseph.com and made by the fantastic Eloise Stevens.​ Read more about the first ep here theconversation.com/jane-austens... and here are links to follow wherever you get your podcasts pod.link/1844385976

The gossip Quickly and easily listen to Jane Austen's Paper Trail for free!

New podcast 📣 ! Jane Austen's Paper Trail launched today and our first ep is all about gossip and why Jane revelled in it (particularly in Sense & Sensibility). Do listen - and share it with the Jane Austen fans in your life! player.captivate.fm/episode/090c...

Join Me for Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday: A Special Interview! YouTube video by Books From My Bookshelf

Loved being a guest on Books From My Bookshelf, chatting all things Jane Austen ahead of @uk.theconversation.com's new podcast, Jane Austen's Paper Trail. Rosamunde & I talked about Jane's elusive character, her love of curry & why her sister burned her letters: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oze...

Please enjoy this photo of my awkward pre-teen self writing Jane Austen fan fiction on the family computer. She'd be chuffed!

The team for this project has been a dream to work with. Senior producer is the incredible Eloise Stevens, who did all our mixing and sound design. Fantastic reporting and production work by Jane Wright and @naomijoseph.com. And our executive producer is the incomparable @waresgemma.bsky.social.

📚🎧 Hosted by me, the series attempts to solve the many mysteries of the author's life. We visit some of her favourite places (a bun shop in Bath, a beach in Dorset) and chat to 18 of the world’s leading Austen experts to see what secrets we can uncover.