Picturing the World of Jane Austen

Jane Austen has painted in our imaginations a vision of the English world that she inhabited over 200 years ago.

The original editions of her six novels had no illustrations, but from the late 19th century, many illustrators have attempted to enhance her words with pictures from their own imaginations.

Professor Emeritus Chris Browne will discuss a selection of these images, mainly drawn from his extensive collection of illustrated editions of Austen. He will ask the audience to judge whether a picture is worth a thousand words of her writing in this, the 250th anniversary year of Austen's birth.

Bookings open Wednesday 25 June.

Part of Melbourne Rare Book Week.