Today, on December 16, 2025, Jane Austen would have turned 250 years old. That’s a pretty remarkable milestone for an author whose stories still feel so alive.
I’ll be honest: I’ve never actually made it all the way through one of her novels. But I’m a huge fan of the movie and television adaptations. I love watching movies and television that take place in a different time period, where the manners, costumes, and slow-burn romances stand out amongst the trials and tribulations of today.
Last year, when my friend Alli and I were in London, we took a trip to Bath, a city closely tied to Austen’s life and work. We visited the Jane Austen Centre, and even as someone who comes to Austen through adaptations rather than the books themselves, it was surprisingly meaningful. It made her feel less like a distant literary icon and more like a real person who walked those streets, observed the people around her, and quietly turned everyday life into enduring stories.
In honor of her 250th birthday, here are 10 fun facts about Jane Austen. Some are familiar, some are surprising, but they all add to the picture of a woman whose legacy has only grown with time.
1. Her novels were published anonymously. During her lifetime, Austen’s books were credited to “By a Lady” or “By the Author of Sense and Sensibility.” Her identity as their author wasn’t publicly revealed until after her death in 1817.
2. She was briefly engaged. Austen accepted a proposal of marriage, then changed her mind and ended the engagement after just one night. I feel like I could see this happening in one of her novels!
3. She came from a large family. Jane was the seventh of eight children.
4. She appears on British currency. In 2017, Jane Austen’s face was printed on the £10 note issued by the Bank of England, cementing her place as one of Britain’s most celebrated literary figures.
5. She dedicated Emmato someone she disliked. Although Austen disapproved of the Prince Regent, he was a fan of her work, and she dedicated Emma to him anyway.
6. Her cause of death remains a mystery. Austen died at just 41 years old. Leading theories include Addison’s disease, cancer, or arsenic poisoning, but no definitive cause has ever been confirmed.
7. Only one image of her is considered authentic. The only verified likeness of Jane Austen from her lifetime is a sketch drawn by her sister, Cassandra. It’s currently housed in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
8. Bath hosts a record-breaking festival in her honor. The Jane Austen Festival holds the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed in Regency costumes.
9. A family memoir helped shape her legacy. In 1869, her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh published A Memoir of Jane Austen, offering readers insight into her daily life and creative spirit.
10. Her novels are surprisingly restrained. Across all her books, there are only 14 recorded kisses (or 16, depending on which source you look at). However, none of these kisses is between the hero and heroine, showing that Austen relied far more on glances, conversations, and emotional tension than grand romantic gestures.
Whether you know Jane Austen through dog-eared paperbacks, beloved BBC adaptations, or just from people talking about her, it’s easy to see why her stories continue to resonate. Two hundred and fifty years later, she still feels relevant, relatable, and endlessly rewatchable, even for those of us who haven’t quite finished the books.
Wonderful post! I am a huge fan of Austen in all forms and really enjoyed your list of facts.
Thanks! I knew some of the facts but some were new to me. I didn’t realize that there is only one authenticated picture of her!