The Fee Tail and Female Fury in Austen’s Legal World. Unravel the legal knots in Austen’s drawing rooms! Was Jane Austen simply penning romantic fairytales, or was she subtly wielding the sharp quill of a proto-feminist legal mind? Join us for a fascinating exploration into the oppressive laws governing women’s property rights in Georgian and Regency England. Discover how Austen, with her intelligent grasp of intricate legal concepts like the dreaded fee tail, cleverly embedded a quiet but powerful battle cry for women’s rights within the fabric of her most beloved novels.
Nichola McNulty is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Bath Spa University, specializing in Land and Property Law. Her research delves into the compelling intersections of law, literature, and the humanities, with a particular focus on Jane Austen’s work. Drawing on her expertise as a legal academic, Nichola offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective on law and literature. She is especially interested in Austen’s legal knowledge and engagement with legal concepts, particularly the complexities of entailment, as depicted in her novels. Her research also examines Austen’s connection to and portrayal of Bath.
Details:
Date: Sunday 25 January 2026
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Location: This event will take place at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. Find us.
Tickets: ÂŁ15
This event is also available as part our Full Day Pass – if you want to attend all the events on this day, this is the best option!
This event is part of our Pride and Prejudice Festival, 24-28 January 2026