Poetry & Persuasion
Our Persuasion & Poetry Festival is in full swing, and we're delighted to share some poems that Jane Austen wrote - knew - and inspired!
The Drawing Room at Jane Austen’s House, showing The Poetry Bookcase and two dresses from The Regency Wardrobe collection, also on display.
The Poetry Bookcase
This special artwork, displayed inside Reverend Austen’s bureau bookcase, brings together poems that we know Jane loved, either because they are mentioned in her letters, or because she references them in her novels. The poems were chosen for us by award-winning poet Maura Dooley, and the artwork itself was created by our very own Jessica Halmshaw.
On the desk of the bookcase, you will also find facsimiles of poems by Jane Austen herself from the museum collection – from the poem letter she wrote to her brother Frank in 1809, to her final composition – a poem known as ‘The Winchester Verses’ that she dictated to her sister Cassandra just hours before her death in 1817.
Mock up of the artwork for The Poetry Bookcase, showing the glass panes of the bookcase doors. Artwork by Jessica Hamshaw.
The Poetry Trail
Around the House there is a trail of poems by a range of contemporary poets, displayed in areas of the House or near to objects that inspired them.
The trail includes poems from All My Important Nothings and A Quire of Paper – two poetry collections created by maura Dooley during her Writing Residency in 2015, and also by some of our previous Poets in Residence.
The poetry trail features poems by: Gillian Clarke, Jade Cuttle, Maura Dooley, Ian Duhig, Lavinia Greenlaw, Laboni Islam, Stephanie Lyttle, Daljit Nagra, Robert Seatter, Ellora Sutton, Alicia Stubbersfield.
‘Possibly’ by Robert Seatter, on display next to our portrait miniature of Tom Lefroy.
Poet Robert Seatter reads his poem 'Possibly' - on display in the House next to a portrait miniature of Tom Lefroy.
The poetry trail doesn’t quite stop there – there’s also a very silly House Tour in Rhyme for children and families to enjoy!
Poetry events
Throughout the Festival we are celebrating Jane Austen and her love of poetry, as well as her perfect autumnal novel Persuasion.
We have enjoyed a fabulous Festival Launch at Goldfinch Books in Alton, with readings by Rachel Long and Ellora Sutton. We have been inspired by Maura Dooley as she lead a poetry workshop and also delivered a talk on Jane Austen’s own love of poetry.
We’re looking forward to a riotous Poetry workshop: Satire & Silliness for young poets, led by Janine Bradbury on Saturday 20th September – hosted by our partner Young Poets Network – and there’s still time to enter our poetry competition!
We are delighted to have had support from Winchester Poetry Festival for all these wonderful poetical happenings!