Join Warwick Books at Warwick Words for an afternoon of two halves: The Real Jane Austen with famed biographer Paula Byrne and Fashion in the Time of Jane Austen with Sarah Jane Downing who recently appeared with Dan Cruikshank on TV.

Jane Austen’s world was revolutionary in every sense. The American colonies, then France, overthrew their kings and established republics, and revolution as well as refinement  was the background to her writing.  Egalitarian ideals were also reflected in the fashions of the period, which adopted designs inspired by the period of classical democracy: light, flowing and diaphanous.

Paula Byrne, who is an acknowleged expert on Jane Austen will talk about her new biography The Real Jane Austin, which is due out in 2012, and Sarah Jane Downing will give an illustrated talk on how fashion was shaped by the cultural ideals of the time. A super afternoon for all Jane Austen fans.

The event takes place on Friday 1 October at the Unitarian Chapel at 3.00pm.

Tickets £8 (Includes afternoon tea).