To celebrate the launch of Booklover’s Bath (January 2026) what could be better than highlighting one of the cities most famous women of letters? Book review: The Novel Life of Jane Austen.

As 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, it seems fitting to bring a guide that illuminates her life story to your attention.

Divided into three sections:

• Part One: 1796 – 1797 Budding Writer.
• Part Two: 1801 – 1809 Struggling Artist.
• Part Three: Published Author.

Covering hopes and changing fortunes, there are several occasions when Jane Austen visited, and stayed, in Bath, most notably 1801 to 1806.

The text is by Janine Barchas, an authority on book history and literary criticism, with a particular curiosity in Jane Austen. And Isabel Greenberg’s illustrations bring the story to life with their strong graphic style. A brilliant collaboration!

The Novel Life of Jane Austen: A Graphic Biography, by Janine Barchas and Isabel Greenberg, is published by Greenfinch, an imprint of Quercus.

Read more about the 250th birthday celebrations here.

Step back in time to xplore two exhibitions through Jane’s eyes, in Janine Barchas’ ‘What Jane Saw’ project.

Receive 10% off the cover price when you order your copy from Golden Hare Books, using the code bookbinderbookreview50 and is valid until 20th September.