Dr Gillian Dow, Associate Professor in English, has helped launch the new £10 banknote, alongside the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.
Gillian, who is also Executive Director of Chawton House Library, addressed an audience of hundreds gathered at Winchester Cathedral on Tuesday 18 July.
One of only three people to speak at the event, including the Governor, she talked about Austen’s life – her achievements, popular appeal, literary legacy and connections to finance.
She said:
“Jane Austen has a textual presence across the globe, but there is something wonderful in imagining the further places she will now go, printed on the ten pound note – perhaps tucked in a smart wallet on a business trip to the States, in a handbag on route to Mauritius, or indeed a shopping trip to London. I feel absolutely certain she would relish this honour.
“Austen gained phenomenal global success long after her death, but there will always be people who haven’t read her. I hope they will now see her image and be tempted to pick up one of her novels.”
The banknote, featuring a portrait of the author, is printed on polymer and is the first Bank of England note with a tactile feature to help blind and partially sighted users. It will be issued on 14 September 2017 and the public will begin to see it in the following days and weeks as notes leave cash centres across the country to enter general circulation.
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If you would like to see a recording of the live event, you can do so here.
For more details about the banknote, please visit the Bank of England website.
