Jane Austen in Bath: Walking Tours of the Writer's City

by Katharine Reeve

Jane Austen in Bath: Walking Tours of the Writer's City is a beautifully illustrated book organized into four walking tours around the city of Bath�where she set both Northanger Abbey and Persuasion�two novels that mirrored her own experience: that of an impressionable, optimistic young girl hoping to meet the man she would marry and later, that of a mature woman disappointed in love. It was in Bath that many of Austen's own romantic adventures and misadventures occurred, and this book artfully weaves together the story of Austen's life there with those of her beloved characters.

This guidebook describes the places frequented by Austen and her characters. Readers can stroll along the shady, tree-lined walk where Anne Elliot met Captain Wentworth after he returned from seven years at sea, and visit the galleries that hosted the glittering balls where the impressionable young Catherine Moreland made her debut.

Bath is an exquisite, perfectly preserved Georgian town located in the stunning countryside just an hour and a half from London. It was a spa town in Austen's day and still is. The streets, crescents, gardens, and buildings look almost exactly the same as they did then. Many of the places that she frequented are still thereâ��visitors can still buy the traditional Sally Lunn rolls at the same bakery/café that Austen frequented; enter the famous Pump Rooms and Assembly Rooms where she drank the waters, gossiped, and danced; stroll the unique Georgian crescents and pleasure gardens where she enjoyed fireworks and lavish public breakfasts; and see the homes Austen and her family lived in, some of which are now open to the public.

Jane Austen in Bath is the perfect companion to discovering the vibrant and fashionable social scene of Bath during both Austen's time and today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Regency, British Literature, History

144 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2006

Reviews

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable little book with gorgeous full color prints and detailed information about Jane Austen's time in Bath and her two novels set in Bath. Interesting for any Jane fan, even if you have no intention of ever visiting Bath... although it will make you want to!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this for my wife after we decided to take a trip to Bath in order to explore the town which played such a major role in Jane Austen’s life. I ended up reading the book for myself as well, though, and I’m glad I did. In it, Katherine Reeve charts out a series of walking tours that help readers understand the city and its influence on the famous author. This is what I expected; what proved a pleasant surprise was how well they provide readers with a sense of the city itself. This Reeve does with four tours that are each manageable in a few hours and which incorporate both the highlights of the Georgian-era town as well as some less-well-known spots. She then interweaves into these descriptions a short biography of Austen during her years in the city, one that shows its impact upon her as well as her famous novels. It all makes for a book that is a must-read for Austen aficionados as well as anyone interested in getting to know this charming city at the peak of its glory.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting ready for our trip! This was easily one of the most useful and interesting "travel" books I've read. Descriptions of four walks in Bath with excerpts from J.A.'s books and experiences there.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful book. A friend sent this to me as an unexpected gift and it is lovely.

[April Munday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Austen lived in Bath for a few years after her father retired and this book takes the reader on walks that include houses where Austen lived and walks undertaken by characters in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. It is a pretty little book with some lovely illustrations. The walks themselves are nicely put together, but it is not easy to use the book while walking around Bath. It is probably better to read it before and after such a walk.

There is some interesting information about Bath and Jane Austen in the book, although I wondered about its accuracy when I read the final page, which implies that Austen left Bath for Chawton. Chawton was almost three years in the future when Austen left Bath with her widowed mother, her sister and their friend. With that caveat, I think it is a useful book.

[Jeslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful guide book of walking tours in Bath that sure doesn't look like a guide book. I really enjoyed reading about the significance of different parts of Bath in Austen's writings, as well as the history of the city before and after her time, in particular the effect of bombings in WWII. My one ding on the layout of the book is that the maps were curiously oriented, frequently there was no indication of n/s/e/w, and when N was denoted, it was pointing off toward 10 o'clock, and the descriptions of where to proceed didn't seem to line up with the map (turn left, turn right, etc.), but the maps themselves will be put to good use the next time I'm in Bath.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also read this one in Bath (it's a small hardcover, a few inches across each way, so I checked it out from the library and threw it in my backpack). I didn't follow the walks exactly, but it was nice to have stories about places she visited. The watercolors and historical prints were fantastic.

[Jane Austen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some excellent walks in this book and plenty of detail about Regency Bath!

(By the by, if you enjoyed this book you might like to read some of the articles on our site about Jane Austen. This one is about Persuasion and Regency Bath in December: https://www.janeausten.co.uk/december...)

[Sipz and Storiez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book! I picked up my copy at the Jane Austen Museum in Bath and it came in very useful on that trip. Not only is it full of historical details about Jane Austen's life in city, but it is also a great travel book about some of the best museums, walks, and tea rooms to visit.

[Sarah Coller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this for the first time in about 12 years. Definitely looking forward to my 6th trip to Bath next month and planning to do these walks and recreate the illustrations. Can't wait for Bath!

[Mimi Shimaineko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a delight to read while staying in Bath!❤

[Camy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, not just as a cute book for self-guided walking tours, but also because the history and historical plates have been so useful to me in writing my current novel, a Regency set in Bath.

I visited Bath during my trip to England last year, and fell in love with the town although I didn't have time to explore it as fully as I wanted to. This book brings back my exciting day in the town and adds to it with tidbits about Jane Austen and the history of Bath.

The simply drawn maps are easy to follow as I read each of the chapters for the walking tours. I'm not sure how they'd be if I were following them in Bath, but from what I remember of the streets and the walking tour I took last year, I don't think the maps would be hard to follow.

I did not expect that the authentic historical illustrations of places in Bath in this book would be so useful to me, but they have been invaluable in imagining what the places were like during the time period of my novel. Several of the plates are from private collections so it's a treat to be able to see them here in this book.

The end has a short list of touristy places to go in Bath with information about each.

A wonderful little book. I wish it were in ebook format, though, because I would love to view it on my iPhone or iPad while taking the walking tours in Bath, and I prefer the portability of an ebook. Otherwise, this book really is well worth the price.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update: Reader, she did not go to England in the fall. Here's to spring of 2022!

I'm planning/hoping/praying that I will get to visit England in the fall this year. But about half way through planning this trip with my sister, she said, "This is a Jane Austen vacation, isn't it?" I was like, "What gave it away?" This is an informative little book and I'm glad that I will be able to visit places that Jane did.

[Shelley]

It's a cute little book that takes you on tours of Bath as if you were there today. It ties in Jane Austen's life, paths she and her characters usually walked, and her inspiration for the stories she wrote. Now I've learned more about Austen's personality and where she fit int he world she lived. Pretty interesting book. I think I want to read Persuasion again ^_^.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! An easy-to-read and very enjoyable way to experience Bath with Jane Austen. And even though I didn't get to take any of the walks, reading it helped me recognize a lot of the important places.

[Kathryn]

*sigh* TBR if I ever get back to Bath for more than an afternoon!

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great little book! So nice to have a guide for everything Austen in the city of Bath. Can't wait to go in a few weeks : )

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a Lovely written and packaged book!You'll feel like you're walking Jane's path.

[Feisal Rahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little book with many wonderful gems about the writer's life and times. Must-have for all Jane Austen fans!

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little book with lovely prints of Regency era Bath. A bit of architectural history of the town along with quotations from Austen's works. Enjoyable quick read.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The small volume will be tucked into my bag on our trip tp Bath this fall. Love the illustrations . Well worth it for any Jane Austen fan.

[Caroline Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it for the beautiful engravings!