About this Event
Paula Byrne is a bestselling biographer and novelist. Her biographies of Jane Austen include 'The Real Jane Austen' and 'Jane Austen Rise of a Genius'.
In 'Six Weeks by the Sea' Byrne returns to the world of her literary icon, weaving a sparkling slice of historical fiction as Jane encounters her first love during a seaside holiday in Sidmouth.
About the book:
Summer 1801. Sidmouth, England.
The Austen Family descends upon a fashionable Georgian seaside resort in Devonshire for a six-week holiday. Jane's brother, Frank, is on leave from the Royal Navy, and dearly wishes to unite his sister with his friend Captain Peter Parker. But another holidaymaker, a handsome stranger, catches sight of Jane and is determined to make her acquaintance. This rival to Captain Parker is Samuel Rose: a lawyer, literary man and abolitionist. As the weeks pass, Jane's relationship with both men brings about unexpected surprises. By the end of the summer, the course of her life will have changed forever.
Set against the backdrop of Austen’s family, the tensions of the war against France, and naval and colonial politics, Six Weeks by the Sea is the fascinating story of how the most famous romance writer of all time fell in love for the first time.
To see what else is happening in Alton during Regency week plaese click here for the Alton Regency Week 2026 events program.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Waterstones, 41 High Street, Alton, United Kingdom
GBP 3.00 to GBP 13.00
