Virtual Talk: Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë

Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë lived decades apart and imagined very different heroines — yet for much or all of their lives, both were unmarried daughters and sisters, deeply embedded in the domestic worlds that helped shape their creativity. From sewing shirts for their brothers to stitching quilts with their sisters, they balanced creative ambition with the daily demands of sewing, caregiving, and domestic responsibility.

This fascinating talk by Eleanor Houghton explores how making, sewing, gifting, budgeting and writing sustained their families and supported their art. Drawing on letters, novels, and surviving garments, accessories and made objects, it reflects on how dress, feminine accomplishment, domestic labour, and familial duty helped shape two of the most enduring literary voices in English literature.

Eleanor Houghton is a dress historian, writer and illustrator whose work explores clothing as a form of biography — a material record of lives shaped and remembered through dress. She examines all aspects of historical clothing, from construction and wear to symbolism and social meaning. Her artworks, inspired by the quilt on display at Jane Austen’s House, are part of the museum’s long-term exhibition. Her forthcoming book, Charlotte Brontë’s Life Through Clothes (Bloomsbury, February 2026), offers a richly detailed portrait of Brontë through the garments she wore, made, and imagined. Eleanor also works as a historical consultant for film and television, with credits including Frances O’Connor’s Emily and BBC’s Gentleman Jack, and continues to advise on upcoming period productions.

We are delighted to be partnering with Jane Austen's House, Chawton, to produce this very special event!

Please note, this ticket is only refundable if the event is cancelled, in which case we’ll contact you. We reserve the right to make changes to our programme. All information is correct at the time of booking.