The Bank of England Governor Mark Carney unveiled yesterday a new £10 bank note featuring the famous British novelist Jane Austen at Winchester Cathedral, where Austen has been inhumed since her death in 1817. The new note will be put into circulation on September 14th in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of her death.
Speaking at Winchester Cathedral, Carney declared that Austen is worthy of commemoration on English pieces of money because she has accessed the British collective memory. Carney also emphasized the importance of bank notes in cherishing the "Glorious British history".
Jane Austen's portrait is engraved by William Home Lizars
The portrait featured is an engraving by William Home Lizars that was approved by Austen's family and inspired by an original sketch of Jane by her sister Cassandra. Below the portrait is Austen's famous quote "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!" from her most famous book "Pride and Prejudice." There's also an illustration by Isabel Bishop of "Pride and Prejudice" 's main character, Elizabeth Bennet undertaking "The examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her." Austen's writing table and her brother's house, where she used to spend her days, are also featured on the new ten-pound note.
Jane Austen's works
Jane Austen is probably the most famous female novelist of the United Kingdom. Her works are renowned worldwide and many have been adapted to movies. According to publishersweekly.com, her best six novels are:
- "Northanger Abbey"
- "Persuasion"
- "Pride and Prejudice"
- "Emma"
- "Sense and Sensibility"
Jane Austen featured on the new banknote, along with other novelties
Besides from the novelist's portrait, quote, and other illustration related to the life of the British novelist, the Bank of England announced many other novelty features in the new £10 banknote.
The new features are a see-through portrait of the British Monarch Queen Elizabeth, the Cathedral Winchester where Austen is buried in gold foil on the front of the note and silver on the back, the word ‘Ten’ that changes to ‘Pounds’ if the note is tilted, a three-dimensional hologram of the British crown that becomes very colorful when the note is tilted, microscopic letters and numbers beneath the Queen's portrait, and the phrase ‘Bank of England’ in raised ink along the top of the note. Last but not least, the note includes a tactile feature for blind people.
