Author Face-off

In front of the Jane Austen Centre  

     Jane Austen and Jacqueline Wilson are two authors who both have connections to Bath.   Jane Austen was born in 1775 and was the seventh of eight children.  In 1801 she was forced to move to Bath because her parents retired there.  One historian said, "She disliked Bath and thought it didn't agree with her, yet it was to be her home."  She thought Bath was too noisy and fancy for her liking.  She did write two novels based in Bath (Northanger Abbey and Persuasion) which is why she is celebrated here.  Her novels became popular after she died.  In Bath today, there is a center dedicated to Jane Austen and her former home is just around the corner from where I am staying this summer.  

    Jacqueline Wilson is an English, children's, best-selling author.  She was born in Bath in 1945 to parents Biddy and Harry.  She was an only child.  She loved playing pretend games and started writing at seventeen in the magazine Jackie.  She started off writing adult novels but switched to children's.  Her books are about everyday problems and difficult family-life.  I discovered her last year and this summer I have read about twenty of her books.  She is one of my favorites!  Hopefully soon I will read a Jane Austen book to see what the fuss is all about!