Jane Austen and Her Writing Desk

Yesterday we made it finally to the British Library. We had tried to go five years ago, but it was closed because of the London bombings.

I have been wanting to see Jane Austen's writing desk.  Along with the desk were her penned copies of Persuasion and Catherine. I can not begin to tell you how happy I was to see them!


The desk is a small sloping box that she would place on a table and was easily carried along for travel. Opened, it held paper, ink and writing instruments.

Jane Austen wrote to her sister, Cassandra, on Wednesday, 24 October 1798, from the Bull and George at Dartford:

I should have begun my letter soon after our arrival but for a
   little adventure which prevented me. After we had been here a
   quarter of an hour it was discovered that my writing and dressing
   boxes had been by accident put into a chaise which was just packing
   off as we came in, and were driven away towards Gravesend in their
   way to the West Indies. No part of nay property could have been
   such a prize before, for in my writing-box was all my worldly
   wealth, 7l.... Mr Nottley immediately despatched a man and horse
   after the chaise, and in half an hour's time I had the pleasure of
   being as rich as ever; they were got about two or three miles off.