Meet the woman who is living like Jane Austen today
What's the story
Meet Jessica Bull, a 46-year-old Londoner and self-proclaimed "Janeite," who has devoted her life to emulating celebrated English novelist Jane Austen. Bull's obsession with Austen started in 1995 when she tuned in to the premiere episode of Pride and Prejudice on BBC. Since then, Bull has immersed herself in Austen's world by dressing in Regency-style costumes, attending balls, learning horse riding, and even raising backyard hens.
Career transition
Bull's journey from librarian to Austen-inspired novelist
Bull has a background in English studies and she first worked as a librarian before transitioning into communications consultant. However, she always wanted to be a novelist like Austen. After a 10-year break from writing fiction, she found comfort in Austen's work and decided to write again. In 2024, Bull published her debut novel Miss Austen Investigates—an Austen-inspired murder mystery.
Janeite network
Bull's global community of Austen enthusiasts
Being a Janeite is "enormous fun" for Bull as she is part of a global community that shares her love for Austen's novels. This network visits places associated with Austen's life and work, including many National Trust properties and the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton. They also attend Austen-inspired events throughout the UK including the Jane Austen Festival in Bath and Jane Austen Week in Alton, Hampshire.
Regency balls
Bull's favorite aspect of Austen-inspired events
Bull especially loves the balls hosted as part of Austen-inspired events, where guests don their best Regency costumes. "My favorite is the lavish balls held in her honor, where we get to wear our finest regency attire and attempt to follow her footsteps on the dancefloor," she said. She also finds the Regency look "iconic" and loves how it shows women demanding more freedom in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Upcoming release
Bull's 2nd Austen-inspired novel is on the way
Following the success of her debut novel, Bull is set to release her second Austen-inspired book, A Fortune Mast Fatal on March 27. She hopes that the revived interest in Austen will introduce many new readers to her work, fostering the same admiration she holds for it. "I really hope all the revived interest in Jane Austen this year will lead many new readers to discover they love her work just as much as I do."