It is a universally acknowledged truth that Jane Austen, born in 1775, is one of the most beloved English novelists, and that her works still inspire readers today. She is renowned for her novels Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility. Her stories often explore themes of love, marriage, and social status in late 18th-century British society and are written with wit and insight.
To honor her legacy, the Jane Austen Festival is held every September in Bath, England. She lived there for several years, and the city is depicted in two of her novels. The festival began in 2001 as a modest weekend gathering with merely a few attendees. Over time, it has evolved into a ten-day event that attracts thousands of Austen fans. This year, the festival will take place from September 12 to September 21.
Festival-goers can enjoy various activities starting with the Regency Costumed Promenade. Participants dressed in elaborate Regency attire assemble on the streets of Bath and parade through the city, transporting visitors back to Jane Austen’s era. Beyond the promenade, the festival offers walking tours of locations significant to Austen’s life and novels. Additional events such as tea parties, costumed balls, theater performances, and literary readings allow participants to engage with the Regency era.
Photo: Pixabay / 照片：Pixabay
As this year marks Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, the event holds particular significance and will be celebrated on a grander scale, with expanded programming and larger crowds. If you’re looking to experience history and literature rather than just read about them, this celebration might be your perfect cup of tea!
眾所周知，珍奧斯汀生於西元1775年，是最受喜愛的英國小說家之一，她的作品至今仍激勵著讀者。她以《傲慢與偏見》、《艾瑪》以及《理性與感性》等小說聞名。她的故事經常探討西元18世紀末英國社會中的愛情、婚姻和社會地位等主題，筆調機智且富有洞察力。
為了紀念她的文學遺產，英國巴斯市每年9月都會舉辦珍奧斯汀節。她曾在那裡生活了幾年，這座城市也出現在她的兩部小說中。這個節慶始於西元2001年，最初只是一個小規模的週末聚會，只有寥寥無幾的參與者。隨著時間推移，它已發展成為一個吸引數千名奧斯汀迷的為期十天的盛事。今年，該節慶將於9月12日至9月21日舉行。
參加節慶的人們可以享受從攝政時期扮裝遊行開始的各種活動。身著華麗攝政時期服飾的參與者們聚集在巴斯街頭，遊行穿過整座城市，將遊客帶回珍．奧斯汀的時代。除了遊行之外，節慶還提供對奧斯汀生平與小說具有重要意義的地點的徒步導覽。其他活動則包括下午茶會、化妝舞會、戲劇表演與文學朗讀，讓參與者能夠體驗攝政時期的氛圍。
今年適逢珍奧斯汀誕辰250週年，這次活動具有特殊意義，將以更盛大的規模慶祝，擴大節目安排並吸引更多人潮。如果你想親身體驗歷史與文學，而不僅僅是閱讀它們，那麼這場慶典可能是你的完美選擇！
MORE INFORMATION
renowned adj. 著名的
sensibility n. 感性
attendee n. 出席者；參加者
Regency adj. 英國攝政時期的（西元1811-1820年，指喬治四世在擔任攝政王時的統治時期，這段時間以其獨特的時尚、建築風格和文學作品而聞名）
promenade n. 散步
attire n. 服飾；衣著（尤指特定樣式或正式的）
KEY VOCABULARY
1. universally adv. 普遍地；一般地
The idea of treating others with kindness is a value that is universally respected across cultures.
善待他人的觀念是在各種文化中普遍受到尊重的價值觀。
2. prejudice n. 偏見；歧視
The company states that it does not have any prejudices when deciding on which candidates to hire.
這間公司聲明它在選定僱用哪些應徵者時沒有任何偏見。
3. legacy n. 留給後人的成果；遺產
As one of the world’s most influential athletes, Michael Jordan left behind a lasting legacy.
作為世界上最具影響力的運動員之一，麥可．喬丹留下了永恆的傳奇。
4. modest adj. 不大（或多）的；適度的；端莊的
The company started with a modest budget but grew quickly thanks to smart planning and hard work.
這家公司以不多的預算起步，但因為精明的規劃和努力工作而迅速成長。
5. costumed adj. 穿著特殊服裝的；扮裝的
At the comic convention, many fans arrived in costumed outfits and portrayed their favorite characters.
在動漫展上，許多粉絲穿著戲服，扮演他們喜愛的角色。
6. elaborate adj. 精心製作的；複雜的；詳盡的
The museum displayed an elaborate model of the ancient city that included tiny buildings and detailed streets.
博物館展出了一個精心製作的古城模型，包含微小的建築和細緻的街道。
7. era n. 時代；年代
Scientists believe we are entering a new era of space exploration with the rise of private space companies.
科學家認為，隨著私人太空公司的興起，我們正進入一個新的太空探索時代。
8. significance n. 重要性；重要意義
This symbol has special significance in the country’s history.
這個符號在該國的歷史中具有重要意義。
9. literature n. 文學（作品）；文獻
literary adj. 文學的；文藝的
The teacher didn’t assign the book as he didn’t think it was a great work of literature.
這名教師沒有指定閱讀這本書，因為他不認為它是一部偉大的文學作品。
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