Saved for the Nation: Bodleian acquires last Austen manuscript

The Bodleian Libraries have acquired at auction the autograph draft manuscript of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel The Watsons. The last major Austen manuscript to have been in private hands, The Watsons is the most significant Austen item to have come to the market in over twenty years.

Another exciting story from the UK of a manuscript that can now remain accessible to researchers and tourists alike.  I’m sure all the Janeites in the world are thrilled to hear about the Bodleian’s acquisition of the manuscript of the unfinished The Watsons.  I am sure a great deal of new research into how Jane Austen created her novels will come out of this, and the news that it will be put on display this fall makes me jealous I won’t make it to Oxford to see it!