Jane Austen’s novels have been called romantic, satirical and even radical. But what makes her work endure centuries later? Professor Fiona Stafford, University of Oxford & Historical Consultant for Netflix’s latest Austen adaptation, and Head of Books and Manuscripts Americas Dr. Kalika Sands unpack Austen’s brilliance—from her razor-sharp observations of human nature to the revolutionary ways she gave voice to young women’s inner lives.
From a Jane Austen’s one-of-a-kind first edition of Emma sent to fellow novelist Maria Edgeworth to rarely seen handwritten manuscripts, this conversation explores the objects and ideas that keep Austen profoundly relevant in a world shaped by TikTok and modern retellings like Clueless. Her wit still cuts deep, her insight still stuns and her legacy feels more necessary than ever.
Appearing in Sotheby’s New York By A Lady Sale on 1-15 October 2025.