Jane Austen: The Face of the New £10 Note

She’s now “in possession of a good fortune”.

The Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, has announced that Jane Austen will be the new face for the £10 note.

As a result of a 35,000-signature petition on Change.org for women to appear on British banknotes, the famous author will take her place alongside a quote from her novel Pride and Prejudice: “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!”

It is believed she will feature from 2017, the bicentenary of her death.

“Jane Austen certainly merits a place in the select group of historical figures to appear on our banknotes. Her novels have an enduring and universal appeal and she is recognised as one of the greatest writers in English literature,” said Mr. Carney. “We believe that our notes should celebrate the full diversity of great British historical figures and their contributions in a wide range of fields. The Bank is committed to that objective, and we want people to have confidence in our commitment to diversity.”

Image courtesy of The Bank of England.