Hampshire exhibition celebrates Austen's 'Emma'

Portrait of Jane Austen

It's 200 years since Jane Austen published her novel 'Emma' - the story of a privileged daughter who thinks herself a bit of a matchmaker.

Her meddling in other people's love lives didn't prove popular - but the book itself was - and went on to be translated into dozens of languages.

A French translation was available within weeks of publication Credit: ITV Meridian

To celebrate the bi-centenary, and examine the global appeal of Jane Austen, a new exhibition has just opened at Chawton House Library in Hampshire, curated by the University of Southampton.

Among the exhibits, first editions published in both France and America, and a scathing letter written by Charlotte Bronte, who was born in 1816, the year of Emma's publication.

Jane Austen was a frequent visitor at Chawton House Credit: ITV Meridian

Rachel Hepworth went to speak to the Director of Chawton House Library, Dr Gillian Dow, from Southampton University.

The exhibition, called "Emma at 200 : From English village to Global appeal" runs until September. For full details, click here