About this project
Travel Guide: Jane Austen's England
€16,352
427
We have reached our funding goal!
Today (05/12) we have reached our funding goal! Thank you to all the backers who have helped us get there.
This means the book will be translated and Dutch publisher Gottmer will print a one-off limited English edition for Kickstarter backers. So if you want to make sure you'll get a copy, order it now!
Would you rather be at Pemberley?
Do you want to visit the places where Jane Austen wrote her famous novels? Or stand in the spot where Elizabeth Bennet said NO to Mr Darcy in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice BBC-series and the 2005 film? Have you always wanted to picnic on Box Hill, just like Emma Woodhouse? Or take a stroll on the Cobb in Lyme Regis like Anne Elliot and captain Wentworth did?
Then Jane Austen's England is the travel guide for you!
What is Jane Austen’s England?
Jane Austen’s England is the first (and only!) travel guide devoted to exploring locations in England that have a unique connection with either Austen herself, her work, and/or the film and tv adaptations of her books. Now it is only available in Dutch.
When we reach our funding goal, the book will be translated into English and an exclusive English edition will be printed that will not be available in bookstores or anywhere else!
You can pre-order your own copy of this unique book by backing this Kickstarter project!
How can you order your copy or donate?
- Click on the green 'Back this project' button next to the introduction video at the top of this page.
- Choose a reward. Pre-ordering the book starts at €20.
- Automatically shipping costs will be added to your pledge.
- Click on 'Continue'.
- Fill in the form to make an account and click on 'Sign Me Up!'
- Fill in your credit card details.
- Confirm your pledge.
N.B. No payment will be taken from your credit card if we do not reach our funding goal.
Why do we need your help?
This Jane Austen travel guide is now only available in Dutch! We would really like to have it translated into English to make it accessible to Jane Austen fans from all over the world. Unfortunately, a translation is a costly thing - and the book is more than 300 pages long! With this Kickstarter campaign, you can help make it possible by buying one or more copies in advance, or by making a donation.
Why do we need €14,000?
By backing this project and choosing a reward you pre-order your own copy of Jane Austen's England. With the funds we not only cover the translation costs, but also Kickstarter and payment fees, the production and printing of the books, and shipping the books worldwide so you receive your copy as soon as possible.
A small portion of our funding goal we reserve for unforeseen costs, like a raise in shipping fees.
Remember: funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing. No one will be charged for a pledge towards a project unless it reaches its funding goal.
Product details
- Paperback
- Full color
- Width: 13,5 cm / 5.3 inch
- Height: 21 cm / 8.3 inch
- Number of pages: ca. 300
- Including ca. 17 maps and over 120 photographs
Contents of the book
The guidebook starts with background information about Jane Austen’s life and the time she lived in. This is followed by descriptions of more than 200 locations that are clustered into nine different chapters - each covering a specific geographical region in England.
Each location in the book includes its history, an extensive description of the link with Austen, and practical information such as address, phone number and opening hours. Included throughout are walks, interviews, and quotes from Austen’s works and private letters that make the guidebook entertaining - as well as informative - to read.
The last chapters provide an overview of film locations per adaptation, and a description of three themed road-trips by car: Pride and Prejudice 1995 in 4 days, Pride and Prejudice 2005 in 5 days and Jane Austen’s Hampshire in 7 days. The text is richly illustrated with colour photographs. Regions and large cities are accompanied by detailed maps.
Visit www.janeaustentravelguide.com to read an English sample with a list of the contents.
Already published in The Netherlands
Jane Austen’s England was written in Dutch by journalist, photographer and ‘Janeite’ Karin Quint. In 2013 she travelled through England and visited each location. Het Engeland van Jane Austen was published in the spring of 2014 by the renowned Dutch publisher Gottmer. So far, it’s doing very well in the Netherlands - a second edition was just published in July 2016.
What do those-who-know say about it?
“This beautifully designed travel guide is a journey in itself: fluently written and very engaging, with beautiful pictures and unique walking routes.” - review of Dutch online bookshop Eci.nl
“Today I read a large part of Het Engeland van Jane Austen. Highly recommended! Lovingly written and photographed.” - Hans Bouman (on Twitter), reviewer for de Volkskrant (largest daily quality newspaper in The Netherlands) and travel writer, who later interviewed Karin Quint for a double-page spread in de Volkskrant.
“This book is a must-have for every fan. Because it contains so many biographical facts, it is much more than just a travel guide.” - Monique Christiaan, chairman Jane Austen Society Netherlands
Why now?
2017 is an important year: it is not only the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, but it’s also when the new 10 pound banknote featuring her image will be issued. Many Jane Austen fans will want to visit England to experience some of the many events that will be organised (or to be one of the first to pay with the Austen banknote!), and such a guide will help them get the utmost out of their visit.
Who are we?
The author
Karin Quint (1976) is a journalist, photographer and founder of the Dutch website and community JaneAusten.nl. She first became acquainted with Jane Austen’s work in the 1990s when she bought a well-thumbed copy of De Gezusters Bennet (The Bennet Sisters) at a flea market for just ten cents. Unknowingly she had just purchased one of the best-loved novels in English literature – Pride and Prejudice. She read the book in one go. From that moment, she was hooked and became a true “Janeite” – as Jane Austen’s most fanatic fans are called.
In 2009 she started JaneAusten.nl and through this website got to know many Austen lovers from The Netherlands, Belgium and further abroad. Over the years, she was increasingly asked for advice about making Jane Austen tours. But a guidebook containing all locations related to Austen and her work was nowhere to be found. While on an Austen pilgrimage of her own in Lyme Regis, she decided to write one herself.
The publisher
Gottmer Publishing Group was established in 1940 by printer Jan Hendrik Gottmer. More than 75 years later they have grown into a dynamic, versatile and modern concern with a well-established and distinguished publisher’s list. They publish a broad spectrum under a variety of imprints:
- Gottmer – children’s and juvenile books
- Becht – cookery & crafts
- Altamira – body, mind & spirit
- Dominicus – travel guides
- Hollandia – nautical books
The translator
Holtwrites: Karen Holt (1959) was born and raised in the U.S., and moved to the Netherlands after receiving her BSc in Journalism from the University of Florida. She began her professional career in the Dutch music industry, first as press manager for Music & Media/ Flying Dutchman Promotions, and later as Benelux Representative for the U.S. Country Music Association. In 1999, Karen joined Baxter Communications where, as Senior Communications Consultant, she specialised in advanced English-language translation, editing and copywriting of commercial texts for major Dutch companies.
Thanks to this extensive experience, Karen has keen insight into the unique requirements of creating high-quality Dutch-to-English translations that are not only accurate, but also easy and enjoyable to read. In May 2016, she began her own company – Holtwrites – for the pleasure of focusing on individual projects that specifically catch her interest. As a fervent Jane Austen fan – AND an experienced and enthusiastic user of Het Engeland van Jane Austen – Karen is delighted at the opportunity to make this unique guidebook accessible to a wider, English-language audience.
Risks and challenges
The risks for this project are very low. There are three parties involved: the author, translator and publisher.
Author: The travelling and writing have all been done! The book was also reviewed and updated for the recently-published second edition. The content itself is already completely in order.
Translator: We have found a highly experienced Dutch-English translator who is prepared to start working on Jane Austen’s England as soon as funds are met.
Publisher: The publishing part of this project is in very good hands. Gottmer Publishing Group has over 75 years of publishing experience. In 2014 they published the Dutch edition of Jane Austen’s England.
The main challenge is to get this book ready as soon as possible. Our estimate is that we will be able to dispatch it around July 2017.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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Funding period
- (30 days)