Jane Austen's House presents its 2023 Annual Lecture, filmed onsite in Chawton with acclaimed Austen scholar Professor John Mullan...

“I believe, ma’am, I may safely promise you never to dance with him.”

When Elizabeth Bennet says this to her mother about Mr Darcy, she believes that she is speaking the truth. She is destined, like most of Jane Austen's characters, to contradict her words by her actions. In her novels, Jane Austen is a connoisseur of comic selfcontradiction. In this talk, we see how she brings characters alive through their inconsistencies in Pride and Prejudice, with some glances at her other novels.

This talk by acclaimed Austen scholar Professor John Mullan was delivered in the Drawing Room at Jane Austen’s House. Whilst a small group enjoyed it live, it was written and filmed for you, our online audience. So grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy, wherever you are in the world!