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« Historic Dancing Shoes and Regency Slippers
Seen Over the Ether: A Jane Austen Easter »

Jane Austen’s Writing (Sloping) Desk

April 9, 2009 by Vic

“A person who can write a long letter with ease, cannot write ill.”- Jane Austen

jane-writesIn Miss Austen Regrets, Olivia Williams as Jane Austen is seen at her sloped writing box writing her novels or composing letters during her visits to Chawton House. While portable writing desks similar to Jane’s were popular all through the 19th century, they did not become widespread until travel became more convenient for the middle and upper classes in the late 18th century. Writing boxes were versatile and portable and could easily be carried. They were placed on a table or one’s lap, and were as personal as a diary, containing  paper, pens, ink, and hidden compartments.

Sample of Persuasion in Jane Austen's handwriting

Sample of Persuasion in Jane Austen's handwriting

Today, Jane Austen’s writing box, spectacles, and the History of England and two cancelled chapters of Persuasion can be viewed at the John Ritblat Gallery at the British Library. Jane was a careful and meticulous writer, and the two chapters that have survived in her own hand show her creative mind at work. Crossed out lines and revisions and margin notes are quite evident. At Chawton, Jane placed her writing slope on a tiny round table next to a window in the sitting room.  (View images here and here on flickr)

Austen did not like to write in front of other people, and would hide her work as soon as the squeak of her door announced the presence of a visitor. She wrote Persuasion on very small pieces of paper so she could easily conceal the pages when interrupted. Jane Austen in London

The little round writing table at Chawton.

The little round writing table at Chawton.

Jane’s father most likely purchased the writing slope for her in December of 1794. I have wondered if he gave it to her on her birthday.

Jane's window

Jane's window

Hidden for generations, the desk resurfaced in 1999 when Joan Austen-Leigh, the great-granddaughter of Jane’s biographer and nephew, James Austen-Leigh, donated it to the British library. The desk had been kept by the family for over 40 years in a suitcase in a closet in Canada. (Jane Austen for Dummies)

writing-box1The wood rectangular box opened to reveal a sloped writing surface embossed in leather. Compartments stored writing implements like paper, pens, ink, stamps, sealing wax, etc. From the black and white image of Jane’s writing desk, hers seems to be a simpler model than the Sheraton writing box depicted above.

  • Jane's writing slope at the British Library

    Jane's writing slope at the British Library

    Writing or Sloping Boxes

  • Antique Writing Boxes: Images of how one opens and works.
  • Letter writing in Jane Austen’s time.
  • A Letter Written by the Duke of Ellington

Image of Jane’s writing slope from JASA

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Posted in jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Regency Life, Regency Period, Regency style, Regency World | Tagged Jane Austen's writing box, Letter Writing in Jane Austen's Time, letter writing in the regency era, writing boxes, writing desk, writing slopes | 9 Comments

9 Responses

  1. on April 9, 2009 at 09:20 Letter Writing in Jane Austen’s Time « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Jane Austen’s Writing (Sloping) Desk […]


  2. on April 9, 2009 at 21:04 ElizaWard

    Lovely! I like her writing, too. It would be neat to see her desk in person!


  3. on September 9, 2009 at 21:12 The Postal Service in 18th Century Britain: Letters and the Penny Post « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Jane  Austen’s Writing Desk or Writing Slope […]


  4. on October 1, 2009 at 23:04 Writing Desk Fan

    It’s just so interesting to me how a writing desk isn’t seen as anything but furniture now, but back in those times something like a portable writing desk was a sign of education and aristocracy and helped to produce enduring works of literature. Great long post, and I very much enjoyed the read, so thank you.


  5. on January 1, 2010 at 15:33 A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Letters « Jane Austen's World

    […] Jane Austen’s Writing (Sloping) Desk Possibly related posts: (automatically generated) […]


  6. on January 4, 2010 at 15:24 bronzeeyes

    I would love to have a Sheraton travelling box!

    I have done some wood-work before… perhaps I can build my own…


  7. on June 9, 2010 at 05:39 Tools of the Trade – The Writing Box « Jane of All Trades…

    […] almost lost (but thankfully recovered!).  Here is a box apparently similar to Austen’s and Jane Austen’s World has an image of the actual desk, which was donated to the British Library by one of her non-direct […]


  8. on May 15, 2012 at 09:00 Lydia Bennet’s Letters to Kitty: A Clue About Jane Austen’s Messages to Cassandra? « Jane Austen's World

    […] Jane Austen’s Writing Sloping Desk […]


  9. on June 14, 2012 at 16:15 Napoleon’s Terrible Secret « What's up at Ravens March.

    […] “good example of the writing of the time”, but even notable writer of English words Jane Austen wasn’t a lot […]



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