Jane Austen: wills and legal puzzles

The talk will cover some legal puzzles in Jane Austen’s novels and relating to her family such as entails, strict settlements and wills. It will include the effect of the introduction of income tax on Jane Austen, her will and legacy duty, the estates of Mr and Mrs Leigh Perrotof Bath, Jane Austen’s father (the Rev George Austen) being trustee of a settlement owning a plantation in Antigua, the claim against her brother Edward relating to the title of his Hampshire estate, the bankruptcy of her brother Henry and other legal and tax matters.

John Avery Jones is a retired tax judge.