Jane Austen will be the new face of £10 note

    JANE Austen will become the new face of the £10 note in 2017 — a response to critics who say there are not enough women on our money.

    The Pride and Prejudice author will replace Charles Darwin, who has featured on tenners since 2000, the Bank of England confirmed yesterday.

    The Bank caused a storm in April when it said prison reformer Elizabeth Fry — the only female face on UK banknotes aside from The Queen — would be replaced by former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. That sparked protests, a 35,000-signature petition and threats of legal action.

    Bank chief Mark Carney said yesterday: “Jane Austen will become the 17th historical figure to feature on our banknotes.

    “She merits her place in this select group as one of the greatest writers in English literature.

    “Her novels have an enduring, timeless and universal appeal — they have never been out of print since first being published.”

    Born in Hampshire as one of eight children in 1775, Austen also published novels including Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and Emma.

    Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published after she died in 1817, aged 41.

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责任编辑： 林杉