AUTHOR and biographer Paula Byrne visited Oxford to give a talk on her recently published book on Jane Austen.

The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things was published last month.

It considers the English romantic novelist’s life though objects which were important to her, including her portable writing desk.

Ms Byrne also considered whether a Regency pen and ink drawing might be an authentic portrait of Jane Austen.

Around 40 people came to the event at Blackwells on Tuesday.

Allan Ledger, 69, from Burford, said: “It was a very clever talk and she kept going for a long time.

“It was very interesting in many respects for Jane Austen information.

“She talked about the recent Jane Austen portrait and it was all about who the real Jane Austen was.”