AN Austen-themed literary festival will take place in Hampshire.

Netley Abbey will play host to the Netley Literary Festival to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of world-famous Jane Austen.

The festival, which runs from October 16 to 22, has been organised by The Berry Theatre in Hedge End in association with Eastleigh Borough Council and Netley Parish Council.

It will feature a diverse range of authors’ talks, book launches and signings, workshops and performances exploring Austen’s works, and her links to Netley Abbey.

The week-long festival will also take a look at the abbey’s place in gothic tradition, as well as its broader literary heritage.

Netley Abbey has a host of links to the life of Jane Austen, having purportedly been a great source of inspiration for the 18th-century writer, particularly for her gothic satire novel Northanger Abbey.

The hope is that the festival will highlight Netley’s links to culturally and historically significant works of literature.

Festival director and artist-in-residence at The Berry Theatre, Matt Beames, said: “The 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen is a fitting year to launch the Netley Literary Festival, which will explore the author’s work and links to the area.

“Netley and its abbey have a diverse literary heritage, and the literary festival is a perfect chance to explore it.

“As well as exploring Austen and the gothic tradition, the festival will also highlight some of the more modern literary links to Netley and the local area.”

For more information on the festival’s events and to book your place, please visit The Berry Theatre website.