What Did Jane Austen Know About Sex?

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

History Hit

Society, Sex, Scandal, Education, History

4.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 June 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

She wrote some of the most enduring romances in literature. But what did Jane Austen really know about love ... and sex?

From longing looks and flirtation, to seduction and elopement, in this episode we're investigating how much of Jane Austen's works was based on experience.

Kate is joined by John Mullan, Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London and author of 'What Matters in Jane Austen?'

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm your host, Kate Lister.
0:02.4	If you would like betwixt the sheets, add free and get early access, sign up to History Hit.
0:08.7	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of original documentaries with top history presenters.
0:16.0	And enjoy a new release every single week.
0:19.8	Sign up now by visiting history hit.com forward slash subscribe.
0:24.6	Hello, my lovely betwixters.
0:26.3	It's me, Kate Lister, and you are listed to Betwix the Sheeds.
0:30.4	And we're so glad that you are.
0:32.0	You are very, very welcome here.
0:33.4	But before I can welcome you in any further, halt, stop.
0:36.9	Do not proceed anymore. I have to tell you any further, halt, stop, do not proceed anymore.
0:38.2	I have to tell you, this is an adult podcast, spoken by adults to other adults about
0:41.5	adulty things in an adulty way, covering a range of adult subjects and you should be an adult too.
0:45.1	And we have to tell you that because it might get a bit saucy, it might get a bit spicy,
0:49.5	and you might get a bit offended.
0:51.4	But let's be honest, that's what we're all here for, really. Right,
0:55.0	on with the show!
1:09.2	A regency drawing room, the perfect setting for a tea party. Delicious. The clinking of porcelain,
1:14.6	the hum of polite, restrained conversation. Our hostess smiles charmingly, elegantly pouring
1:21.7	the tea from the pot, drops in sugar cubes with silver tongs and offers your cream from a jug.
1:28.1	How delightful! Every moment is measured, every movement means something.
1:33.9	If you look about, not everything is as polite as it first appears.
	...

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