The latest annual writing instrument collection celebrates a pioneering author who revolutionised fiction nearly 250 years ago with her groundbreaking subjects and style.
With its Writers Edition, Montblanc spotlights the creativity and artistry of the prolific writers who shaped world literature and left a lasting imprint on culture. Reflecting Montblanc’s origins in the culture of writing, each edition explores the universe of words created by the author with the design of each writing instrument revisiting unforgettable stories.
The Montblanc Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen pays tribute to one of Britain’s most celebrated novelists. Born in Hampshire, Jane Austen published Sense and Sensibility at the age of 35 and was only identified as the novel’s author posthumously with Persuasion and Northanger Abbey in 1818. Known for her social observation and wit, Austen’s works place her alongside Shakespeare in the history of English literature’s greats.
Over 200 years after her death, her six novels—Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion—are beloved worldwide. Frequently translated and adapted, Austen’s works continue inspiring many adaptations, films, societies, and festivals, highlighting her enduring appeal.
There are four writing instruments in the collection, representing a significant passion in Austen’s life. These central themes include the countryside, the house, the travel, and the ball, with every design detail illustrating the various sides of the author’s life and work.
The wax seal that Austen used for the estimated 3,000 letters she wrote during her lifetime inspires the shape of all four editions.
Three of these editions feature the words “By a Lady” on the cap top, reflecting how her first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, was originally anonymously signed, while the fourth edition reveals her real name.
The design on the nib showcases the silhouette of Jane Austen in a style reminiscent of Regency and Victorian shadow portraits, while the writing instruments’ clip shape draws inspiration from the band of a reticule, a pouch-like ladies’ handbag from the Regency era.
