250 years ago she was born. My wonderful English teacher at Charterhouse, Paddy Gardiner, listened to me explaining why she was so annoying and obsessed with money, quietly suggested I read another of her novels thinking of her like a Japanese miniaturist, examining humanity, and I became a huge fan. A few years ago a reader of my book 65 My Life So Far contacted me with Gardiner's address - he and his wife were alive and well in their 90s. I wrote thanking him and got a lovely letter back.

I was lucky to have a father who loved literature and I read all AUSTEN's...works very young, and have continued to do so.