Jane Austen’s ‘French’ Cousin, The Comtesse Eliza de Feuillide : the Years she spent in France

Summary

In this illustrated talk, Claire Saim explores the fascinating life of Eliza de Feuillide, Jane Austen’s cosmopolitan cousin, and examines how Eliza’s extraordinary biography helped shape Austen’s imagination. The presentation looks at Eliza’s social charm, theatrical tastes, and cross-channel connections — specially her marriage to Jean-François Capot de Feuillide — and traces the echoes of these influences in Austen’s work.

As a French scholar and lifelong Austen fan, Claire brings an original Franco-English perspective to Austen studies. Her research combines archival and library work with on-site investigation: she travelled to key locations, met with specialists, and — in a wholly unprecedented field visit — went to the château in the south of France associated with Jean-François Capot de Feuillide, Jourdan Castle, bringing fresh visual and contextual insights to the story.

Rooted in close reading and biographical research, and richly illustrated with archival material, this talk invites audiences to rediscover Jane Austen through the lively, sometimes scandalous, and decidedly continental life of her “French” cousin.