Jane Austen's Will Revealed: A Sister's Love Story

Jane Austen's last will and testament, revealing her profound love for her sister Cassandra, is set to be exhibited at the National Archives.

Penned three months before her death in 1817, the 90-word document leaves "everything of which I may die possessed" to her "dearest sister." Austen's estate, after debts and expenses, was valued at £661 2s, equivalent to about £49,000 today. This bequest underscores the deep bond between the sisters at a time when women's financial security was often uncertain.

The will is a centerpiece of the National Archives' upcoming "Love Letters" exhibition, which spans 500 years of devotion and heartache. The exhibition opens on January 24 and runs until April 12, 2026, offering visitors a rare glimpse into historical personal correspondence and documents, including other significant pieces like a petition from Lord Alfred Douglas and a letter from Charles Kray.