British Literature Survey
Reference Pages: Jane Austen Group

Bath & Brighton
by Crystal Jeon

Bath is a city and district located in Avon County in England. It is one of the most elegant and architecturally distinguished cities in England. Buildings of limestone and classical Georgian design give the city its distinction (Britannica 956).

There are three hot springs in Bath: King’s Bath spring, Hot Bath spring, and Cross Bath spring (Cunliffe 2). These hot mineral springs are what attracted the Romans, who established Bath as a city dedicated to the goddess Minerva. They named Bath “Aquae Sulis” (Britannica 956).

At the beginning of the 18th century, Bath was still considered a medieval city. In 1801, Bath had an industrial revolution, and established itself as a “valley of pleasure” where wealthy, royalty, aristocracy, and gentry came to relax and have fun (Cunliffe 112). It became the leading center of English high society outside London in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The city is rich in literary history. Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and Persuasion portray Bath in the 1800s (Britannica 956).

Brighton is a city on the southern coast of England. Its most famous landmark is the Royal Pavilion, which was built for the Prince of Wales who helped establish Brighton as a socially elite place (World Book 609).

Brighton began as a small fishing village and watering place, as patients were recommended to drink and bathe in the water by their doctors (Dale 13). As Bath’s greatest days ended, Brighton began to take its place as the most socially prominent town in the country. However, Brighton also assumed political importance, while Bath did not hold as much political power. Between 1820 and 1880, nearly every great literary and political figure visited Brighton, making this the period that Brighton really succeeded Bath as the center of fashion and claiming it as the new capital of social life (Dale 15).

Works Cited

“ Bath.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 2002 ed.

“ Brighton.” World Book. 2004 ed.

Cunliffe, Barry. The City of Bath. Oxford: Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1986.

Dale, Antony. Fashionable Brighton. London: Country Life Limited, 1947.

Paul Marchbanks
marchban@email.unc.edu