European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Computer entrepreneur buys Jane Austin House men have had every advantage of us in telling their own Story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree the pen has been in their Jan Austen by Jessica Baldwin the associated press Jane Austen s words from her novel persuasion have inspired an american fan to spend a portion of her millions on a crumbling Leaky 51-room jacobean pile in Rural Hampshire England. Sandy Lerner plans to turn Chawton House with its tenuous Austen connections into a study Center or Early women writers. There s a Karma Field out there of forgotten women writers the 38-year-old computer entrepreneur said As she stepped gingerly Over missing floorboards in a draft upstairs bedroom. It needs to be done. Women have been treated very very Lerner and her husband Leonard Bosack 41, made millions when they sold California based Cisco systems inc. They moved North to the Seattle area and Sank some of the profits into a compute development project but she says More than $70 million has been Given away. The contracts have already been signed. Once a couple of Legal knots Are untangled about $1.5 million will be spent buying a Long lease on Chawton House and its 300 acres located 45 Miles South of London. Millions More will be needed to fix up the Early 17th-Century House where floors Sag Walls fuzz with Mold and rats prowl the cellar. Weeds have grown Over a walled Garden designed by sir Edward Landseer Lutyens the British architect who died in 1944 and is Best known for creating Imperial new Delhi India. When i saw the House i screamed and i m not a scream Able person Lerner said during a recent tour of the House. Caretaker Robin Auburn pulled out a measuring tape and took the dimensions of a broken window in the Dingy attic. Let me know if you need any Money. I m real Good at writing checks. I have a special Blue pen Lerner said. She was working on a postgraduate degree in computer science at Stanford University when she saw a masterpiece theater production of Pride and prejudice. I thought my cod what is this i vaguely remembered Jane Austen from High school. I read All her books and cried when i got to the end of Austen never lived in Chawton House it belonged to her brother Edward Knight who changed his name after he was adopted by a Distant Rich relative. For six years before her death in 1817 at age 35, Austen lived Down the Road in a pretty Brick House now a private museum. But she walked in Chawton House s vast grounds and it is said to be the Model for Donwell Abbey in Emma. Now through May 1, 1994 Erzberger Strasse fest grounds hours of operate in weekdays 5 . To Midnight weekends 12 to Midnight family Day thursday april 28 3-8 pm reworks wednesday april 27 & sunday May 1 at 11 pm information Dan 376-6295 or civilian 0721-759-6295. Sponsored by a american Sandy Lerner stands in front of Chawton House which was once the Home of author Jane Austen is brother. For Lerner the connection with Austen and the House is plenty Strong she was across the Street for Pete s Sakel the Cornerstone of the study Center will be Lerner s 1,500-volume Library. An aggressive acquisition policy will save books and plays by women writers such As Aphra Behn Fanny Burney and Sarah Fielding storing them in computers to Speed up the work of textual analysis. The books will be dust. There is Ink erosion. We need to gather them quickly Lerner said anxiously. These books Are basically unfortunately she said when Sellers hear that she is in the Market the sky s the although Lerner said that image is wrong it worries Jean Bowden curator at the museum where funds for adding to its Hodgepodge collection of Memorabilia Are limited. It makes me sad she said. Even so Bowden supports Lerner s plans As she interprets them for Chawton House. She wants to make a study Center for women researchers to study women writers some sort of feminist thing Bowden said. Lerner held an open meeting in the Village Hall last year to meet Chawton s 330 residents. On All accounts the standing room Only gathering on a cold wet night was a Success. She was very open and very Friendly said resident Violet Hunt. Darmstadt performing arts Center presents / april 29, 30 & May 1, 6, 7, 8shows begin at 8 pm matinees begin at pm s8 or dm12 adults $4 or dm6 children 12 & under special student group rates tickets available at the Darmstadt performing arts Center or the John f. Kennedy Haus. Monday thru Friday. 8 am 5 pm. 348-7336 or 06151 -25924 76 stripes Magazine april 28, 1994. Darmstadt performing arts Center bldg 4llrnst iudw1g Kaseane. Strasse. 348-7336/civ 06151-69-7336 be v
