Jane Austen’s England
Exploring the locations that shaped Jane Austen's timeless stories, blending real-world settings with her imagined landscapes.
Summary
For my Intro & History of GEOINT (GIS 220) final project, I explored the theme of GIS in literature through Locations of Jane Austen Characters. Using ArcGIS StoryMaps, I mapped the real places and fictional estates referenced in Austen’s novels, highlighting how geography shapes the journeys, relationships, and themes within her stories. This project demonstrated how geospatial intelligence can extend beyond traditional applications—like defense or disaster response—into the humanities, offering new insights into the cultural and narrative landscapes of classic literature.
Objective
To apply geospatial methods to literature by mapping the real and fictional locations in Jane Austen’s novels, demonstrating how GEOINT concepts can reveal the role of place in shaping narrative, character development, and themes.
Data
- Places layer: curated list of real locations and fictional settings with novel references and descriptions.
- Basemap: Esri canvas “vintage” style for period feel.
- Media: public-domain or educational images for Bath, London, Chatsworth (as Pemberley analogue), etc.
Method
- Compiled locations mentioned across novels and secondary sources; split into real vs fictional.
- Designed symbology (green circles = real; red diamonds = fictional) and pop-ups with descriptive context plus book citation.
- Built a guided route map for Elizabeth’s journey to Pemberley with estimated Regency travel times.
- Structured the StoryMap with intro → explorable map → route section → theme comparisons (urban vs rural) → conclusions.
Gallery
Interactive layer embedded from ArcGIS Online.