Inside the Historic Homes of Famous Authors That Are Open to the Public

Time of India

6 days ago

It is said that 'each house has a story to tell.' One can know a lot about another person by visiting their house. Today, we have curated a list for literature lovers. Your dreams will finally come true- you can visit some of the legendary authors' houses and get a glimpse of the life they lived and what shaped their stories.
Let's get into it and know some interesting info on our famous writers:
Jane Austen's House Museum
This is a 17th century cottage located in Chawton, Hampshire, which was home to Jane Austen from 1809 to 1817. This is the place where she wrote her six major novels: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, Emma, and Northanger Abbey. After her death, this house became apartments and a workman's club until 1949 but was then restored by the Jane Austen Society into a museum.
Literature lovers get a glimpse of her daily life with the tiny writing table, her jewellery, and her manuscripts.
Monk's House
This house is located in East Sussex, England, and was originally a timber framed cottage, later purchased by Virginia Woolf in 1919. This was the place where Virginia wrote key works including Mrs Dalloway, a widely loved novel. The interior walls of the cottage display painted tiles and murals made by Vanessa Bell, her sister, and one bedroom has a tile inscribed 'VW from VB 1930.'
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This is a must visit place for all literary geeks.
Rabindranath Tagore's Ancestral Home
This haveli is located in Kolkata, West Bengal, and was the ancestral home of the renowned writer Rabindranath Tagore. It has now been converted into a cultural museum where they showcase the Tagore family archives, artworks, personal belongings, and items reflecting rich Bengali culture. Visitors can also see the rooms and courtyards where Rabindranath Tagore wrote most of his famous poems and music, and drew inspiration for his reformist thought.
Ghalib ki Haveli
This haveli is located in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, and was the home of the 19th century Urdu‑Persian poet Mirza Ghalib. He lived and composed his poetry here, and after his death the building was greatly damaged but the Delhi government restored it in 2000. Today, if you visit it, you will find handwritten poems, portraits, a bust, and architectural designs of the 19th century.
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Everyone knows William Shakespeare—he was a playwright famous for works such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello, which continue to be reinterpreted today.
His birthplace residence is located in Stratford‑upon‑Avon, England, and is a 16th century half-timbered house. Here you will find the Falcon Inn chair, considered Shakespeare's favourite, and exhibits displaying his books.
Brontë Parsonage Museum
This house was owned by Patrick Brontë and became home to Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë in 1820. The Brontë Society converted this house into a museum, which now houses the world's largest collection of Brontë relics.
Here one can see the dining room where the sisters wrote some of their most famous novels, Charlotte's bedroom, and Emily's study. Visitors can also look at the imaginative miniature books the Brontës made as children.
R.K. Narayan's House
Visitors can also visit the home of Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayan in Mysuru, Karnataka. He spent many years writing in this two-story building—this is the place where he wrote Malgudi Days and his other famous works. In 2016, this home was converted into a museum, where one can see his manuscripts and personal items, giving readers a glimpse into his life.