It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a publisher in possession of a famous backlist must be in want of a special edition – even if it costs £925.

This is the price of the new Folio Society limited edition of Jane Austen’s complete novels, created to celebrate 250 years since her birth, and is just one of the ways the industry is capitalising on the anniversary.

The fanfare around Austen this year already seems to be working as, according to sales data from NielsenIQ Bookdata, Austen is on course to have her best year since 2009. In the first 28 weeks of 2025, more than 78,000 Austen novels were sold, compared to 64,000 last year and 60,000 the year before.

In response to surging demand, organisations across the literary world have launched a full-scale Regency revival. Austen’s House in Chawton is hosting a range of Austen-inspired events, including a series of festivals focused on different novels. Chatsworth House – the inspiration for Mr Darcy’s estate, Pemberley – is holding talks, performances, afternoon tea and embroidery classes. And the place of Austen’s death has opened to the public for the first time. 

Surge in special editions

The Folio Society’s The Complete Novels by Jane Austen will launch on 9th September 2025, and James Rose, head of editorial at The Folio Society, expects it to be a hit. “Austen has remained relevant to people for over 200 years and different people find different things to love in her – that’s the greatness of Austen. Because of that, there’s a broad base and I do expect it to be popular,” he told The Bookseller.

On average, The Folio Society’s limited editions sell out in four hours, but their recent Stephen King limited edition – of which there were 500 copies – sold out in just six minutes, and despite the high price point of these limited editions, young readers are not dissuaded, said Rose, with many saving up to afford their favourite books.

Although The Folio Society already sells single-volume editions of Austen’s novels, Rose “wanted to do something more spectacular for a major celebration of a major writer”. He emphasised the craftsmanship going into The Complete Novels, which will be illustrated with woodcut and linocut artworks by Sarah Young and hand-bound in cotton and silk jacquard cloth from the oldest silk-weaving company in Britain. As Jane Austen wrote: she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me – unless “she’s” a Jane Austen limited edition.

This impressive design also reflects a wider shift in people’s book buying habits, propelled by social media.

Rose said: “Some people look at books in the way that other people view vinyl – they’ve become collectibles. Social media has played a huge part in that. One of our most successful books last year was The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, which was a huge BookTok sensation.”

The Folio Society is not the only one capitalising on the public’s newfound enthusiasm for beautiful books. Vintage is publishing 18 new Collector’s Classics in 2025 with marbled endpapers and sprayed edges, including works by Jane Austen. August Books is celebrating the anniversary with a new edition of Elizabeth Jenkin’s Austen biography. In April, The British Library announced it would be publishing a “luxurious” facsimile edition of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and Austen has even infiltrated the festive book market with Penguin Michael Joseph’s recent acquisition of The Austen Christmas Murders.

Some fans respond to Austen first editions as if Mr Darcy just got down on one knee before them: “We’ve seen people come here, see first editions, and cry,” said Kim Simpson, deputy director at Chawton House where Austen’s brother Edward lived. “As well as there being an emotive industry around these objects, there’s also a huge economic industry,” she added, and it’s not just the books, but also the places that are attracting crowds.”