BEST-selling author Edward Rutherfurd will add star appeal to the Christmas supper at Chawton House Library next month.

Offering a rare opportunity to indulge in a festive meal in the atmospheric oak-panelled rooms where Jane Austen dined with her family, the black tie event on December 3 will include the viewing of a unique manuscript and rare books.

In 1815, Austen wrote: “We four sweet brothers and sisters dine today at the Great House. Is not that quite natural?”

The ‘Great House’ was the Elizabethan Manor House now known as Chawton House Library, once owned by Austen’s brother Edward, and just a short walk away from the cottage attached to his estate, which he provided to his mother and sisters as a residence.

Seeing this unique historic property at night promises to be a special experience. After wine and canapés and a two-course meal, guests will be treated to an after-dinner speech by award-winning historical novelist Edward Rutherfurd, who was one of the earliest supporters to sign up as a Life Friend of Chawton House Library. He will talk about the inspiration that characterful 400-year-old houses like Chawton House can provide to the creative imagination.

Edward Rutherfurd is the pen name for Francis Wintle, whose debut novel Sarum, an historical novel with a 10,000-year story set in Salisbury, became an instant international bestseller, remaining for 23 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Since then, he has produced numerous New York Times Bestsellers, with his books selling more than 15 million copies worldwide and being translated into 20 languages.

His awards include the Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction, the Washington Irving Medal for Literary Excellence, and the City of Zaragoza’s International Historical Novel Honor Award for his “body of work in the field of the historical novel”.

Guests at the Christmas supper will also have the opportunity to view the unique ‘Sir Charles Grandison’ manuscript, written in Jane Austen’s own hand, just returned from a high-profile exhibition at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC, as well as seeing a selection of her first editions.

In addition, the library’s executive director, Dr Gillian Dow, will talk about the organisation’s new ‘Adopt a Book’ programme and introduce guests to some of the unique items in the library’s collection.

Speaking about the event, Dr Dow said: “There is something magical about experiencing this unique historic property at night, not least because we know that Jane Austen was a regular visitor here and, of course, we hope to enthuse guests not only about Austen but about the many talented women writers whose work is celebrated here.”

Tickets, priced £85 each or £750 for a table of 10, are available online at chawtonhouselibrary.org or by calling 01420 541010.