Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen | Cotswolds, England

Sense and Sensibility is, in many ways, a meditation on the concept of responsibility. From the moment John Dashwood promises his dying father in Chapter 1 that he will take care of his step-mother and half-sisters and then promptly eschews that responsibility, the novel explores what it means for one to be responsible, both innately and electively, and the consequences of responsibility (or lack thereof). Using the text's characters and their storylines to guide us, we will ask ourselves questions such as: where is the line between responsibility to others and responsibility to ourselves? At which point, if any, does personal responsibility become a prison, something that limits our own growth and self-exploration? What responsibility do we owe not only to individuals other than ourselves, but also larger structures like society as a whole and/or collective action, and is there a hierarchy? What do we gain, personally, from being a responsible person -- and perhaps more importantly, being perceived as one? And does the benefit of that perception render it less virtuous? 

In the Cotswolds, pilgrims will delve into the world and ideas of the novel while gathering at the stunning Double Red Duke, a luxury hotel located in the peaceful, bucolic village of Bampton, Oxfordshire. There will be opportunities for pilgrims to enjoy the award-winning cuisine offered by the hotel’s chefs, as well as to sit by the fire with a book or great conversation.

We expect to walk up to 8 miles per day, but some days will require less walking. The weather in England during September ranges from the low 50s to mid 60s Fahrenheit. We will walk/utilize the outdoors come rain or shine, and we recommend that pilgrims prepare for the possibility of warmer or colder temperatures than expected, and potential rain on our walks. We won’t rush our walks, but we expect to be tired at the end of each day.

The full tuition of the trip is as follows

• Private Room $5,950

• Shared Room $4,950 (tuition per person)
  
  Shared Rooming: If you wish to share a room with another person, you will each purchase your own shared rooms. This enables us to functionally receive one registration form per participant. Please do not purchase a private room if you prefer to share a room with another participant.
  

Meeting Up

We will meet after lunch on September 6th and end programming before lunch on September 10th. Specific meeting time and location will be offered privately to pilgrims upon payment.

Scholarships

We occasionally offer partial scholarships for pilgrimages. If you are interested, please fill out our form here.