簡•奧斯汀將登上新版10英鎊紙幣

英國央行7月24日宣佈，新版10英鎊鈔票將使用英國19世紀小說家簡•奧斯汀的頭像取代目前使用的達爾文頭像，來緩和女權主義者們關於英國央行低估女性作用的批評。這套紙幣預計在2017年開始流通，肖像將以簡•奧斯汀姐姐的手繪素描爲藍本，並配上出自《傲慢與偏見》 的一句名言“我覺得什麼娛樂也抵不上讀書的樂趣。”

今年4月英國央行宣佈把5英鎊背面的女社會改革家伊麗莎白•弗萊替換成前首相丘吉爾，引發了強烈抗議，因爲前者是現版英鎊紙幣中出現的唯一一位女性。英國和其他國家一樣，每隔一段時期更換紙幣設計來杜絕假幣。從1960年開始紙幣正面印的都是伊麗莎白女王的頭像，而背面的人物頭像是不同時代的英國名人，幾乎都是清一色的男性，在伊麗莎白•弗萊之前，女性歷史人物只有現代護理學創始人弗洛倫斯•南丁格爾在上世紀70年代中期登上過10英鎊紙幣。

British 19th century novelist Jane Austen will become the face of the new 10 pound note, the Bank of England said on Wednesday, defusing criticism that women are under-represented on the country's currency.

The writer of classics such as "Pride and Prejudice", "Sense and Sensibility" and "Emma" will replace naturalist Charles Darwin on the reverse of Britain's most popular banknote.

Britain's central bank sparked an outcry in April when it announced former prime minister Winston Churchill would replace social reformer Elizabeth Fry on the reverse side of the five pound note, depriving the currency of its only female historical figure.

Mark Carney, the first foreigner to head the bank in its 319-year history, praised Austen as "one of the greatest writers in English literature" and said the choice of future banknote characters would be reviewed to ensure a row of this sort did not erupt again.

"We believe that our notes should celebrate the full diversity of great British historical figures and their contributions in a wide range of fields," he told a gathering at the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, the 17th century house where the author wrote some of her best-known novels.

"We want people to have confidence in our commitment to diversity. That is why I am today announcing a review of the selection process for future banknote characters."

The Austen notes are likely to come into circulation in 2017 and will feature a portrait adapted from an original sketch by Jane's sister together with the quote 'I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!' from Pride and Prejudice.

Carney, who headed the Bank of Canada before taking the helm of Britain's central bank on July 1, is keen to assert his reformist credentials in an antiquated institution where doormen still dress in top hats and pink tail-coats.

Whether Carney, who has four daughters, will succeed in redressing the gender imbalance on the bank's monetary policy committee remains to be seen. The nine-strong body has been male-only since May 2010, and only four women have served on the committee since its creation in 1997.

In his first public press conference since taking office, Carney made only the slightest reference to monetary policy.

"You can be comforted that our job at the Bank of England is to protect the value of the new Jane Austen note," he said. "In fact, maintaining confidence in our currency is the fundamental responsibility of your central bank."

Like many other countries, Britain changes the design of its banknotes at regular intervals to address counterfeiting risks.

While the sovereign has been depicted on British banknotes since 1960, the vast majority of historical figures - introduced in 1970 - have been men. The pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale appeared on the 10 pound note from the mid-1970s, but the notes went out of issue in the early 1990s.

Carney said it was never the Bank's intention that none of the four characters on its notes should be a woman, but it would invite feedback from the public on whether it could to do more to comply with its commitment to equality. The conclusions of the review will be announced by the end of the year.

In Canada, the signature of the central bank governor is carried on bank notes but in Britain that honor goes to the chief cashier.