Jane Austen 10-Pound Note Quote Out of Context?

The Bank of England's new Jane Austen 10-pound bank note unveiled Tuesday is already causing a stir because of a quote featured on the currency.

The note contains the quote, “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!” At first glance, all seems fine, but seasoned Austen fans know the quote came from "Pride and Prejudice" character Caroline Bingley, who did not enjoy reading and said the comment sarcastically. They wondered why the Bank of England would choose the ironic quote for the new polymer bill.

The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, explained that he was aware of the satire but still felt the quote “work[ed] on many levels” and could be read straight or ironically, The Telegraph reported. It isn't clear whether the quote is being attributed to Austen herself, or to the character.

The polymer 10-pound bill will not rip and includes braille dots to be able to tell it apart from other denominations. A small number of animal rights activists objected to the trace amount of tallow — or animal fat — that was used to make them.

The new 10-pound bills will enter circulation Sept. 14.

Twitter followers seemed somewhat disheartened by the use of the quote on the note, calling the use “misunderstood.”

Dear news:that J Austen"quote"about joy of reading on the new tenner is uttered by 1 of her most obnoxious characters-Ironically it's ironic

— Samira Ahmed (@SamiraAhmedUK) July 18, 2017

Caroline Bingley declares there's 'no enjoyment like reading' - and then immediately puts her book down. Austen is always misunderstood.

— Imogen Blake (@ImogenGBlake) July 18, 2017

nothing more annoying today than the Jane Austen quote on the bank note ffs can no one do anything right even a good intended thing

— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) July 18, 2017

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