In March 1789 The Loiterer, a weekly journal edited by James Austen, received a long letter criticising its lack of suitable and engaging content for women. The letter was signed by 'Sophia Sentiment', though the true identity of the writer has never been firmly established.

In this article from The Book Collector's Spring 1966 issue, Zachary Cope looks through the available evidence to establish whether 'Sophia Sentiment' may have been Jane Austen herself.

It is read by Sarah Bennett