Jane Austen might become new face on Britain’s 10-pound banknote

“Pride and Prejudice” novelist Jane Austen looks set to replace Charles Darwin as the face on Britain’s 10-pound note. The outgoing governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, made the suggestion Tuesday, after the bank drew complaints that women are ignored when it comes to choosing historical figures on British banknotes. The bank recently confirmed that it will replace 19th-century social reformer Elizabeth Fry with wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill on the 5-pound note, prompting protests that no woman except Queen Elizabeth II would be represented on Bank of England bills. Almost 30,000 people have signed an online petition on the issue, and a group of 46 lawmakers wrote to the bank last week

to ask it to reconsider the predicted decision.