How would Jane Austen have fared at a book festival?

I’ve been to two of my favourite book festivals recently, Chalke Valley History Festival and Charleston, and the experience has set me thinking about festivals in general. If I could listen to a great writer — any great writer — at a literary festival, I think I would choose Anthony Trollope. He would probably go on and on, just as his books go on and on, but be highly engaging in exactly the same way. Still in the 19th century, I don’t imagine Jane Austen would be much fun at a festival — but I am quite sure she would have the sense not to accept. Sir Walter Scott would lecture one at length about tartan history but his enthusiasm would be contagious. As it is, the rise of the literary festival is a phenomenon of my own day (my first published book appeared 67 years ago). The first one I went to was Hay-on-Wye, when it was quite a modest affair but delightful in its dedication to authors.