From 1978 to 2013 Robert Clark taught English and American literature at UEA Norwich, focusing mainly on the novel in English, about which he has published numerous articles and books. In 1998 he established the Literary Encyclopedia (www.litencyc.com) which to date has published over 10,000 reference articles provided by thousands of university professors around the world.  Jane Austen has long been one of his particular interests and he is currently writing a book about her work in relationship to the growth of free-market capitalism and philosophy in the years 1776-1818, particularly the work of Adam Smith, the modernisation of farming, the growth of manufactures and consumerism, and the opportunities for a more fulfilling life for women of talent and independent spirit. He is also a member of JASNA Virtual Region. In keeping with the AGM theme of the Bath novels this year, in this talk Robert Clark will describe the growth of Bath 1700-1800 as a destination for tourism and leisurely consumption with its hotwells, medical facilities, balls, concerts, theatre performances, gambling and fashionable retailing. After describing the milieu, he will briefly explore Jane Austen’s representation of Bath in Northanger Abbey.