Jane Austen looks dimwitted in new 10-pound note, says biographer

Jane Austen's biographer has claimed that the Bank of England has made the iconic author look "dimwitted" in their latest 10 pound note.

Paula Byrne, who is the author of 'The Real Jane Austen', said that Austen is the funniest writer to walk this planet, and the bank's pic makes her looks like a saccharine author, the Guardian reported.

Byrne said that she can't believe that they have gone for such a saccharine picture and as Austen was a supreme social satirist, some of her writing was very dark, but the chosen pic makes her look a really cosy, middle-class writer.

She said the Bank should have used an original sketch of the author, by her sister Cassandra as it is the only known picture done during her lifetime, showing the author sitting arms folded and without a flicker of a smile.

The portrait, which was done in 1870, has been used by the bank in their note.