A ring that once belonged to English literature icon Jane Austen will stay in the United Kingdom after donors matched a bid by U.S. pop star Kelly Clarkson.
The Jane Austen museum in the author's home in Chawton successfully raised the money needed to buy back the ring and it is now set to go on display at the house early next year.
Curator Mary Guyatt told the BBC museum staffers and officials were "stunned by the generosity" of the people who contributed to the fund.
"It's clear from the number of people who gave generously to the campaign just how admired Jane Austen remains to this day," Vaizey told the British broadcaster.
"The ring is a beautiful national treasure and I am happy to know that so many Jane Austen fans will get to see it at Jane Austen's House Museum," Clarkson said in a statement.Austen wrote the classic 19th century romances "Pride & Prejudice," "Emma," "Mansfield Park," "Persuasion," "Northanger Abbey" and "Sense and Sensibility."
