The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on May 26, 2020
Genres: Fiction / Historical / 20th Century / World War II, Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Literary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bookstore
* INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER *
"This novel delivers sweet, smart escapism." —People
"Fans of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will adore The Jane Austen Society... A charming and memorable debut, which reminds us of the universal language of literature and the power of books to unite and heal." —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris
Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.
A powerful and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small, and the universal humanity in us all, Natalie Jenner's The Jane Austen Society is destined to resonate with readers for years to come.
My Review
I have had this book sitting on my shelves since it came out in May 2020. I am not sure why it took me so long to pick it up because I have loved every book by Jane Austen that I have ever read. Maybe it was a fear of being disappointed by the story or a fear of having spoilers on the books I have not yet read by Jane but I am happy to say none of those things happened. This is the first book I have read by this author and I am happy to say that it will not be the last. In fact, I have Bloomsbury Girls on my bookshelf as I am writing my thoughts on the book I have mentioned above.
I am what I guess you would call an old soul and frankly probably was born during the wrong time. This book though really had a way of transporting me back in time to the 1800s and 1940s England. Did I mention I absolutely love everything England? I have never been there but do hope to go one day. When reading this book I was able to really picture the areas that the author was describing in her writing. I loved the small town/village vibe in the story not to mention the characters. I love how a handful of characters in the story all came together for one purpose and one purpose only and that was Jane Austen. It did not matter the peoples ages, jobs, stations in life, or their locations. The only thing that mattered was their love of Jane Austen.
This book does not just completely focus on Jane Austen per se but you also learn about the characters who love her writing so much. You get their backstories and how they came to read her works. The story follows a couple of relatives of the late author, a local doctor, a local lawyer, a maid, a farmer, a retired teacher/widower, an assistant director of estate sales, and a famous Hollywood actress. I found the character cast to be a wonderful mix of people and I enjoyed getting to know their different personalities and seeing how they interacted with one another. If you are a Jane Austen fan and love historical fiction then this is a must-read. If you love romance, family, friendship, and the small town vibe then again this is a must-read.
I believe that the inside flap of the book says it best: A charming and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small, and the universal humanity within us all, Natalie Jenner’s The Jane Austen Society is destined to resonate with readers for years to come. I do not know how to say it any better than that truly this was a wonderful story and one I can see myself coming back to time and again.