Exploring the Legacy of Jane Austen with Natalie Jenner and the Jane Austen Society

Cliente Amazon: It is a gentle book, easy to read, with romance, a confortable reading... Nice paralelisms and
reflections of Jane Austen's novels...

Spain on Dec 06, 2023

Marcie in Mommyland: I read this after visiting Jane Austen's House and I wished I had read it before! I would have gotten so much more out of my visit!

United States on Oct 22, 2023

linda: Beyond what I expected, wonderful book, could not put it down, after reading it, I bought her second book Bloomsbury Girls, and it was equally as good as the first book. I hope she keeps writing more books along this line. Thanks Natalie Jenner, you are a great author. Linda

United States on Oct 15, 2023

Kate Hopkins: 'The Jane Austen Society' is a fictionalized account of the creation of the Jane Austen Museum in Chawton, Hampshire. After World War II, a small group of people - all based in and around Chawton, and all of whom have suffered serious disappointments in their lives - form a society inspired by their shared love of Jane Austen. Together with glamorous Hollywood actress Mimi Harrison and London auctioneer Yardley Sinclair, they plan to set up a museum in Austen's memory. But their plans are threatened by a scheming American businessman and by a malicious will made by James Knight, the descendant of Austen's brother Edward. Can love of literature - and in two cases romantic love - win the day?

I badly wanted to like this book. Natalie Jenner sounds like a lovely person, I'm aware she was going through a considerable ordeal while writing the novel, and her love of Austen shines through on every page. And she has a lot of merits as a writer. At best she's a great storyteller. Some of her themes - such as how a shared love of literature can lead to the most unlikely friendships, and comfort those in emotional distress - are very moving. I enjoyed very much the way that she drew...

United Kingdom on Aug 28, 2023

Kindle Customer: Lately, I've been mapping out which books I'll read each month, and I was following my plan faithfully until just recently when The Jane Austen Society surfaced from the hundreds of books on my Kindle and demanded that I read it.

I'm glad I did.

Natalie Jenner's debut novel is a quiet little book, very like the novels of Jane Austen herself, yet it packs a punch (just like Jane's). Only a reader knows how universal the language of literature is and how powerful books can be in uniting and healing people. Many are the times when books and reading have saved me from the abyss, and the same holds true for the characters in Jenner's novel.

The library in the Knights' country house made my jaw drop and my mouth water and I easily put myself in young maid Evie Stone's place each evening as she sneaked inside to be with all those wonderful books. For me, that library was just as important a character as the members of the Jane Austen Society.

This little piece of historical fiction is a must-read for those who love to be drawn into the characters' lives. Although I have to admit that young Evie was my favorite, I felt a part of all their lives. I shared in...

United States on Aug 06, 2023

Helen19: but brace yourself if you're English! These English characters of the 1940s speak in pure 21st century American ('come in and take a load off' indeed!); I can only assume that as in her other novel Bloomsbury Girls (where it doesn't jar as much perhaps because of the London setting) the author simply decided that as she was bound to get some British words & phrases wrong she might just as well not even try.
It's also worth noting, as the author admits in her afterword, that her story of the saving of Chawton Cottage bears no relation to what actually happened.
So why four stars? because this novel is good in the important ways - strong plot, convincing characters & plenty of narrative drive.
Best them just to enjoy it as the fantasy it is & not worry too much about the rest.

United Kingdom on Jun 26, 2023

Rissi: STORY | Life in the village of Chawton isn’t the same as it once was. The aftereffects of war still plague some of its residents. This includes Adam Berwick, a man who lost his brothers to war; and the town doctor, Gray, a man who lost his wife and still grieves her death even as someone else inspire his protective side. Adeline is excited to welcome her child into the world, an event that is helping to heal her heart from the loss of her young childhood sweetheart husband; Frances Knight lives in the shadow of her father’s imposing figure, and as a result never finds a happy end; then there’s the American actress Mimi Harrison, a woman who is losing all she knows even as she is about to say yes to a marriage that may not be right for her.

All lives who seemingly have nothing in common save for the one thing that makes them feel happiest the works and words of Jane Austen…

REVIEW | This is one of the most hyped novels of this, its publication year. Or it is in my circle. As a result, this is one of those go-out-and-preorder-right-away types of books. The concept of this novel is lovely and while I can appreciate certain aspects of the plots and their varied...

United States on Oct 07, 2020

Laurie ‘The Baking Bookworm’: 3.5 STARS - This is a charming, lighter Historical Fiction story set in the 1940's that follows an unlikely gaggle of inhabitants of the small English town of Chawton, who come together because of their love of Jane Austen - a former resident of their small town.

While readers don't need an English degree in Austen to enjoy this story, I feel fans of Jane will get much more out of it. There are quite a few Austen references -- most of which went over my head since the only book of hers that I've read (at least in part -- eeks!) is Pride and Prejudice. I know, I know. I need to get on that posthaste, but I do remember loving the humour and sass of the Bennetts.

The focus of this story is clearly on its ensemble cast of characters who are an interesting and diverse bunch, but there's no focus on one particular character, giving readers just a brief look into individual lives. The story progresses slowly, and various issues are introduced (loss, familial concerns, unrequited love, aftereffects of war …) and the pacing picks up close to the end for a satisfying, if expected, finish.

This was an impressive debut and I enjoyed it for its small-town setting,...

Canada on Aug 14, 2020

California Reader: I purchased and read this book after hearing the author speak at an online Chawton House Literary Festival this spring. I was intrigued by the concept of the book and her love of the places in the UK that represent Jane Austen's legacy. Since I love the premise, I was pretty sure I would love the book.

Reading the book was relatively quick and enjoyable. The reviews here seem all over the map as to whether the book started slow and ended fast or vice versa, whether the characters were relatable or not, whether there was too much sex in the book, etc, etc. All in all, I found it balanced and captivating.

As a Jane Austen enthusiast, I loved references to her books and would have been happy with more references. All the descriptions of Chawton were like eating candy for me, such a thrill to read! Having read a lot about the history of Chawton House, including the recent book by a descendent, Caroline Knight, Jane & Me, and also knowing the true history of JAS and JASNA in NA, I was a bit unnerved to see history modified so much yet still maintaining real descriptions of the estate and family history.

Nevertheless, I recommend the book as a very fun read in...

United States on Jun 29, 2020

Mumski: So everything which has already been said is true... wonderful rounded characters, good storyline. I wanted these people to be happy and love the tale of how they get there.
My big 'however' is that the book was seriously marred for me by jarring americanisms and use of language which would not have been used for another few decades certainly in England. Bearing in mind it is set mostly in England with mostly English characters and about one of the greatest English authors it made me cringe and really detracted from an otherwise excellent book.
For example, one of the characters Adam Berwick is sorting through trash! A cottage they wish to buy could be 'repurposed'. People 'figured out...' 'they were 'sick to their stomach' and carried out 'yard work' not gardening, Apparently teabags were in common use enough just as the war finished for Adeline Grove to make tea from bags.
For the sake of getting an English proof reader the story was spoiled for me and I really wanted to like it.

United Kingdom on Jun 12, 2020