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.
The
Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner - Review
I’d
heard lots of good things about this book and was really interested to read something
related to Austen that comes in from a different angle – a fictionalised
account of the setting up of a society to preserve her legacy by securing the
cottage where she lived out her final years in Chawton. This cottage is now the
Jane
Austen House Museum,
and it’s bound to be on the visiting wish list of any Janeite. I had planned to
visit it this March, but then impending lockdown intervened!
In
the 1930s/40s the interest in Austen wasn’t as mainstream and embraced by the
places that benefit from her tourism effect as it is now, but some enthusiastic
admirers would make the pilgrimage to the places where they could feel closest
to the author. The story begins with one such American going to the tiny
village of Chawton. She meets a farmer, Adam, and finding out that he has never
read Austen, suggests that he gives her books a try.
Adam
has had quite a disappointing existence, having lost his brothers in WWI and
his father soon after, which led to the loss of his dreams of studying. Adam
finds solace in reading Austen, and he is not the only one in the village who finds
comfort in her works.
Part of the comfort they derived from rereading was the satisfaction of knowing there would be closure – of feeling, each time, an inexplicable anxiety over whether the main characters would find love and happiness, while all the while knowing, on some different parallel interior track, that it was all going to work out in the end.
As the book goes on we meet more of these people; they have all individually had troubles and disappointments in their lives and to varying degrees most of them are existing rather than living.
He had been sitting in a window seat, watching everyone else go by, not putting himself out there. And getting nothing in return.
Over time these people start to come together, connected by their love of Austen and the importance of her work to them. As the incumbent owner of the estate is reaching the end of his life and the future of the cottage looks uncertain the idea sparks that they will try to preserve it as a lasting legacy.
The society itself sounded like a band of misfits with negligible expertise and no head for business: a country doctor, an old maid, a schoolmarm, a bachelor farmer, a fey auctioneer, a conflict-averse solicitor, a scullery maid and one Hollywood movie star.
I
was absolutely swept up by this story, right from the beginning. The author has
a real gift for drawing the reader in. When I had to put the book down it took
me a little while to come back to reality, which is one of the best things for
me about reading a book that you are really immersed in.
I
enjoyed the slow build, getting to know each of the members of the Society, and
their backstories. A lot of them were connected not only by their love of
Austen, but that her stories provided them with comfort from their grief – either
at losing people, or losing their futures. There were also some relationship dynamics
which mirrored some of those in Austen’s stories which I enjoyed, but felt could
have been a little more subtle.
As
these people are all big admirers of Austen there is also some discussion of her
books between them, and you are privy to some of their thoughts about her
characters and storylines. I really liked this aspect as it gives the
opportunity for the reader to think about the points raised, which might never
have occurred to you before if you haven’t studied or discussed them. You could
read this book if you hadn’t read Austen’s works but I think this is an extra
benefit for those who are more familiar with them, that you will have your own
view on the books being discussed.
As
with anything with some basis in reality, I like to be clear whether a story is
entirely fictionalised, or whether there is truth, and if so, what is true. There
is an author’s note at the end which makes it clear that this is a fictional
account and gives a brief rundown on what actually happened.
The
only downside this book had for me was some of the language used. There were
quite a few phrases and words used that sounded quite American which I felt made the
dialogue feel too modern for the period, particularly when being said by older
people. There were also instances of things which didn’t seem quite right, such
as tea bags being used, which weren’t sold in the UK until the 1950s and a
marriage taking place at the suggestion of a vicar without a licence or banns
being read which I think would invalidate it. However, I still really enjoyed
the story and found myself carried away by it.
In
terms of content, there is the odd swear word, and no sex scenes, but there is
a brief scene of sexual violence.
One
of the things I enjoyed about this book was seeing the relationships between
the characters grow. So many of them were quite alone, even if they didn’t initially
realise that they were lonely, they needed the connection with other people.
There was even a dash of romance, both of the slow burning and the unexpected
variety! I found this a heart-warming story. I would recommend it and rate it
at 4½ stars.
*I
was provided with an e-ARC of The Jane Austen Society for my honest review,
courtesy of the US publisher, St Martin's Press. My thanks also go to Laurel Ann
Nattress for arranging the blog tour.
Natalie Jenner is
the debut author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, a fictional telling of
the start of the society in the 1940s in the village of Chawton, where Austen
wrote or revised her major works. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie
graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in English Literature and
Law and has worked for decades in the legal industry. She recently founded the
independent bookstore Archetype Books in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives
with her family and two rescue dogs.
The
Jane Austen Society
is available to buy now in hardback, paperback, and ebook. It’s also available
in audio, narrated by RICHARD ARMITAGE. Oh, my days! How exciting is
THAT! You can enjoy an audio excerpt here.
 |
| The Jane Austen House Museum |
Join
the virtual online book tour of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, Natalie
Jenner’s highly acclaimed debut novel May 25 through June 30, 2020. Seventy-five
popular blogs and websites specializing in historical fiction, historical
romance, women’s fiction, and Austenesque fiction will feature interviews and reviews
of this post-WWII novel set in Chawton, England.
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It sounds like a wonderful story! I’m putting it on my wishlist today!
ReplyDeleteI would recommend it for your wishlist :)
DeleteHi Ceri.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and yours are keeping safe as life slowly starts to return to some semblance of normality.
I’m glad you enjoyed this heartwarming story.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Mary.
Hi Mary, hope you are keeping safe too. We are quite well, thank you. It's still quite locked down in Wales, we can only meet with other households outdoors at a 2m distance, and are not meant to travel more than 5 miles from the house. Next week the kids go back to school but with far less children there than normal, so they will only get a few sessions before the end of term. It will be good for them though.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the review, thanks for commenting!
Beautiful story.
ReplyDeleted
It is a lovely story, I really enjoyed it :)
DeleteI like the way you describe getting caught up in it and that's how I felt, too. Great review, Ceri!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sophia! I had to put the book down to prepare a meal and my husband asked me what was wrong as I looked like I had something on my mind... that something was Adam the farmer - I was worried about his mental state, LOL!
DeleteLovely review, Ceri. I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Best, LA
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurel Ann. I appreciate you stopping by. Thanks for letting me be part of the blog tour!
Delete