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hannnaa400's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
Moving, powerful fictionalized account of the life of Cassandra Austen and her relationship with her sister Jane Austen. Beautifully written.
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Cassandra Austen may be a little less known than her younger sister Jane Austen, but in this book told through her perspective she is in pursuit of letters that will conceal the truth about her and her sister's past.
Told through basically two points of time, one is the years just before Jane dies and the other the years right before Cassandra dies, these sisters were the only two Austen girls in their generation and had a very untraditional life. Both single for their entire lives and living with their mother for quite a few years, they relied on their brothers for everything.
Cassandra Austen may be a little less known than her younger sister Jane Austen, but in this book told through her perspective she is in pursuit of letters that will conceal the truth about her and her sister's past.
Told through basically two points of time, one is the years just before Jane dies and the other the years right before Cassandra dies, these sisters were the only two Austen girls in their generation and had a very untraditional life. Both single for their entire lives and living with their mother for quite a few years, they relied on their brothers for everything.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Miss Austen is a historical fiction giving insight into the what and why of the letters that Jane Austen's sister Cassandra destroyed, during Cassandra's last years of life. As the story starts, Cassandra drops in suddenly, to stay with Isabel, the relative of her late fiance, as Isabel is packing up her late parents belongings. Cassandra has a secret mission to go through Isabel's mother's letters so that she can remove any letters that Jane wrote that might put Jane's personality and demeanor in anything but the best light. There were other letters that pertained to Cassandra's life that she didn't want exist any longer, either.
While Cassandra is going through letters, trying not to be caught at it, by the pesky and grumpy housekeeper, she is also meddling into the future of Isabel. For Cassandra, being a single women is a blessing, almost a great calling, even though society looks down on such women. She is going to set Isabel up in a safe, tidy, living arrangement with Isabel's sisters. The trio varies from indifference to unwillingness to embark on such an arrangement but Cassandra feels like she must do her duty to help them see the error of their judgement. All of this is written very much in keeping with the way Jane Austen wrote her books and the way Jane Austen saw the plight of women of her time, single women of her time, to be more specific.
Although the story is told with some humorous undertones, overall, life does not look good for a single woman who is past finding a husband who can elevate her financial and social status. Still, we learn that Cassandra is very happy with her lot in life and if Jane was unhappy before she died, Cassandra feels it is her duty to hide that unhappiness from the public. The book makes it clear that in this world of Jane and Cassandra Austen, single women are at the mercy of others, dependent on the generosity of others, when it is convenient, and then often sent on their not so merry way, until the women can be useful again. Basically Cassandra acts as her brother's nanny, as each of his children are born and then is sent on her way, between births.
Published January 23, 2020
Thank you to Flatiron Books/Macmillan for this ARC.
While Cassandra is going through letters, trying not to be caught at it, by the pesky and grumpy housekeeper, she is also meddling into the future of Isabel. For Cassandra, being a single women is a blessing, almost a great calling, even though society looks down on such women. She is going to set Isabel up in a safe, tidy, living arrangement with Isabel's sisters. The trio varies from indifference to unwillingness to embark on such an arrangement but Cassandra feels like she must do her duty to help them see the error of their judgement. All of this is written very much in keeping with the way Jane Austen wrote her books and the way Jane Austen saw the plight of women of her time, single women of her time, to be more specific.
Although the story is told with some humorous undertones, overall, life does not look good for a single woman who is past finding a husband who can elevate her financial and social status. Still, we learn that Cassandra is very happy with her lot in life and if Jane was unhappy before she died, Cassandra feels it is her duty to hide that unhappiness from the public. The book makes it clear that in this world of Jane and Cassandra Austen, single women are at the mercy of others, dependent on the generosity of others, when it is convenient, and then often sent on their not so merry way, until the women can be useful again. Basically Cassandra acts as her brother's nanny, as each of his children are born and then is sent on her way, between births.
Published January 23, 2020
Thank you to Flatiron Books/Macmillan for this ARC.
lporto's review against another edition
2.0
DNF - I love Jane Austen but this story of her sister's life just made me sad. We're still in the grips of a pandemic so maybe the timing was wrong for me.
Life is too short to finish books you don't enjoy.
Life is too short to finish books you don't enjoy.
situationnormal's review against another edition
4.0
Ever since I read all of the Austen books a few years ago, I've had an itch that can only be scratched by more Jane Austen-adjacent books, and this one did a good job at scratching that itch. I enjoyed the (antiquated, but familiar and charming) writing style and the echos back to her books, but mostly I enjoyed reading about her as a character. All of that said, Cassie steals the show here--I loved the way the novel was structured, with her as an old(er) lady and then glimpses into her past through letters.
kategci's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to BookBrowse.com for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. This review is similar to what is posted there. 3.5 stars. I have read only one Jane Austen novel and this book strives to match the tone of her books. Elderly Cassandra has been Jane's protector and though Jane has been dead for 23 years, she continues to worry and fret about her reputation. She has traveled to retrieve correspondence between Jane and an old friend. Much of this is a novel of manners and"doing the right thing and behaving the right way." Towards the end, I was ready for it to be over. It is a quick read and probably of much more interest to true Jane fans rather than dabblers like myself.
linneaeldblomelg's review against another edition
4.0
In times of crisis, one needs to have good books to read and this is one of those. Focus here is on Cassandra, the sister who was once engaged but never got to marry and stayed with Jane her entire life. She is also the culprit who burned the letters which will forever make us wonder who Jane was really like. Gill Hornby give her a voice and makes her a very interesting heroine. In a way, I am glad that Cassandra burned those letters because Jane will always be more interesting as a mystery. To think that Cassandra maybe understood the popularity her sister would have today! Anyway, a must read for every Janeite like myself.