Reviews

I have read several biographies, including an amazing one by Claire Tomalin, and one thing I find so frustrating is how few letters there are written by Jane as they were destroyed by her sister. I loved how this historical fiction attempted to explain why Cassandra did it as well as including fictional versions of those letters. I really enjoyed the relationship between the two sisters but at times found the character of Jane a bit ‘flat’. I wanted her to be more sparky and to fit with someone who I feel could have written her novels although I do feel that this could be partly explained by the period and the precarious existence of single women. The book does a really good job of portraying this. It has just made me want to re-read a full biography though.

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Review of Miss Austen

By: Gill Hornby

Jane Austen had many siblings including her sister Cassandra, whom she was very close with, and became the preserver of Jane’s legacy. Readers don’t hear about Cassandra, but this historical fiction tells a story about what could have happened to Cassandra after her sister died.

This bittersweet story gives voice to Cassandra Austen and allows the reader to get an idea of the person she was. The letters, though the contents were fictional, took you to the past of the lives of the Austen sisters. We get a glimpsed into the time when Jane was still alive and right after Cassandra found out Tom had died on the expedition. We’re inside Cassandra’s head during that time and get to know the girl she was. I appreciated that the author included the date to show we were going back in forth and letters also offered a transition element, as well. I wonder if the personalities of the other people in the Austen’s lives was accurately portrayed, because Mary, who married James Austen, reminded me of characters like Catherine de Borough or Mrs. Norris. Like these characters of Jane’s, Mary is vain and sees herself as better than everyone else. She considers her husband’s poetry, which was included in the story, as superior to Jane’s novels and would out last her work. In one of the letters, we find out that Cassandra had another suitor, but she obviously turns him down, but again, I’m curious if that is something that actually happened. Cassandra’s concern for Isabella is sweet as she wants to prepare her for spinsterhood. Isabella’s maid was interesting, but I wasn’t sure if her intentions were good until the end. The story explores the struggles of women facing spinsterhood and how women like Cassandra found themselves to rely on the love of family. It is a sad as we know how Cassandra’s life turned out, but the story shows she was content and found happiness where she could.