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Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life--finally, the truth may have been found. . . . What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen's memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That's the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen's life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart. Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last. Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen's own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales. It's a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen--and to anyone who loves a great story.… (more)
Caramellunacy: Both are written with a similar conceit - Jane's diaries found and footnoted by the editor/author. "Unpleasantness" has Jane solving a murder mystery to clear her friend, while "Lost Memoirs" delves into the possible romance that inspired Austen's greatest works.… (more)
I first read this almost 10 years ago---long before I knew anything about Jane Austen or England---and remember feeling so dissatisfied at the end because of the heartbreaking way in which it ends. I felt so sorrowful for Jane and Mr. Ashford---only to turn the page and find it was all a work of fiction?? What??!! I'd actually carried bad feelings about this book all this time....until now.
Now that I've visited England several times, toured the "Jane places" more than once, and read just about every biographical thing there is to be read on her, I was delighted by this sweet story that so well mimics her story lines---even up to the ending where she wraps up the relationship and says, "the end".
This was a fun story incorporating several of Austen's own story ideas, with the idea that she wrote about what she'd experienced. It contained neat history on Lyme and Netley Abbey, and was a lovely, yet heartbreaking, tale that could explain some of the missing years in Jane's timeline. ( )
I haven't read much Jane Austen and really didn't know a lot about her. Although the book is fiction, there is enough information through the footnotes, Author's Note, and timeline to get the basics. I really enjoyed the story and hope that she really did have a romance like the one with Mr. Ashford or better. The book was very well written and I'm going to keep it. ( )
A box is found in the walls of a building while being remodeled. The contents are claimed to belong to Jane Austen. The journals fit the times and places she was known to be and the names of people as well. There's only one family name that doesn't match up and the home of this gentleman. This story was very well done. ( )
This was the perfect vacation read for me last week. It's pure fiction, a "what if" Jane Austen romance, but includes a lot of true, historical details from her life. It made me want to pick up a biography about her. It was also entertaining and fun to see how the author incorporated plot elements from Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility into the story. ( )
This was a very different read for me than I am used to. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author did a great job of weaving together fact and fiction. I could easily see the story from that time period, and allow myself to imagine Jane Austen actually writing the story. Of course, I'm not a history expert, so there may have been inconsistencies which I didn't notice - I felt it was true to the time period. ( )
To my husband Bill, my own Mr. Ashford, whose love makes me complete, and whose support and encouragement have made it possible for me to enjoy this wonderful life as a writer...To my sons Ryan and Jeff, my finest creations, whose insightful input and animated conversations keep me on my creative and intellectual toes. I could not be prouder...To Jane Austen, with admiration, appreciation, and respect...To my agent Tamar Ellman, and my editor, Lucia Marco, whose dedication to and enthusiasm for this project cannot be measured...Thank you with all y heart. You prove to me, on a daily basis, that all things are possible.
First words
Why I feel the sudden urge to relate, in pen and ink, a relationship of the most personal nature, which I have never before acknowledged, I cannot say.
Quotations
Last words
"Do you mean to say, that if I believe in your story as you have told it, then it is as good as if it were true?"
Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life--finally, the truth may have been found. . . . What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen's memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That's the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen's life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart. Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last. Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen's own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales. It's a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen--and to anyone who loves a great story.
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I first read this almost 10 years ago---long before I knew anything about Jane Austen or England---and remember feeling so dissatisfied at the end because of the heartbreaking way in which it ends. I felt so sorrowful for Jane and Mr. Ashford---only to turn the page and find it was all a work of fiction?? What??!! I'd actually carried bad feelings about this book all this time....until now.
Now that I've visited England several times, toured the "Jane places" more than once, and read just about every biographical thing there is to be read on her, I was delighted by this sweet story that so well mimics her story lines---even up to the ending where she wraps up the relationship and says, "the end".
This was a fun story incorporating several of Austen's own story ideas, with the idea that she wrote about what she'd experienced. It contained neat history on Lyme and Netley Abbey, and was a lovely, yet heartbreaking, tale that could explain some of the missing years in Jane's timeline. (