{"product_id":"9781250252210","title":"Miss Austen : A Novel of the Austen Sisters","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eMiss Austen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Gill Hornby\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA #1 International Bestseller \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A deeply imagined and deeply moving novel. Reading it made me happy and weepy in equally copious amounts.” \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Karen Joy Fowler \u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You can’t help feeling that Jane would have approved.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor fans of Jo Baker’s \u003ci\u003eLongbourn\u003c\/i\u003e, a witty, wonderfully original novel about Cassandra Austen and her famous sister, Jane.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhoever looked at an elderly lady and saw the young heroine she once was?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEngland, 1840. Two decades after the death of her beloved sister, Jane, Cassandra Austen returns to the village of Kintbury and the home of her family friends, the Fowles. In a dusty corner of the vicarage, there is a cache of Jane’s letters that Cassandra is desperate to find. Dodging her hostess and a meddlesome housemaid, Cassandra eventually hunts down the letters and confronts the secrets they hold, secrets not only about Jane but about Cassandra herself. Will Cassandra bare the most private details of her life to the world, or commit her sister’s legacy to the flames? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMoving back and forth between the vicarage and Cassandra’s vibrant memories of her years with Jane, interwoven with Jane’s brilliantly reimagined lost letters, \u003ci\u003eMiss Austen \u003c\/i\u003eis the untold story of the most important person in Jane’s life. With extraordinary empathy, emotional complexity, and wit, Gill Hornby finally gives Cassandra her due, bringing to life a woman as captivating as any Austen heroine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eMiss Austen\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The great joy of \u003ci\u003eMiss Austen \u003c\/i\u003eis that the reader feels immersed in a world that is convincingly Jane’s from the first page…It’s also extremely funny…\u003ci\u003eMiss Austen \u003c\/i\u003eis a novel of great kindness, often unexpectedly moving, with much to say about the status of ‘invisible’ older women. Above all, it’s concerned with the triumph of small acts of goodness; you can’t help feeling that Jane would have approved.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A persuasive portrait of that bane of scholars and biographers…Hornby depicts a romance that could have emerged from an Austen novel and a number of real-life characters whose traits Austen may have borrowed for her fiction.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A delightfully astute reimagining…The Jane revealed by the letters, and by Cassandra’s own memories, is as witty and mischievous as we’d expect. But she’s also self-absorbed and petulant…Heresy? Not at all. It’s a persuasive picture of a brilliant woman who’s often derailed by her domestic duties but driven to write regardless.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eWall Street Journal \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Sure to enthrall Janeites…Like Austen’s cunning social satires, Hornby’s novel works on multiple levels…\u003ci\u003eMiss Austen \u003c\/i\u003ecelebrates not just Virginia Woolf’s room of one’s own, but a home of one’s own—and the joys of female companionship…Continues to twist and turn deliciously.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eChristian Science Monitor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Engaging…Lovely… Hornby whips fact, romance and a little Gothic mystery into an imaginative compote that’s bound to satisfy those who hunger for more servings of Austen, and those who just enjoy a good tale. She channels Austen’s wry take on women in society, with a dash of ageism to boot.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eMinneapolis Star Tribune \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Without romanticizing its period setting or underplaying the precariousness of any woman’s position in this society, [\u003ci\u003eMiss Austen\u003c\/i\u003e] celebrates unexamined lives, sisterhood and virtues such as kindness and loyalty.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSunday Times \u003c\/i\u003e(UK)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A beguilingly persuasive book that no Austen fan will want to miss.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eReaders Digest\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra takes centre stage in this engrossing novel that portrays what 19th Century life was like for an unmarried woman of limited means.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eGood Housekeeping\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A warm and fascinating story…Gill Hornby has written \u003ci\u003eMiss Austen \u003c\/i\u003ewith compassion, wisdom, an observant eye, and a great deal of humor — sardonic and otherwise. \u003ci\u003eMiss Austen \u003c\/i\u003eis a novel that could well take its place on the bookshelf beside one of Jane Austen’s own.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eWashington Independent Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Exceptionally well written in a distinctively effective and narrative driven storytelling style, Hornby does full literary justice to one of literature’s most enduringly popular novelists…Unreservedly recommended.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eMidwest Book Review\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In this subtle and delicate novel, Gill Hornby has created a clever, warm hearted character in Cassandra, Jane Austen’s sister.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eWomen \u0026amp; Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Gill Hornby weaves a magnificent work of the imagination, a pastiche of Regency style and manners, fabricating a solution to a problem that has long mystified scholars…Hornby’s portrayals of Cassandra and Jane are tantalizing…All devotees of Austen’s novels will want to join Hornby, and Cassandra, in this enjoyable act of piety to Jane.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Spectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Tender and touching…Hornby deftly describes the psychological toll that such uncertainly took on Jane, and movingly celebrates the fortitude of Cassandra whose greatest love was her sister.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This is the perfect book to wrap yourself around on a dark night.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eStylist\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“What a delightful novel this is!…Gill Hornby has made a fine stab at re-creating [Jane Austen's] luminous prose in her letters…A most entertaining read.”\u003cbr\u003e—Historical Novel Society \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“For readers who enjoy Austen’s novels and wish to know more about her life and for those seeking excellent English historical fiction.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hornby strikes gold in the much-mined terrain of Jane Austen–inspired fiction…Cassy is convincingly sympathetic in her effort to preserve her sister’s reputation, and a focus on female relationships and mutual support adds unexpected tenderness. Echoing Austen’s sardonic wit and crisp prose without falling into pastiche, Hornby succeeds with a vivid homage to the Austens and their world.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Austen fans will enjoy Hornby’s nuanced, fresh portrayal of Jane…Cassandra herself is similarly fascinating, a woman who never ceases her efforts to carve out a life of her own in a world that is not kind to unmarried women…A worthy addition to most collections.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hornby’s gift to the world of Austen lovers is to return to Cassandra her rightful recognition as Jane’s most intimate and sustaining relationship, her greatest love. This is a deeply imagined and deeply moving novel. Reading it made me happy and weepy in equally copious amounts.”  \u003cbr\u003e—Karen Joy Fowler, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Jane Austen Book Club \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eWe Are All Completely Beside Ourselves \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Unputdownable. So good, so intelligent, so clever, so entertaining—I adored it.”\u003cbr\u003e—Claire Tomalin, author of \u003ci\u003eJane Austen: A Life\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Extraordinary and heart-wrenching, \u003ci\u003eMiss Austen\u003c\/i\u003e transported me from page one. A remarkable novel that is wholly original, deeply moving, and emotionally complex. A gift to all Austen lovers.”\u003cbr\u003e—Lara Prescott, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Secrets We Kept \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Gill Hornby places Cassandra center stage and ingeniously imagines what her own life might have been like—an approach which casts a different light on the familiar biographical picture without in any way distorting it.”\u003cbr\u003e—Deirdre Le Faye, editor of \u003ci\u003eJane Austen’s Letters \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I’ve seldom enjoyed any Austen-centered book so much as this. Affecting and thought-provoking, it makes you think about both the Miss Austens in a new light.”\u003cbr\u003e—Helena Kelly, author of \u003ci\u003eJane Austen, the Secret Radical\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A joy from the prologue to the author’s note. Rich in historical detail, family lore, and heart, \u003ci\u003eMiss Austen\u003c\/i\u003e will wow Janeites and enchant the uninitiated. Upon her sister’s death, Cassandra claimed that she was ‘the sun of my life.’ Now we know why.” \u003cbr\u003e—Laurel Ann Nattress, editor of \u003ci\u003eJane Austen Made Me Do It\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fans of Austen will rejoice in the chance to enter this fictional world and spend time with the extended Austen family as Cassandra and Jane navigate the demands of her genius and temperament in the face of the many pressures single women have endured throughout history.”\u003cbr\u003e—Natalie Jenner, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Jane Austen Society \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hornby’s writing style closely resembles that of its famous subject, with charm radiating off the pages. \u003ci\u003eMiss Austen \u003c\/i\u003eis a heartfelt, humorous, insightful peek into an intimate relationship that is worthy of attention…It tackles the subjects of class, gender, and duty, and offers a modern outlook on the feminist idea of women charting their own courses.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eWoodbury Magazine \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250252210\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Flatiron Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40814496415950,"sku":"9781250252210","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_3d6cd4cb-7c4d-4fba-9949-55167384f7ef.jpg?v=1642754883","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250252210","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}