The Jane Austen Society

This is a charming, lighter Historical Fiction story set in the 1940's that follows an unlikely gaggle of inhabitants of the small English town of Chawton, who come together because of their love of Jane Austen - a former resident of their small town.

While readers don't need an English degree in Austen to enjoy this story, I feel fans of Jane will get much more out of it. There are quite a few Austen references -- most of which went over my head since the only book of hers that I've read (at least in part -- eeks!) is Pride and Prejudice. I know, I know. I need to get on that posthaste, but I do remember loving the humour and sass of the Bennetts.

The focus of this story is clearly on its ensemble cast of characters who are an interesting and diverse bunch, but there's no focus on one particular character, giving readers just a brief look into individual lives. The story progresses slowly, and various issues are introduced (loss, familial concerns, unrequited love, aftereffects of war …) and the pacing picks up close to the end for a satisfying, if expected, finish.

This was an impressive debut and I enjoyed it for its small-town setting, lighter feel and the idea that books can bring people together. This is a must-read for Jane Austen fans and it has inspired me to dust off my copies of Pride and Prejudice and Emma. I look forward to more from Natalie Jenner in the future.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Natalie Jenner

Genre: Historical Fiction (England), Canadian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback - personal copy

Pages: 320

Publisher: St Martin's Press

First Published: June 9, 2020

Opening Lines: He lay back on the low stone wall, knees pulled up, and stretched out his spine against the rock. The birdsong pierced the 
early-morning air in little shrieks that hammered at his very skull.

Book Description from GoodReads: 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.