The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen: A Novel by a Gentleman: Volume I

3.8/5 ( ratings)

The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen is highly praised historical fiction built on the life of Jane Austen. Volume I is a charming courtship novel that hews carefully to her known life while telling the story of a lovethat might have been during the mysterious gaps in that record.
The full trilogy resolves the mystery of Austen’s life during the “missing years” of her twenties:
• Why the enduring rumors of a lost love or tragic affair?
• Why, afterward, did the vivacious Jane prematurely put on the “garb of middle age” and retire to write her books?
• Why, upon her death, did her beloved sister destroy her letters and journals?
An accurate rendering of her life and tumultuous times, The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen fills in the blanks of Austen’s “lost years” with a riveting love story that also engages the protagonist in the most important and dramatic events of the Regency era. It tells of a marriage to a man equal to her intelligence, character, and passion—a relationship her straight-laced Victorian nieces and nephews were happy to lose in the mists of time.
Here’s what the reviewers say about the entire trilogy, covering the full arc of a deep and mature love:
"A skillful portrayal of an early nineteenth-century literary icon takes this historical romance on an imaginative journey of the soul. … The adventure of a true romantic partnership and all the excitement that the nineteenth century had to offer. … [The] novel invites you to linger, to savor, and to enjoy. … Makes for wonderful reading. … A Jane that lives and breathes on the page."—Claire Foster, Foreword Reviews, 4 stars
"Hemingway captures the energy of the times, while also writing with the irony and sly humor of Austen herself. … A strikingly real Jane Austen fully engaged in the turbulent times. … She is a living, breathing presence. … [He] displays a notable ability to recreate time and place. … A lively, compelling read, [a] sobering but moving conclusion." —Blueink Starred Review
"An enjoyable novel in an imaginative, well-researched series. … [with] sweet moments and intriguing historical insights. … An incredibly moving portrait of a woman facing loss and love." —Kirkus Reviews