OFFICIAL BOOK DESCRIPTION OF AUSTEN AT SEA
Two pairs of siblings, devotees of Jane Austen, find their lives transformed by a visit to England and Sir Francis Austen, her last surviving brother and keeper of a long-suppressed, secret legacy.
In Boston, 1865, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, have accomplished as much as women are allowed in those days. Chafing against those restrictions and inspired by the works of Jane Austen, they start a secret correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, her last surviving brother, now in his nineties. He sends them an original letter from his sister and invites them to come visit him in England.
In Philadelphia, Nicholas & Haslett Nelson—bachelor brothers, veterans of the recent Civil War, and rare book dealers—are also in correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, who lures them, too, to England, with the promise of a never-before-seen, rare Austen artifact to be evaluated.
The Stevenson sisters sneak away without a chaperone to sail to England. On their ship are the Nelson brothers, writer Louisa May Alcott, Sara-Beth Gleason—wealthy daughter of a Pennsylvania state senator with her eye on the Nelsons—and, a would-be last-minute chaperone to the Stevenson sisters, Justice Thomas Nash.
It’s a voyage and trip that will dramatically change each of their lives in ways that are unforeseen, with the transformative spirit of the love of literature and that of Jane Austen herself.
AUSTEN AT SEA BOOK REVIEW
Disclosure: I received a free copy from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley and Austenprose PR. This book review is my honest opinion.
In 1865, in post-Civil War Boston, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, sisters and daughters of a Supreme Court Justice, write a letter to Jane Austen’s last surviving brother, Sir Francis Austen. When he replies with an invitation to visit him in England, they set sail on a voyage that will change their lives forever.
Natalie Jenner once again reveals her deep love for classic literature, paying homage to Austen, Louisa May Alcott (a character in the novel), and Charles Dickens. Readers who love books about books will not be disappointed.
RELATED: Review: The Jane Austen Society is the Must-Read Novel of the Year
Jenner also continues to excel in writing ensemble novels, with excellent characterization and shifting points of view done with skill and precision. I particularly loved getting to know Sir Francis Austen a little bit, and Justice Thomas Nash was such a strong, romantic leading man.
Overall, Austen at Sea is a love letter to Austen and an engaging story full of unexpected turns, brilliant characters, sweet love stories, and an ending right out of a Frank Capra movie. So, so good.
Adaptation Recommendation: Austen At Sea would be perfect as a film adaptation with its uplifting story, likable characters, and Old Hollywood-like climax. It would be a dream to see this story on the big screen.
Content Note: Pretty PG. Mild sensuality but behind closed doors.
BUY THE BOOK
See the official Macmillan Austen at Sea book page for purchase links.
AUTHOR BIO
NATALIE JENNER is the author of the instant international bestseller The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls. A Goodreads Choice Award runner-up for historical fiction and finalist for best debut novel, The Jane Austen Society was a USA Today and #1 national bestseller and has been sold for translation in twenty countries. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer, career coach and, most recently, an independent bookstore owner in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs. Connect with her online at nataliejenner.com
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