Book Review of
The Jane Austen Society
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.
A powerful and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small, and the universal humanity in us all, Natalie Jenner’s The Jane Austen Society is destined to resonate with readers for years to come.
Lynn's Review
The Jane Austen Society was just the type of read that I needed for summer 2020. I needed a cozy fun read and this book was just that.
I have not read very many Jane Austen retellings, but for some reason, this one caught my attention. It might have been the cover. I love the cover. But it was more than the cover.
The Jane Austen Society is set in Chawton, England just after WWII. An interesting mix of characters come together because of their love of Jane Austen.
I thought the author did a great job describing the characters, time, and setting.
This book is charming and quaint. I read it in just a couple of days.
I will say that there are a couple of things in the book that I felt like didn’t really belong in the book. They seemed to be there more to make it politically correct than to fit the story line. Besides that I loved the book.
There are also one or two PG-13 scenes in the book.