Hello, dear readers! I am very excited to welcome back author Jenetta James to Austenesque Reviews today! Jenetta is here to celebrate her second release, The Elizabeth Papers. Her first Pride and Prejudice variation, Suddenly Mrs. Darcy came out last year – and I loved it (you can read all about that HERE!) 
I’m so happy to have Jenetta come visit and share more about her beautiful cover for The Elizabeth Papers! And as a self-professed cover-junkie, I’m so excited to learn more about the creation and significance of her cover.
Thank you Meredith for hosting me on today’s stop on The Elizabeth Papers blog tour. It is always an honour and a pleasure to visit Austenesque Reviews!
Quite a few readers have contacted me to ask about the front cover of The Elizabeth Papers, which was revealed on Just Jane 1813 a week or so ago. What’s the painting? Who’s the artist? Is the lady supposed to be Elizabeth? Who’s the child? Is it supposed to be happy or melancholy? What’s with the modern skyline at the bottom?
So, I thought I would use this stop with Meredith to talk about the cover and how it came to be.
I should say right off, that I am only partially qualified to do this, as the wonderful Zorylee Diaz-Lupitou at Meryton Press designed it with her usual flair and skill. But I’m going to have a try.
The figures are an enhanced detail from an 1865 painting by Belgian artist Gustave Leonard de Jonghe called “Mother and her young daughter.” De Jonghe was noted for his depictions of society women in interiors and the mother and child motif comes up in his work time and again. Less than twenty years after this painting was completed his artistic career was ended by blindness but he left an impressive collection which is now in a number of galleries and private collections around the world. An image of the whole painting is below.
So how do the two figures relate to the story? Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but I think I can let on that the lady is supposed to be Elizabeth Darcy. The child? Well, have a read of the story to find out about her, but she is central to the premise and mystery of the story. To find out who she is, who her parents are and how she can come to haunt the lives of Darcy descendants in our own time, you will have to read the book…
Ooh! I’m so intrigued about the child in the cover now and how she “haunts the lives of Darcy descendants!” And I have to say the painting itself is so charming! The interaction between the mother and daughter look so relaxed and comforting. Thank you, Jenetta! I can’t wait to read you newest release! All the best!
Connect with Jenetta
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GIVEAWAY TIME!
Meryton Press is generously giving away 4 paperback and 4 ebook editions of The Elizabeth Papers in conjunction with this blog tour!! Woot woot!
Commenting on this post and entering through the rafflecopter widget on this blog enters you in a chance to win!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Meryton Press!
- This giveaway ends June 18th!
Click image to check out the rest of the tour!
Hi Meredith, I have heard so many good things about this book and the reviews are fantastic so I would absolutely love to win a copy. The front cover is beautiful and glad we have been able to see an image of the whole picture. I have to say I am a little bit frightened to read this book too as I couldn’t bear it if D & E were not happy. LOL!
Dear Michelle, thank you for your lovely comment & I’m pleased you enjoy seeing the full picture – I”m tickled by what you say about the book – I can’t say too much, but our dear couple are still our dear couple,if you know what I mean *wink wink*. Good luck in the giveaway!
Hi Michelle! 🙂 I love what I’m hearing about this book too! Sounds very unique! Best of luck!
Such a lovely cover! Thanks for sharing something about the painting! 🙂
You are welcome Maria. I’d love to see the painting one day … my editor has pointed out that you can get it printed on duvet covers! Good luck in the giveaway!
I look forward to hearing how you enjoy this book, Meredith. I really do Thank you for this!
Yes, thank you!
My pleasure! Very happy to take part in this tour and have you as my guest Jenetta! 🙂 Best of luck with your new release!
Gorgeous cover and intriguing premise! Looking forward to reading it one way or another… 😉
Good luck in the giveaway! Hope that you enjoy it when/however you receive it:-)
I have heard so much about this book I’m very anxious to read it. The cover is fabulous. A truly gorgeous painting and so sad that the artist went blind.
It is extremely sad but his body of work is quite large. I’m going to make it a project to try to see as much as possible of it! Thank you for your comments & good luck in the giveaway:-)
This book sounds captivating and wonderful. Thanks for this lovely giveaway.
Good luck Anne! I hope that the books lives up to that description!
This book is amazing! I read it through KU and would love to own a copy!
I am *thrilled* that you enjoyed it, good luck in the giveaway:-)
The details you have let drop about the book have my speculations running rampant! Sounds like an interesting premise for a tale!
Mwhahahaha etc! Thank you for your comment Abigail & good luck in the giveaway:-)
A tender and heart-warming painting rendered rather poignant by the book’s synopsis as well as by your comments about its relationship to The Elizabeth Papers — which I have already added to my Must-Read list (and hoping to win a copy — thank you so much for offering a giveaway).
Very good luck in the giveaway & thank you for your kind words:-)
This is high on my TBR list. Great-sounding mysterious premise, and I’ve loved all Jenetta’s books. Thanks for offering this giveaway!
I hope people like the mystery element Debbie! Good luck in the giveaway:-)
It is a beautiful cover!!!
Thank you dear
Fabulous story!!!!! Can’t put it down!!! And can’t resist the chance to win it in paperback. Love everything about it, from the cover to every sweet, angsty, romantic, heart-rending word!
Joana, I’m completely overwhelmed by that, thank you *sniff*. Good luck in the giveaway:-)
I’m eager to read this book after the reviews I’ve seen. And, of course, I’d love to had a copy to my PB collection.
Dear Betty, thank you for your comment and I hope that one day you do read & (hopefully!) enjoy it. Good luck in the giveaway:-)
The cover is as fascinating as it is mysterious. I look forward to adding this to my never-ending TBR list!
Dear Kim, yes they do get rather large don’t they?! Good luck in the giveaway and thank you for your kind words…
I loved learning more about the artist behind this picture. I also loved that art played an important role throughout this book. Great post ladies and Meredith, I hope you love this book. It’s one you’ll reread too just because you must!!
You are a star, thank you:-)
Thanks Jenetta! So are you!
Thanks, Claudine! I’m happy to hear about the art theme!
What a beautiful portrait of mother and child, will have to look up more examples of his work. Also I love a mystery and now am dying to know who the little girl is. Will be adding this yo my TBR list.
The picture so caught my eye Stephanie – once I had seen it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it! I hope that you one day read & enjoy the book and thanks for stopping by and commenting
Congratulations to Jenetta on your new release. Best wishes for its success.
Thank you very much Laurel Ann, I am greatly touched by that
The artworks from the 19th century has to be my favorites!
Isn’t it beautiful? I agree & love this picture
I thought the cover was gorgeous before I read the book, but afterwards I was impressed with how fitting it was. Congrats to Janetta on her book and Zorylee on the cover. 🙂
Thank you Sophia – I really appreciate your enthusiasm
I like how the teal is used in the cover, as the entire silhouette at the bottom, and in several accent spots in the portrait at the top, thus tying together the past and present.
I love teal. Thank you for your comment & good luck in the giveaway!
Thanks for the info on the cover art. The book sounds intriguing. Thanks for the giveaway. Leslie
Good luck in the giveaway Leslie!
I am so curious about the modern skyline! Does the story alternate different times in history? I will have to read it and find out! Thanks for sharing the thoughtful background story of the beautiful cover art.
Hi Joy – yes it does – it is 2 stories in 1 & there is a modern story alongside the Regency story … Thanks for your interest & good luck in the giveaway!
I had just finished “Suddenly Mrs Darcy” last month. I can’t wait to read Jenetta new book “The Elizabeth Papers” and the storyline is really unique and interesting!!!
Thank you Laura! I hope that you enjoy it, thanks for commenting
Question to the author: Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?
Erm… I don’t have a TV? That usually surprises people:-)
It was good to see the whole picture, I had presumed that it had been specially painted for the book cover and that it was Elizabeth and her suspect daughter
Go glad that you got to see the original work here Vesper! Good luck in the giveaway…
Two stories in one! This gets more intriguing all the time! Can’t wait to read this one!!
Hope that you enjoy it eventually & thank you for your comment:-)
The book cover is so great! I have been wanting to read a book that ties modern and regency together I am looking forward to reading this book!
Hope that you enjoy it – it was really fun writing a story in 2 eras:-)
This book sounds wonderful, I love the cover too 🙂 Really like to read it !
Good luck in the giveaway & enjoy the read as and when it reaches you! Thank you for your comment:-)
I am going to repeat myself: this bookcover is gorgeous and I love it! I rarely like bookcovers of JAFF stories with full view of faces, because my tastes do not always coinside with the authors’ tastes, but in this particular case I will gladly imagine Elizabeth the way Gustave Leonard de Jonghe pictured the mother:) I think the bookcover depicts Elizabeth and Victoria, and although it is my pure guess stemming from one spoiler-free review and first chapters available through amazon look inside feature I think the little Victoria might turn out to be similar to Julia from Ann Galvia’s book.
Haha – well… no spoilers here but I have enjoyed your speculation:-) I loved Ann’s novel – it was a real treat. I hope that you enjoy this story
I read and posted a 5 star review on this book. I truly loved the intrigue within. Love the cover!!!
Thank you Sheila – you are a treasure and I was thrilled with your review!
What an interesting premise! I’m very curious about the little girl. I love that cover!
Dear Amanda – yes – she looks interesting &that is what first attracted me to the picture – I think I looked at the girl before I looked at the woman… Good luck in the giveaway!
Gosh this book sounds wonderful, please count me in!
Thank you for your lovely comment – I don’t know who has won the giveaway yet – good luck!
Beautiful cover! Can’t wait to read and find out who the child is… you have my curiosity peaked!
That’s the idea:-) I’m so pleased Dung & hope that you manage to get hold of the book & enjoy it:-)
I can not tell you how excited I am for this book!
Really glad Patricia – I hope that you enjoy it, Jenetta
So excited to read this book! The cover is gorgeous!
Carole, that is a lovely comment, thank you. I hope that you enjoy it:-)