Secrets and Sisterhood
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
If readers know anything about Jane Austen’s personal life, it most likely pertains to how she and her sister, Cassandra, both remained unmarried and had the closest and most devoted of sibling relationships. With Jane Austen’s letters to Cassandra that portray their lifelong companionship, and the famously recorded words shared about them, it is easy to discern that these two sisters shared an uncommonly close and fulfilling bond:
“If Cassandra’s head had been going to be cut off, Jane would have hers cut off too.” – Mrs. Austen
“I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed. She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow, I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if I had lost a part of myself.” – Cassandra Austen upon Jane’s death
The other fact readers may know about Cassandra Austen is that she destroyed hundreds of letters to and from Jane before her own death in 1845. But because of all the admiration and fascination Jane Austen’s genius inspires, many wish to know all the secrets and facts of her life. What private affairs did these destroyed letters reveal? Were they filled with confidential thoughts and feelings? Were there secret romances or affairs discussed? Or were all the hardships and heartbreaks these ladies experienced painfully exposed?
Gill Hornby’s brilliant biographical fiction novel illustrates some plausible revelations for the Austen sisters’ private correspondence. The story takes place in 1840, Cassandra Austen is sixty-seven and travels to Kintbury, the home of her fiancé, Tom Fowle on a mission to search for and destroy any letters might be damaging to Jane Austen’s memory and reputation. These letters canvas some important relationships and events between the Austen, Fowle, and Lloyd families between 1795 and 1817. While finding and obtaining these letters, Cassandra Austen revisits the past, and the details of her life and her sister’s life are tantalizingly revealed.
This story was simply incredible. The impeccable research, meticulous detail, and reverent correlation with history all make this work an immensely satisfying experience. I am greatly impressed with how Gill Hornby so perceptively and plausibly intertwined fact and fabrication in this tale. Cassandra’s tragic loss of Tom Fowle, Jane Austen’s acceptance of Harris Bigg-Wither, and the rumored seaside romance – are all thoughtfully and skillfully fleshed out and given new insight. I especially loved Ms. Hornby’s depiction of Jane Austen’s “unproductive years.” The events and explanations portrayed in this story shed so much new light and sympathetic understanding to what Jane Austen could have been experiencing and feeling during that time.
I thoroughly enjoyed spending more time with Cassandra Austen and seeing so many events of her and Jane’s life told from her perspective. Like Jane Bennet, Elinor Dashwood, and Anne Elliot, I have always thought of Cassandra Austen as gentle, unassuming, and dutiful. Her devotion to her family and her loyalty to her fiancé’s memory enhances the assumption of her being all things good and pure. But in this story we see Cassandra exhibit some other traits that are not at all farfetched; she is portrayed as intelligent, cunning, opinionated, and strong-willed. It was wonderfully moving to see her reflect upon the past and analyze her decisions. She thoughtfully examines the lives and lots of unmarried women, and spends time comprehending the many ways they find their own worth, duty, and purpose in life.
This mesmerizing and stirring tale felt like a long fireside chat with Aunt Cassy as she bravely bares her soul and answers all the impertinent questions we were begging to ask. Miss Austen is a supremely beautiful and magnificently-crafted tale that will enthrall ardent admirers of Jane Austen.
Some Things I Learned:
- There was another Lloyd sister!?! I have always thought it was just Martha and Mary. 😧
- Mary Austen must’ve been insufferable. She is always depicted like a cross between Mrs. Norris and Caroline Bingley! 😠
Lovely review. I don’t know if I’ll read it. I’ve realised I’m not keen on fictional accounts of real people’s lives. I can’t see the point really.
Sorry to hear they aren’t your cup of tea, but I appreciate you checking out my review. 🙂 It’s fun to imagine the secret lives of these historical figures we admire so much.
One of my favorite movies is Becoming Jane. You have totally piqued my curiosity with your review, and I can’t wait to read this!
Oh yes, that one is so lovely! One I like to rewatch often. Yay, I am glad a story like this interests you!
One of my favorite books this year. LOL about Mary Austen. She is a cross between Mrs. Norris and Caroline Bingley! Great call, Meredith.
I can easily see why, Laurel Ann! Thank you for checking out my review!
LOL! Glad I’m not the only who thinks so! 😉
I am wishy-washy on the idea of another fictionalized account of Austen’s life. I’ve read a couple, in fact one of them was the Syrie James book you did a read-along event with. Though I appreciated the talent and research apparent in these books, the fact is that Jane Austen died young, uncomfortably ill with disease, and in genteel poverty. So, no happy ending. What invites me to read it though, is more about Cassandra. Of course I hunger for more true facts about Jane Austen, but if someone is going to make things up, for my enjoyment they better be pretty darned close to actual research. This does sound rather interesting. It really sounds like you were satisfied with it, which is a selling point in its favor. And 5 stars!
I get what you are saying, Michelle. It is almost like we already know the ending, because we know those facts about Jane Austen’s life. I will say this one is a little bit different though. It doesn’t promise romance and a happy ending, but instead of revisits the past through the letters Cassandra is wanting destroy. I thought the research and perceptive understanding was pretty darned close! 😉
Thanks for the spoiler feee review Meredith 🙂 I started reading this one two days ago, and I’m really excited about it 🙂
I tried hard not to spoil anything! There are definitely some surprises in store!
Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! I look forward to your thoughts!!
Lovely review from you, Meredith. I, too, don’t know if I will read it just because I have so many others on my pile of TBR. But thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Sheila! So very kind of you to say. 🙂 It is a great problem to have, isn’t it?
Fabulous review! I have this book on my wishlist and will need to move it up to the TBR list! All the people Cassandra and Jane interacted with and were close with must have given Jane much fodder for her books. I wonder if Jane mentioned certain friends/family/acquaintances were specific characters in her novels? What we will never know…
Thank you, Carole! That is lovely of you to say! I hope you will get a chance to read this one soon!
Yes…I’ve wondered that too. I know some might scoff at the idea of Jane Austen not creating her own character creations and instead borrowing some traits from people she has met. But at the same time – sometimes you just happen to have people/scenes in your life that inspire you. 😉
sounds wonderful!
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Very well done, indeed!
I had read of many other people excited about reading it, and this would be a good change from say P&P variations in my reading journey. Thank you for further encouraging me to read this.
This lovely story lived up to my expectations and I hope it does the same for you! And yes, I agree – I love reading books like this in between Pride and Prejudice reads.
I just loved this story too, Meredith. It was so good.
I always think that Mary Austen sounds remarkably like Mary Musgrove from Persuasion, right down to the hypochondria! 🙂