When Frank Met Jane
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Blog Tour
TYPE OF NOVEL: Emma Prequel about a Secondary Character
THE PREMISE: Two lonely orphaned children meet and became secret friends. Now eleven years later they encounter each other again. But do they recognize each other, do they remember their connection? Their lives are moving in completely different directions, and yet the discover they share so much…
WHAT I LOVED:
- It’s Emma and It’s Jane: Yes, I want Emma inspired novels! Yes, I want Emma inspired novels about Jane Fairfax! Ever since I read Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken in 2003, I’ve discovered two things – I love Austenesque novels and Jane Fairfax truly is the second heroine in Jane Austen’s Emma. Whether Jane Austen intended for her to be or not, Jane Fairfax is a fascinating character with a compelling and intriguing story begging to be told. And dare I say it – she maybe is a more likable and approachable heroine than the title character.
- Secured My Compassion: I’ve often felt Jane deserved better than Frank Churchill and worried about their potential happiness together. Frank treats Jane ill and I have a hard time forgiving him for it. But in this story, we learn a little more about what it is like to be Frank Churchill. What he feels about his situation, about his father, about Highbury may surprise you. He has his own pain, his own hardships. Feeling rejected, growing up without kindness or love, witnessing high superiority and arrogance – his situation completely secured my compassion. It is no wonder Frank Churchill later acts with some recklessness, selfishness, and deception.
- Not Disgustingly or Suspiciously Reserved: One of Emma’s biggest grievance with Jane is her reserve – she feels Jane never shares her real opinion and is wrapped in a cloak of politeness and caution. As we learn later in Emma, Jane has many reasons to conceal and give neutral opinions. But in this story we see Jane speak her mind, tell others what they should or shouldn’t do, and defend herself against slanderous offenses. Emma would definitely approve and favor this Jane Fairfax. I loved seeing Jane possess the open temper that others assume she lacks.
- Miss Campbell and Mr. Dixon: I loved how these characters and relationships were fleshed out. Robbin J. Peterson adds details to the supportive friendships, affable encounters, and of Mr. Dixon’s dashing boat rescue Jane Austen mentions in Emma. Jane and Cassandra (love the name choice, btw) are as loving and devoted as real sisters – it is easy to believe that they would sacrifice their own happiness and prospects for each other. And with Thomas Dixon, Frank has found one person in his life who is empathetic, loyal, and supportive. These friendships are put to the test when affections are engaged and admiration grows between them and a love “square” begins to develop. I appreciated the emotional weight and tension this added to the story. The selflessness and sacrifice of each character was impressive. What band of true friends!
- Sacrifice: A central theme in this novel. And used in a myriad of different ways – sacrifice for family, for love, for duty, for friendship. It isn’t just Jane and Frank, its Mr. Weston, Mrs. and Miss Bates, Cassandra, and Mr. Dixon. I greatly appreciated this perceptive and astute look at human nature and selflessness.
- Frank and Jane: A wealthy heir and a dependent woman planning for a future as a governess – any relationship between these two other than future employment is fraught with impossibility. And yet they are magnetically drawn to each other. Better than anyone else – they can understand the experiences the other has lived through. They share the same sadness of loss and of being displaced, the same anxiety to please and be gracious, and the same challenge to fit in either of the worlds they have known. I loved witnessing their love story – I loved their connection and understanding. It was not the work of a moment or an impetuous decision made with disregard. Through the whole course of their relationship the emerging affection and yearning of their hearts were in constant battle against their duty, their destinies, and the damage that could be caused by their being together.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
- That my time with Jane and Frank came to an end! Will there be more?! *fingers crossed*
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Finding Jane Fairfax? More Like Forgiving Frank Churchill!
↔️ A study of similarities and contrasts – two displaced children, two disparate environments, two decided futures, two connections to the same village.
Like Jane Fairfax, this novel is remarkably elegant, accomplished, and beautiful. Exceptionally well done!
Lovely review, Meredith. I just put this on my Wish List.
I’m so with you about Jane Fairfax! If you want to see her as an Austen heroine, look no further than Austen’s fragment The Watsons—I think she adapted Emma Watson into Jane Fairfax. I would love to sit down with her and discuss why she moved that character off center stage and made her secondary.
I had not thought much about her back story but then Emma drives me nuts so I dont think about many of those characters for long. I think I will have to check this out
This is going on my wish list.
I’m a huge Jane Fairfax fan. Due to some of your lovely reviews and guests here I’ve gotten to read some awesome Jane novels. And frankly I like them better than I do the original. That’s probably sacrilege but Emma is hard to love sometimes. I always wish that the other characters in the book were shown more sympathetically. (Except for Mrs. Elton.)
I’m really eager to read this one. Excellent review, Meredith. Thank you so much. Best of luck to the author, who is new to me. Her other works look very fascinating. But I think this is her first Austen variation?
I was absorbed by Sarah Waldock’s take on the Churchill marriage (not so positive as this) and the series that spun out of it. I wish she’d get better covers, as “Death of a Fop” and the subsequent Bow Street series are cozy mysteries.
I loved this one! It was extremely well done. 5 stars all the way. Forgiving Frank Churchill sounds like a great name for a sequel. Quite a few people must forgive Frank in the original as we know… Jane, Emma, his father, poor Miss Taylor aka Mrs. Weston. Frank deceives a lot of people. I would love to read a sequel that picks up in Highbury and is told from Jane’s and Frank’s POV.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Meredith. What a lovely review. I agree. We need more Emma-inspired novels.