Godmersham Park A novel of the Austen family

Hornby (Miss Austen, 2020) continues her fictional dramatization of the Austen family. In 1804, unmarried and with little outside support, Anne Sharp accepts the position of governess for the Austen family at Godmersham Park in Kent. Fanny, her charge, is easy to care for, her charming uncle Henry is a challenge, but Anne's favorite Austen by far is Fanny's Aunt Jane. As they discover their similar experiences and opinions, a friendship begins and grows deeper with each conversation. Everything is seen through Anne's viewpoint, how she views herself and others, how tenuous her living situation is, and how limited her options are, and soon it becomes impossible not to feel as if you're listening to the confidences of a dear friend. Based on actual individuals, all of Hornby's characters are engaging, and the small details of their daily lives build a colorful picture of this time and place. Enjoying the thoughtful treasures and quiet moments encourages a leisurely reading pace, while the Author's Note is chock-full of fabulous true tidbits. Janites, fans of the Brontë sisters, and readers of immersive historical fiction will savor every moment.

The excellent latest from Hornby (Miss Austen) traces several years in the life of Anne Sharp, a friend of Jane Austen's. In 1803, Sharp's mother dies and her once affectionate father, Johnny, inexplicably drops off from contact. Anne, suddenly without a home at 31, seeks work as a governess, one of few professions open to women of her class. She finds a position at Godmersham Park, Kent, arriving there in 1804 to teach Fanny Austen, the 12-year-old daughter of Jane's older brother Edward. Anne struggles with the job's constrictions and the loneliness that comes from being considered neither gentry nor servant, which feels to her like living in "a small village set away from society, into which gossip from the capital arrived long after the event." Fanny proves a bright pupil, but she's confused by Henry, Edward's younger brother, who makes his admiration for her plain despite being a married man. With Jane, an observant and intelligent single woman, Anne develops an enduring bond. Then Edward's wife grows resentful of Henry's affection for Anne, even as new information about the mysterious Johnny upends Anne's beliefs about her past. Hornby's skillful mix of fact and fiction captures the complexities of the Austens and their era, and her crisp, nimble prose sparkles throughout. Best of all, Hornby genuinely channels the sentiment of 19th-century English literature ("Oh, the pleasure of having someone with whom to share her best thoughts," Anne narrates about Jane). Janeites aren't the only readers who will relish this smart, tender tale. (Nov.)