THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN - Syrie James
Avon A
ISBN: 978-0-06-134142-7
November 2007
Historical Fiction

England - 19th Century

"Do you mean to say, that if I believe in your story as you have told it, then it is as good as if it were true?"

THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN starts off with this premise: although the world believes that Jane Austen died a spinster, in actuality, she was involved in a tragic love affair, written down in a newly discovered memoir.

After her father retires from the clergy, Jane’s family leaves Steventon, her childhood home, to move to Bath. Soon afterwards, her father dies, leaving Jane, her sister, Cassandra, Jane’s mother, and sister-in-law, Martha, practically destitute and with no means of supporting themselves. It is only the financial help of Jane’s older brothers, Edward and Henry, and a plan to reside with various relations in the winter months that make it possible for the women to survive.

This dependence, and the constant moving around, comes at a price. Jane, encouraged by her family, was once a budding writer, but now it seems that she has given up all hope of ever being published. The first drafts of her books, Sense and Sensibility, First Impressions, and Susan, are locked away in a trunk and have remained untouched for ten years. Has Jane become too frightened to pursue her dream of becoming a published author?

Needing a break from living with so many women under one small roof, Jane agrees to accompany her brother, Henry, to Lyme for a brief trip. There she meets Frederick Ashford, a wealthy, handsome baronet. Jane comes to discover that Mr. Ashford matches her in taste, sensibilities, and intellect. In their conversations, Jane mentions to Mr. Ashford her dream of becoming a published author; as a result, he dares Jane to refocus on her writing...no more excuses.

Heeding Mr. Ashford’s advice, Jane begins to re-edit Sense and Sensibility and finds herself drawing on the newly awaken emotions she feels for Mr. Ashford. But when things between them take a turn for the worse, will her turbulent feelings be detrimental to Sense and Sensibility, or make it better?

Fans of Jane Austen are more than willing to read anything that will illuminate aspects of the author’s life and works. Ms. James takes on a huge task by writing a fictional account involving a fictional romance starring Jane Austen, and in Austen’s own voice. Did Ms. James succeed? Because Ms. James chose to create a work of fiction that mirrors plot points from Austen’s books, it is hard not to make comparisons between the two. Although Ms. James research is solid, and all done in the hopes of establishing the right tone and sensibility for Austen’s voice, nevertheless I was slow in accepting it.

That aside, there are some truly funny moments in THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN, and I liked and appreciated the way Ms. James drew on actual historical accounts from Jane Austen’s life, and how they may have influenced the themes that are so much a part of Austen’s stories -- women forced into dire financial circumstances because they are unable to make their own income, and when it comes to matters of love, should the head or heart rule? The romance between Jane and Mr. Ashford is reminiscent of Sense and Sensibility’s Elinor and Edward. The constant interruptions between Jane and Mr. Ashford that could have shed more light on an important conflict involving the two is tedious.

In the end, reader’s enjoyment of THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN may be greater for those who have not read much of Austen’s works. But it also has to do with a quote from the book, which was given at the beginning of this review. "Do you mean to say that if I believe in your story as you have told it, then it is as good as if it is true?" For the most part, this reviewer was willing to believe.

Nickole Yarbrough