The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

One of the most wonderful books I have ever read

From the opening pages of this novel, I was so deeply engrossed that I couldn't put it down. It is so beautifully written that you truly believe you are reading the memoirs of Jane Austen herself, and being offered a privileged glimpse into her heart and mind. The novel explores many of the experiences that shaped Jane Austen's life and evolution as a writer. At the same time, it is a wonderful love story. Readers will fall as madly in love with Mr. Ashford as Jane does. He is, in my opinion, even more dashing, likeable and charming than Austen's Mr. Darcy! The joy is in watching these two soul mates, who are believably drawn to each other at first sight, discover the many interests and tastes they have in common as 'despite plot complications' they fall deeply in love over time. You don't have to be a Jane Austen fan, or even be familiar with her books or movies, to enjoy this novel. It is so well done! I loved the lively and witty dialog 'very much in Jane Austen's voice', the moments of heartfelt emotion and humor, and the beautifully-drawn characters. Many are Jane Austen's real life friends and relatives, and others are inspired by several of her most beloved fictitious characters. The loving and close relationship between Jane and her sister Cassandra is particularly well- depicted. The novel simply brims with original plot and action, as well as depictions of true events from Jane Austen's life. There are also a few clever scenes or brief moments that are reminiscent of moments from Jane Austen's novels, and that is a great part of the fun. Not only is the source for these moments always acknowledged, but they always have a completely different spin or twist or ending, and it's clear that they are there for a specific reason: to imply that these personal experiences inspired Jane to later write about them. In this respect, part of the plot of this novel is a bit like the Oscar-winning movie 'Shakespeare in Love,' which was all about Shakespeare creating 'Romeo and Juliet' while experiencing certain elements of that love story first-hand. In every way, 'The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen' is brilliantly conceived, cleverly executed, and a pure delight. It's as if the missing seventh Jane Austen novel was just discovered, and it's her own personal love story. I can't wait to read it again!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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A reverent & moving story

Author Syrie James's personal & professional accomplishments serve her well in her reverent presentation of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. Her website brims with such a diversity of talents that one does not question why she is qualified to write about such a sensitive subject, but rather why she waited so long! Even Jane Austen's discerning character Mr. Darcy might consider her one of the 12 most accomplished women of his acquaintance. Breaching the hollowed halls of Jane Austen para-literature is a daunting task for none but the stout-of-heart and thick-of-skin writer. Mrs. James wears her Austen-armor well and delivers a sincere and honest love story that will engage and delight most Jane Austen devotees, and raise an inquisitive eyebrow of the Austen purists. Her Jane is real and approachable, flesh and bone, human and fallible -- not the stour judgemental old maid envisioned in the 19th-century portraits. We feel her troubles, her joy, her pain, understand her life decisions, and appreciate her all the more for it. It is not often that this discerning reader can offer unqualified praise, so I will not break my streak. Five Austen stars!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Wonderful story.  Anyone that loves Jane Austen will love this b

Wonderful story.  Anyone that loves Jane Austen will love this book.

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Loved it!

I truly enjoyed this book from start to finish

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Loved it!!

When I first picked this book up it was just to kill time. I love Jane Austen and thought hey why not. Once I started this book I could not put it down. I really felt like I could have been reading Jane Austen diary. I would recommend this book for any Jane Austen fan.

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A rare find...

Syrie James did an excellent job recapturing my love of Jane Austen and her life. I have read many biographies and overviews of the famed authors life, in which I thought I knew all there was to know. I was happily surprised when Ms. James revealed so much more of the author. This being a fiction novel, we will never know which is true or built upon speculation, but I believe that the story is written in Austen form and would be to her liking.
A friend gave me this novel as a gift and it is a part of my library I now treasure. 'The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen' is a great novel with wit, feeling and characters who are well defined. I suggest this for any true Austen fan.

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if only it really happened

The Lost Memoirs was a truly engrossing read and made me yearn to re-read Sense and Sensibility after reading about Jane's struggle to edit what would be her first published novel. I was eager to read this book after reading The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë and I was just as pleased with James's treatment of Austen's memoirs as I was with Brontë's diaries. Overall, a great tribute to the life of Jane Austen and a worthy addition to any collection of Austenesque works.

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Loved It!

I very much enjoyed this book! The cover is fantastic and is what drew me to it. It was the first book that I cried at the end. I found that I had to remind myself to stop reading so that I could eat and sleep. lol. I thought that it would be like Becoming Jane, the movie, but found that it wasn't at all. Definitely a great read.

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The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

It was a gift. I didn't read it.

0 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

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Austen fan? Keep looking!

Though I read the entire book I wouldn't not recommend it at all. I found this mish-mash of Austen's characters & stories silly and pretentious. For example; show me in any of Austen's writing where she uses the word "stuff" to refer to her's or anyone else's belongings. The author also got caught up with a certain phrase and used it over and over and over in the last third of the book.
Lastly, as happens more and more lately, the editing was definitly lacking.
If you have nothing else to read and are not well enough to go to the bookstore, then go ahead and pick it up.

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A great discovery ....

Imagine if you found the Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. Would reading them be any different than reading Ms. James novel? Probably, but I think only a true Jane Austen scholar would be able to discern the difference. Ms. James offers us a glimpse into the soul of Jane Austen. If you close your eyes, the events that shaped her life and ultimately her writing would unfold before your eyes. Many of the events and characters are reminiscent of those from Ms. Austen's own fictional writing. Ms. James always gives credit where credit is due and these scenes/characters are commented upon and their fictional reference identified. If you want something 'lite' to read, this is a book for you. I recommend it whether or not you are Jane Austen fan.

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If you love Jane Austen's book you will love this one

I loved this book.

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Great writing, plot, and bio details!

Congrats to James for weaving a wonderfully entertaining and thoroughly researched historical fiction! The author makes Austen and her world come alive! I passed the book to several of my fellow Jane Austen fans and we all loved this novel! We are looking forward to James' next release, on Bronte!

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Somewhere in Between

While highly informative, I wouldn't say this book was riviting and I certainly wouldn't be throwing kudous at the author for re-creating Jane Austin's writing style. To say such would be a rather absurd exaggeration and a complete lack of understanding regarding Jane Austin.However, there is some good historical content in here and therefore isn't a complete waste.

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A reviewer

Kudos to Syrie James for reincarnating Jane Austen. It was a delicious feeling to read the back story, to be transported to the romance and manners of Jane¿s world. The author¿s thorough research shows in the detailed descriptions of places and people. The author perfectly captures Jane¿s style of writing--her thoughts, her feelings, her values. I loved the book and recommend it most highly.

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One of the Best Books of 2007

Truly, this is one of the most heartfelt stories I've had the pleasure to read in a really long, long time. This is not only the story of a secret romance, but of a writer who overcomes her doubts and her daily concerns for financial security to fully embrace the need to put pen to paper and write the stories from her heart and head. I happened to finish to the book on a plane and was in tears, which may have concerned my fellow flight-mates! But the story was over too soon and I look forward to many more stories from Ms. James.

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Enchanting

Historians and romance readers have always wondered whether Jane Austen, author of six novels and many letters, kept a dairy as none were found yet that was popular in early nineteenth century England. None were found until now. In Chawton Manor House, one of the homes owned by Ms. Austen¿s brother, a worker repairing a roof found a seaman¿s chest inside are manuscripts of the previously LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN. The chest was probably left there and forgotten by Jane¿s beloved sister Cassandra who admitted to having destroyed much of the letters written by Jane to her. This particular publication is one manuscript whose condition is excellent but written when the great author was ill and dying sometime in 1815-1817, but relates to events from an earlier time. --- With the death of her father Reverend George Austen in 1805, his suddenly impoverished daughter Jane gave up writing, a pastime she enjoyed since she had already expected to be a spinster having never met a man she considered her intellectual equal. That is until the summer of 1810 in Lime when she meets witty and intelligent Mr. Ashford she is excited by this handsome charmer who inspires her to return to writing by revising a novel she had drafted years ago but never finished (Sense and Sensibility). --- Every time this reviewer assumes there is no new way to dissect Jane Austen, I am proven clueless by an author with a new spin. Syrie James is the latest to pay homage (some might say chutzpah) as she uses the device of finding a long forgotten hidden journal written by the author to tell the tale of Ms. Austen¿s inspirational romance that led to her completing her great novels. Readers will believe Syrie James captures the voice of Ms. Austen with this fictionalized entertaining account by romantic literature¿s first author ¿in her words¿. --- Harriet Klausner

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