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Stories by: Lauren Willig • Adriana Trigiani • Jo Beverley • Alexandra Potter • Laurie Viera Rigler • Frank Delaney & Diane Meier • Syrie James • Stephanie Barron • Amanda Grange • Pamela Aidan • Elizabeth Aston • Carrie Bebris • Diana Birchall • Monica Fairview • Janet Mullany • Jane Odiwe • Beth Pattillo • Myretta Robens • Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway • Maya Slater • Margaret C. Sullivan • and Brenna Aubrey, the winner of a story contest hosted by the Republic of Pemberley
“My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” If you just heaved a contented sigh at Mr. Darcy’s heartfelt words, then you, dear reader, are in good company. Here is a delightful collection of never-before-published stories inspired by Jane Austen—her novels, her life, her wit, her world.
In Lauren Willig’s “A Night at Northanger,” a young woman who doesn’t believe in ghosts meets a familiar specter at the infamous abbey; Jane Odiwe’s “Waiting” captures the exquisite uncertainty of Persuasion’s Wentworth and Anne as they await her family’s approval of their betrothal; Adriana Trigiani’s “Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane” imagines a modern-day Austen giving her niece advice upon her engagement; in Diana Birchall’s “Jane Austen’s Cat,” our beloved Jane tells her nieces “cat tales” based on her novels; Laurie Viera Rigler’s “Intolerable Stupidity” finds Mr. Darcy bringing charges against all the writers of Pride and Prejudice sequels, spin-offs, and retellings; in Janet Mullany’s “Jane Austen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” a teacher at an all-girls school invokes the Beatles to help her students understand Sense and Sensibility; and in Jo Beverley’s “Jane and the Mistletoe Kiss,” a widow doesn’t believe she’ll have a second chance at love . . . until a Miss Austen suggests otherwise.
Regency or contemporary, romantic or fantastical, each of these marvelous stories reaffirms the incomparable influence of one of history’s most cherished authors.
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JANE AUSTEN'S NIGHTMARE
Syrie James
Chawton, Wednesday 2 August 1815
An extraordinary adventure which I only just experienced proved to be so vivid and distressing-and yet ultimately so illuminating-that I feel I must record it in its entirety.
It was a gloomy, grey, frigid afternoon, and I found myself traversing a strangely quiet and deserted street in Bath. (Bath! It is indeed the most tiresome place in the world, a visit there surely akin to a descent into Hades.) A low fog hung in the air, dampening the pavements and obscuring the heights of the long rows of limestone townhouses on either side of me.
I wondered how I had come to be there, and why I was alone. Should I not be snug at home at Chawton Cottage? Where were all the residents of Bath-a city generally so filled with crowds, noise, and confusion? Where did I get the (very smart) pale blue muslin gown in which I was attired, and the grey wool cloak with its beautiful lace collar, both too handsome to be seen much less worn? As I shivered and wrapped my cloak more tightly about me, I observed a pretty young woman of about seventeen years of age emerge from the fog and venture in my direction. I could not prevent a little start of surprise, for the newcomer looked exactly like Marianne Dashwood-at least the Marianne that I had envisioned while writing Sense and Sensibility.
How wonderful it was, I thought, that a real-life woman and a complete stranger should so closely resemble the character whom I had created entirely in my mind! I was about to politely avert my gaze when, of a sudden, the young woman's eyes widened and she marched determinedly up to me.
"Miss Jane Austen, is it not?" exclaimed she, stopping directly before me.
"Yes," replied I, uncertain how it was possible that this young woman should be acquainted with me.
"Surely you recognise me!" persisted she in an impassioned tone.
"Should I? I am very sorry. I do not believe we have ever met."
"Of course we have! You created me. I am Marianne."
I was at a loss for words. Had I imbibed too much wine at dinner? Was this exchange simply another one of my imaginative flights of fancy? Or could it be that, by some remarkable twist of fate, it was truly occurring? Whatever the cause, I did not wish to appear rude. "Of course," said I, smiling as I extended my hand to her, "I did think you looked familiar. How lovely to make your acquaintance in person at last. How have you been?"
"Not well. Not well at all!" cried she with a vigorous shake of her curls as she ignored my proffered hand. "I have wanted to converse with you for such a long time, I am grateful to at last have the opportunity." Her eyes flashed as she demanded, "What could you have been thinking, Jane-I may call you Jane, may I not?-when you wrote all that about me?"
"When I wrote what?" responded I uncertainly.
"In every scene throughout that entire, horrid novel," answered Marianne, "you presented me as the most selfish and self-involved creature on the face of the earth. I was always waxing rhapsodic about poetry or dead leaves, harshly critiquing somebody or something, or crying my eyes out in the depths of despair! Could not you have given me even one scene where I might have behaved with equanimity?"
This verbal assault, so entirely unexpected and delivered with such depth of emotion, took me utterly aback. "I-I was simply attempting to make you different from your sister," explained I, my voice faltering, "to portray two opposite temperaments."
"By my example then, do you mean to imply that having passionate feelings is a great evil?" cried Marianne.
"No-not at all. My aim was to illustrate the injurious nature of wallowing in excessive emotion and the importance of self-restraint."
"If that is so, was it truly necessary to enforce such suffering upon me to get across your point? You made me look ridiculous and pathetic! You humiliated me at a party! You nearly had me die-literally die! And the most cruel offence of all, Jane: you broke my heart. You had me fall madly, passionately in love with a man who was akin to my second self, and then you deliberately and remorselessly snatched him away!" Marianne choked back a sob as she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief from her reticule. "All the other heroines in every one of your novels end up with the man they love, except me. You married me off to a man nearly twice my age! How could you do it?"
A paroxysm of guilt pierced through me with the speed of an arrow. Every word she spoke was true. Had I indeed sacrificed Marianne's happiness to convey a lesson? But no-no.
"I am sorry, Marianne," murmured I with sincere compassion. "I did indeed put you through a great many trials in my novel-but in the end, everything turns out well. I hope you and Colonel Brandon are very happy?"
"Colonel Brandon is the most loyal, amiable, and good-hearted of gentlemen," retorted Marianne testily. "He loves me, of that I am well aware, and I suppose I love him back. Every day I try to remind myself how fortunate I am to be his wife. But every day is just as quiet, spiritless, and dull as the last! We read. We take walks. We ride horses. We dine. He cleans his rifle and hunts. I do needle-work and play the pianoforte. Oh! Were it not for my mother's and sisters' visits, I think I should go mad! Where is the heart-pounding excitement I felt in every encounter with Willoughby? Am I never to feel that way again?"
"Marianne," answered I solemnly, "the excitement you describe might be thrilling for a moment, but it is not the preferred way to live. A marriage based on affection, respect, and companionship is a more desirable union, and will make you far happier."
"Happier? What do you know of happiness, Jane? Upon what do you base these assumptions? You, who have never married!"
Her brutal and tactless remarks made me gasp-yet I reminded myself that I had created her-I had made her what she was. "I base them upon my observations of other married couples. I could not in good conscience allow you to marry Willoughby. He was greedy, selfish, and fickle, and would have made you miserable. I thought you understood that at the end."
"You put words in my mouth to show what I had learned-but they were your words, Jane, not mine. I know the truth. I know why you stole my Willoughby away: it was because you could not have Mr. Ashford. You suffered, so you made certain that I suffered, as well!"
At the mention of Mr. Ashford's name, my heart seized and I let out a little gasp. Not a day passed that I did not think of Mr. Ashford. He was the one, true love of my life, but for good reason, I had told no one about our relationship-no one except Henry and my sister. How could Marianne know about him?
"It was most unfair of you, Jane! Most unfair!" Tears streamed down Marianne's cheeks now and she took a quivering breath. "Could not you have given me and Willoughby a second chance? You might have redeemed him at any time had you chosen to, but you did not. I declare, I will never forgive you!" With this last, heated remark, she turned and darted away.
"Marianne, come back!" cried I, running after her. "Have you forgotten Eliza, whom Willoughby seduced, disgraced, and abandoned? I saved you from Willoughby! He was one of the worst offenders I ever created! Colonel Brandon is worth a hundred Willoughbys! He is the true hero of the novel!"
But the fog enveloped Marianne's retreating form and she disappeared from my view.
I stopped, catching my breath, remorse and confusion coursing through me. If only she had given me more time to explain! But even if she had, how could I defend what I had done? Should I have redeemed Willoughby? I had barely the briefest interval, however, to contemplate these misgivings when, from a tea shop but a few yards ahead of me, emerged two young ladies deeply engaged in conversation.
I recognised them at once: it was Marianne's sister Elinor, walking arm in arm with Fanny Price. I was astounded. How was it possible that these two women from entirely different novels should be acquainted with each other? Moreover, what were they doing in Bath? They looked up, exchanged a brief, surprised glance, and hurried up to me.
"Good afternoon, Miss Austen," said Elinor with a graceful curtsey. "How lovely to see you."
"This is an extraordinary coincidence," murmured Fanny with a shy curtsey of her own. "Mrs. Ferrars and I were just talking about you."
"We only just met an hour ago," explained Elinor, nodding towards the establishment behind them, "and already we have become fast friends. We discovered that we have a great deal in common."
"You are indeed very much alike," agreed I with a smile, pleased by the notion of their new friendship. "I have dearly loved you both since the moment of your inception."
"You see?" said Fanny quietly, darting a meaningful look at her companion.
Elinor nodded gravely but remained silent.
A foreboding feeling came over me. "Is any thing the matter?" asked I.
"Not a thing," said Elinor.
"The weather is very cold and damp," observed Fanny, "do not you think?"
I knew them both too well to be taken in by the polite composure on their faces. "You need not keep any secrets from me. If there is something you wish to say, please speak freely."
"Well," said Fanny reluctantly, "we do not mean to complain. It is just that-" She could not go on.
"It is about our characters," interjected Elinor quickly.
"Your characters?" answered I. "But what is wrong with your characters? You are both excellent, intelligent women, with sincere and affectionate dispositions, strength of understanding, calmness of manner, and coolness of judgment."
"Precisely," stated Fanny.
"You made us too perfect," said Elinor.
"Too perfect?" cried I. "How can any one be too perfect?"
"I always behaved with the utmost of propriety," said Elinor, "no matter how difficult or oppressive the circumstance. At only nineteen years of age, I was required to be the model of patience, perseverance, and fortitude, obliged to keep my entire family financially and emotionally afloat, and to conceal my pain beneath a façade of complete composure, even when my heart was breaking."
"Yes, and you are admired for your strength of character, Elinor," insisted I.
"Admired perhaps, but not liked. No one likes a character who is flawless, Miss Austen."
"It was the same for me," remarked Fanny. "How I succeeded in maintaining even a modicum of self-respect in such a hostile, belittling, and unfeeling environment as Mansfield Park is purely due to God's grace and your pen. You made me sit timidly by while the man I loved chased after another woman, had me refuse a charming man who was almost entirely good, and would not even allow me to participate in a private play, insisting that it was indelicate and wrong! How I disliked myself! No one is fond of a shy, priggish, and passive character, Miss Austen. No one!"
"I am very fond of you," returned I emphatically. "Edmund likes you. He loves you."
"Only because you made him just as good and virtuous as I."
"The book has oft been praised for its morality and sound treatment of the clergy!" insisted I a little desperately.
"That may be so," said Fanny, "and please correct me if I am wrong, but your own mother finds me insipid, your niece Anna cannot bear me, and the reading public at large finds Edmund and I both annoying and as dull as dishwater."
To my mortification, I could not refute her statement.
"People love strong, outspoken characters," said Elinor, "who will not allow themselves to be trampled on by others-characters who have flaws but overcome them. Yet in our books, you imply that by being consistently patient, good, and silent, a woman can rise above difficult circumstances."
"Surely this message controverts everything you told us about life in that other book," said Fanny.
"What other book?" asked I.
"Why, the book that is everyone's favorite," answered Elinor with a tight little smile. She then said good-day, and after Fanny made a final comment about the weather, the pair linked arms, turned, and made their way down the damp, grey pavement.
My thoughts were in such a state of disarray that I hardly knew what to think or feel. I strode off in the opposite direction, crossing the road, when a carriage suddenly appeared out of the fog and nearly ran me down. It was some time before my heart returned to its natural pace. How long I walked on in this distracted manner along the nearly deserted streets I cannot say, but at length I passed the Abbey Church and found myself standing outside the Pump-room. A cacophony of voices issued from within, proof that not all the inhabitants of Bath had stayed at home.
As I was cold and thirsty, I hurried inside the Pump-room, where a crowd milled about in spacious elegance, and musicians in the west apse performed a pleasant air. A cursory glance revealed that I had no acquaintance there. Appreciative of the heat emanating from two large fireplaces, I made my way to the fountain, where I paid the attendant for a glass of water and drank it down. As I turned, I nearly collided with a handsome young man smartly dressed in the uniform of a naval officer, exactly like that of my brothers Frank and Charles.
"Forgive me," said he with a bow, before purchasing his own glass and moving on. The naval captain made a most arresting figure, and I wondered what lay behind the sad look in his eyes. My attention was soon diverted, however, by the sight of an attractive, fashionably dressed young woman who was intently studying all the passersby, as if seeking out some one in particular. She looked strangely familiar. All at once I knew why: it was Emma Woodhouse.
Emma! In my view, one of the most delightful creatures I had ever conceived! Upon catching sight of me, Emma started with recognition, a look that quickly turned to worry as she glided to my side.
"There you are! I have been looking every where for you, Miss Austen. Have the others found you?"
"The others?"
"Word has got out that you are in town. There are quite a few people who are-" (she hesitated) "-most anxious to speak with you."
Oh dear, I thought, my heart sinking. This could prove to be a most exhausting day. "Thank you. I will keep an eye out for the others, whoever they may be. But how is it that you are here, Emma? My book about you is only just completed. It has yet to be sold or published."
Review by Robin: I could write something about each story but that would just ruin it for you.
Overall I loved this collection allot. Each and every contributor understands and loves the work of Ms. Austen. Jane Austen Made Me Do It; is a very clever collection of short stories written a wide array of genres and subjects that take us from gothic romance to fantasy. We find Jane herself along with many of her more recognizable characters in each story. Each story is unique but when added makes every person wanting to be a Jane Austen follower.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves Jane Austen. Even if you never read anything written by her this collection makes you want to go out and read her classic stories, and fall in love all over again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.V_LynnTX
Posted October 23, 2011
I have had this item on pre-order ever since I heard about it from the editor, Laurel Ann Nattress via her website Austenprose. Finally received it recently! LOL It is a wonderful collection of Jane Austen-inspired short stories that I'm sure anyone who LOVES Jane Austen's works, or JA-inspired continuations, will want to add to their own collections. This book has a little of everything for everyone: mystery, humor, suspense... I could go on!! I love this book & I'm sure anyone who has a serious JA "addiction" will love it too!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Amberwin
Posted October 19, 2011
I must first admit that I have never read a Jane Austen novel in my life. This looked intriguing, so I picked it up. Every short story is enjoyable, even if I did not understand some of the literary references. Well-written and engaging, every page! My favorite was the Misletoe Kiss. Maybe now I will have to go down that Jane Lane...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature's Most Austute Observer of the Human Heart. Introduction by Laurel Ann Nattress *Jane Austen's Nightmare by Syrie James As Jane finds herself in Bath, her characters show up and complain what Jane did wrong with them in her books. Only the Darcy's and Bingley's are content. *Waiting: A story inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion by Jane Odiwe Anne Elliot & Captain Wentworth are thinking about what happened nine years ago as he once again goes to Anne's father to ask for her hand in marriage. *A Night at Northanger by Lauren Willig Ghost Trekkers TV show goes to check out the ghosts at Northanger Abbey. When Cate retires to her room early, after the power goes out, she meets the ghost. *Language *Jane and the Gentleman Rogue: Being a fragment of a Jane Austen mystery by Stephanie Barron. Jane Austen helps Lord Harold as he tries to protect naval plans from getting to France. And she tries to protect him while he duels Lord Cecil. *Faux Jane by Diane Meier and Frank Delaney writing as F.J. Meier Nicola & Charles Scott help a spoiled actress and her fiance' Lord to get to the bottom of a autographed Jane Austen book she is paying a million dollars for. *Nothing Less Than Fairy-Land by Monica Fairview The Knightley's have their first trials when they return from their honeymoon and have to find a way that two men can both live under the same roof. *Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane by Adriana Trigiani Jane Austen writes a letter of congratulations to a niece on her engagement. *Jane Austen and the Mistletoe Kiss by Jo Beverly Jane Austen tells the story of the mistletoe bough to a widow and her three daughters. That if kissing their one true love under the bough, their hearts will know. *When Only a Darcy Will Do by Beth Pattillo Elizabeth, an American in London. Is giving Jane Austen tours to make some extra money. No bites until Mr. Darcy shows up for the tour. *Heard of You by Margaret C. Sullivan From Persuasion; the story of how Captain Croft & Sophie Wentworth meet. They recap the story for Anne and tell her how Frederick was their matchmaker. *The Ghostwriter by Elizabeth Aston Charles left Sara, due to her unending love for Mr. Darcy. He left a locket with Jane's hair which brings Jane to Sara. She helps her with her book and Charles before leaving. *Mr. Bennet Meets His Match by Amanda Grange On the day of Jane & Lizzy's wedding John Bennet thinks back to the time of his parents pushing him to get married and how he chose Jane Gardiner. *Jane Austen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! By Janet Mullany Julie teaches as a all girls school, during detention with three girls she teaches them how exciting Jane Austen can be when she replaces the characters with the Beatles. *Letters to Lydia by Maya Slater Lydia Bennet's friend, Maria Lucas sends her letters. The first of them from her stay with the Collin's and reporting what she thinks is happening between Lizzy & Mr. Darcy. *The Mysterious Closet: A Tale by Myretta Robens Cathy is staying at an Abbey. She is given the Ratcliffe Suite in the haunted section. She meets Henry. Finally a man she could love, if he were only real rather than a ghost! *Jane Austen's Cat by Diana Birchall While her brother James is visiting at the small house, Aunt Jane takes time from writing to tell her nieces stories. This one happened to have cats as the characters. *Me and Mr. Darcy, Again... by
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This collection of short stories range in time from Regency to contemporary and each takes a different approach to showing the influence that Ms. Austen has left on all readers and romantics the world over.
There are few things I love more than a Jane Austen novel and I was very excited to read this collection. The stories range in subject and setting. There is a story of a ghost hunting reality show that meets a real ghost at Northanger Abby, and another where Jane Austen meets some of the characters she created and they aren't too happy about some of her plot-lines. One of my favorite is a story where Mr. Darcy confronts the authors of the many Pride and Prejudice sequels! (I admit I have read several of those, myself). If you love all things Austen, I think you will find this quite diverting and enjoy the fun that the authors had with the wealth of material that Ms.Austen supplied throughout her writing career. I truly enjoyed this little visit into different dimensions of the Jane Austen universe. I gave it 4 stars.
I received this as a galley from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The key to the twenty-two short stories collection is how the various contributors pay homage to Jane Austen in diverse ways; the authors stayed true to their prime genre but did it while honoring the great writer. A woman spends "A Night at Northanger" (by Lauren Willig) where she meets a famous ghost. Sara receives a gift of a locket with Austen's hair inside as her boyfriend ends their relationship; when she wakes up she finds Austen;s spirit at her side to guide her as "The Ghostwriter" (by Elizabeth Ashton). In 2010 Austen sends her "Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane" (by Adriana Trigiani) to her engaged niece while Jo Beverly brings humor in "Jane Austen and the Mistletoe Kiss" and Janet Mullany's "Jane Austen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" shows one degree of separation between Jane and the Beatles. With hooks to the novels like Jane Odiwe's "Waiting" for Persuasion" and Laurie Viera Rigler's law suits against Pride and Prejudice rip-offs (see "Intolerable Stupidity"), this is a fun anthology; sub title aside.
Harriet Klausner
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MissBurney
Posted August 20, 2011
Can't wait for this to be released. Ms. Nattress lives, breaths and works Jane Austen. This is sure to be a treat!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.jb_elizabeth
Posted January 8, 2012
After being quite disgruntled with a few Austen books, I never thought that I would love her again. I purchased this book the first day I got my Nook and after reading the first story in it I was hooked. The range of stories is amazing. From a small continuation of "Emma" to girls in detention comparing the men in "Pride and Prejudice" to the Beatles...WOW! A must read for anyone who has ever read an Austen book. And yes, it made me fall in love with Austen all over again. It is worth the money and then some.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Vic-Richmond
Posted January 5, 2012
One regret I have in my busy life is the lack of leisure time I have for reading. Right now there are four stacks of books on the floor of my office, all waiting to be read. So many books! So little time. Given my schedule, I am glad I set aside the required hours to read 'Jane Austen Made Me Do It', an anthology of Jane Austen-inspired stories by published Jane Austen sequel authors and edited by Laurel Ann Nattress.
I rarely read anthologies front to back, but flit here and there, landing instead on a story with an intriguing title or by a favorite author. In this instance I began with Stephanie Barron's tale of 'Jane And the Gentleman Rogue: Being a fragment of a Jane Austen mystery'. I am so glad I did, for it prompted me to linger longer over dinner and read another short story. Beth Pattillo's 'When Only a Darcy Will Do' was a delight, as was Margaret C. Sullivan's 'Heard of You', which I read just before going to bed. The list of authors in this anthology is impressive: Pamela Aidan * Elizabeth Aston * Brenna Aubrey * Stephanie Barron * Carrie Bebris * Jo Beverley * Diana Birchall * Frank Delaney & Diane Meier * Monica Fairview * Amanda Grange * Syrie James * Janet Mullany * Jane Odiwe * Beth Pattillo * Alexandra Potter * Myretta Robens * Jane Rubino & Caitlen Rubino Bradway * Maya Slater * Margaret Sullivan * Adriana Trigiani * Laurie Viera Rigler * Lauren Willig.
I've always enjoyed reading anthologies. They allow one to pick and choose on a whim, and finish a story in a short space of time. Anthology stories serve as literary versions of amuse bouches, those tasty bites served at the start of dinner. Even the most the discerning reader is bound to find selections and authors they will love. (Or discover a new author!)
I favored some stories over others, but won't share them with you for the simple reason that some of the stories I disliked received rave reviews on other blogs. Anthologies appeal to a variety of tastes, and I found it remarkable how many in 'Jane Austen Made Me Do It' captivated me. If you decide to purchase this book, I can guarantee that you will discover new authors and stories that you will want to reread.
This is due, no doubt, to the hard work that editor Laurel Ann Nattress put into the project. As a blogger, I can't imagine how much of her time was spent in contacting the authors and working with them, overseeing a contest for an unpublished author (the honor went to Brenna Aubrey), working with her publishing house in editing the stories, and now publicizing the book. I tip my hat to Laurel Ann for overseeing this ambitious and very worthwhile project, for this is her first book. This is why I gave 'Jane Austen Made Me Do It' five out of five stars!
Vic, Jane Austen's World and Jane Austen Today
I have long been a fan of Jane Austen and was excited to read this collection. Jane Austen Made Me Do It is a collection of short stories written by modern authors who love Jane Austen. As with any collection of short stories I have read, not all of them were my cup of tea. Overall, I truly enjoyed this wonderful collection. The book boasts a wide range of authors and a few of my personal favorites. I was also delighted with the mixed genres including paranormal, suspense, gothic romance and contemporary fantasy. There is a mix of journal entries, short stories and letters. One of my favorites was Elizabeth Aston's short story entitled "The Ghostwriter". A young writer named Sara comes home to find a Dear John letter from her boyfriend. It contains a departing gift, a locket containing a piece of Jane's hair. After crying herself to sleep, she wakes to find the ghost of Jane at the foot of the bed. The story that unfolds is simply delightful and the ending had me laughing out loud. Jo Beverly's work, "Jane Austen and the Mistletoe Kiss", finds a widowed woman with four young girls. The widow takes Jane's advice and finds love. In Beth Pattillo's story, "Only a Darcy Will Do", a young woman studying abroad gives guided tours. Dressed in vintage garb, she leads them on a walk of places Austen has visited in London. This is the third Sunday she hasn't had a single customer when a young man dressed as Mr. Darcy asks to take the tour. This is only a glimpse of the adventures inside this charming book. This would make a great holiday gift for anyone who loves Jane Austen and a must have for Austen enthusiast. A special thank you to netGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
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Posted February 21, 2012
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Posted November 18, 2011
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Overview
Stories by: Lauren Willig • Adriana Trigiani • Jo Beverley • Alexandra Potter • Laurie Viera Rigler • Frank Delaney & Diane Meier • Syrie James • Stephanie Barron • Amanda Grange • Pamela Aidan • Elizabeth Aston • Carrie Bebris • Diana Birchall • Monica Fairview • Janet Mullany • Jane Odiwe • Beth Pattillo • Myretta Robens • Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway • Maya Slater • Margaret C. Sullivan • and Brenna Aubrey, the winner of a...