The Jane Austen Society
by Natalie Jenner
Synopsis
The Jane Austen Society* centers around eight souls and the small village of Chawton. Yes, Chawton is equal to the local doctor, school teacher, farmer, lawyer, a young student turned house-girl, a woman who spent her life in devotion to her father and ancestral home, and a movie star. Because as the title would suggest, Jane Austen plays a role in the lives of these characters. And part of that role is that they live in the same village where Miss Austen herself once resided in a cottage on her brother’s estate. Natalie Jenner places these characters with a shared love of Jane Austen close to each other. And she adds another layer to the story by setting it post-World War II. The Jane Austen Society takes place as the world is rebuilding. And the surviving people are trying to find purpose in their lives.
Review
A small village in the countryside of Post-WWII England with an American movie star thrown in the mix is frankly a book I would write in a fever dream. You may have noticed I like historical fiction, and I prefer a story driven by characters. And I LOVE films. I’m also obsessed with Old Hollywood. The glitz and grit of it have me watching intros and outros on TCM with as much interest as the movies themselves.
So, a book that draws parallels between its characters and the characters of Jane Austen’s novels and includes references to the Golden Age of Hollywood would have to be awful for me to dislike. Premise and allusions to the studio system and infamous rivalries aside, Jenner has written a beautiful book about grief and chosen family. All the characters have suffered a loss. Whether it be a loved one gone too soon, or a dream left unrealized, they are all grappling with something. And the best part is that the book is lively and cheerful when it could easily be dispiriting and gloomy.
Rating 5/5
In the second half of 2020, I read a lot of meh books. I’m happy that 2021 is going better. The Jane Austen Society is the fifth book this year that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading. I find no faults in it and can honestly say I would re-read it if my mood inclines me.
