Synopsis:~
Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England’s finest novelists. Now it’s home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen’s legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen’s home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.
My take:~
This exquisite debut novel, which I experienced through the mellifluous tones of Richard Armitage’s narration, was a joy and delight. Natalie Jenner immerses the reader in time and place with both prose and pacing reminiscent of the Jane Austen novels that are venerated throughout the novel. A wonderful cast of characters populate Chawton and the pages of this novel, each unique personality and their particular struggles slowly revealed in the manner of a burgeoning friendship. The aftereffects of the war are strongly felt within the little community, deprivations aplenty as everyone adjusts to a new way of life. While lovely hints of romance build anticipation, especially as the reader discerns shades of Austen’s pivotal relationships in Persuasion, Emma, and Pride and Prejudice, it’s the strengthening bonds of friendship and the deep roots of a caring community coming to the fore that was most endearing to me. My initial concern that the pacing was a little sedate was soon dismissed as I soaked up every comforting word in Jenner’s gentle and authentic storytelling style. While the challenges each character faced were burdensome, the devotion, trust, compassion, and love that grew between this eclectic band of friends, drawn together in their common love of books and in particular Austen, reminded me of both the frailty and strength of the human spirit and how much better we do when we are reaching out to encourage and support our friends.
Grief, loss, heartache, loneliness, and sacrifice are all explored by Jenner through both circumstance and relationship, making this story both poignant and triumphant, delightfully not always in an expected manner and with often subtle yet smart wit and insight.
I anticipated loving Richard Armitage’s narration – that won’t be a surprise to anyone who knows me well – but I didn’t expect him to be as adept with a cast requiring multiple English accents, one of a Scotsman, plus Americans, both male and female. In a nuanced performance, making good use of his acting chops, Armitage showcases the wonderful personalities Jenner has created making The Jane Austen Society a most desirable reading and listening experience.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATED BY ACTOR RICHARD ARMITAGE:
The full unabridged text of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY was read by the distinguished English film, television, theatre and voice actor Richard Armitage for the audiobook recording. Best known by many period drama fans for his outstanding performance as John Thornton in the BBC television adaptation of North and South (2004), Armitage also portrayed Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit (2012 – 2014).
Link to YouTube audiobook excerpt: https://youtu.be/OJ1ACJluRi8
Thank you to the publisher and Austenprose for my review copy. My opinions remain my own.
**CONTENT NOTICE: The Jane Austen Society is written for the general market and contains some content not usually found in inspirational reads. Contact me if you wish further information.
Natalie Jenner is the debut author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, a fictional telling of the start of the society in the 1940s in the village of Chawton, where Austen wrote or revised her major works. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in English Literature and Law and has worked for decades in the legal industry. She recently founded the independent bookstore Archetype Books in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.
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BLOG TOUR
Join the virtual online book tour of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, Natalie Jenner’s highly acclaimed debut novel May 25 through June 30, 2020. Seventy-five popular blogs and websites specializing in historical fiction, historical romance, women’s fiction, and Austenesque fiction will feature interviews and reviews of this post-WWII novel set in Chawton, England.
BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:
May 25 Jane Austen’s World
May 25 Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog
May 26 Frolic Media
May 26 A Bookish Affair
May 26 Courtney Reads Romance
May 26 Margie’s Must Reads
May 26 The Reading Frenzy
May 27 Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina
May 27 Gwendalyn’s Books
May 27 Romantically Inclined Reviews
May 28 Getting Your Read On
May 28 Living Read Girl
May 28 The Lit Bitch
May 29 History Lizzie
May 29 Silver Petticoat Reviews
May 30 Cup of Tea with that Book, Please
May 30 Historical Fiction Reader
May 31 Jane Austen in Vermont
June 01 From Pemberley to Milton
June 01 My Jane Austen Book Club
June 01 AustenBlog
June 02 Lu’s Reviews
June 02 The Green Mockingbird
June 03 The Interests of a Jane Austen Girl
June 03 Relz Reviews
June 03 Impressions in Ink
June 04 The Caffeinated Bibliophile
June 04 Life of Literature
June 04 Laura’s Reviews
June 05 Reading Ladies Book Club
June 05 Bookish Rantings
June 06 From the TBR Pile
June 07 Rachel Dodge
June 07 An Historian About Town
June 08 Bringing up Books
June 08 Austenesque Reviews
June 09 Captivated Reading
June 09 Savvy Verse and Witt
June 10 Lady with a Quill
June 10 Drunk Austen
June 11 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
June 11 Inkwell Inspirations
June 12 Nurse Bookie
June 12 A Bookish Way of Life
June 13 Calico Critic
June 14 Jane Austen’s World
June 15 Stuck in a Book
June 15 Storybook Reviews
June 15 Confessions of a Book Addict
June 16 Literary Quicksand
June 16 Becky on Books
June 17 The Reading Frenzy
June 17 Anita Loves Books
June 18 Chicks, Rogues, & Scandals
June 18 The Write Review
June 19 Diary of Eccentric
June 20 Cracking the Cover
June 21 Short Books & Scribes
June 22 Reading the Past
June 22 Babblings of a Bookworm
June 23 My Vices and Weaknesses
June 23 The Book Diva Reads
June 24 Books, Teacups & Reviews
June 24 Wishful Endings
June 25 Robin Loves Reading
June 25 Bookfoolery
June 26 Lit and Life
June 26 Vesper’s Place
June 27 Foxes and Fairy Tales
June 28 Probably at the Library
June 28 Scuffed Slippers Wormy Books
June 29 The Anglophile Channel
June 29 So Little Time…
June 30 BookNAround
June 5, 2020 at 6:01 am
Lovely review, Rel. I am so glad you enjoyed it too. Best, LA
June 8, 2020 at 10:40 am
Laurel Ann Nattress » Thank you, Laurel Ann – that means a lot!
June 5, 2020 at 11:09 pm
Sounds good. Thank you for sharing your wonderful review.
June 7, 2020 at 2:09 am
Wonderful review I also loved Richard Armitage and with his deep deep voice was surprised how great a job he did with all the myriad voices. I reviewed this for the tour on my blog The Reading Frenzy
June 8, 2020 at 10:37 am
Debbie Haupt » Thanks Debbie! He has such a wonderful voice and he did exceedingly well with the different accents, for sure. And I agree with your review, I loved his Dr. Gray the best <3
June 10, 2020 at 5:20 am
Lovely review. I agree that Richard Armitrage reads the novel beautifully and that the novel crescendoes slowly, picks up the pace, then swiftly and satisfactorily reaches the ending.