
Reader Score
79%
79% of readers
recommend this book
Critic Reviews
Great
Based on 6 reviews on

* INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER *
"This novel delivers sweet, smart escapism." --People "Fans of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will adore The Jane Austen Society... A charming and memorable debut, which reminds us of the universal language of literature and the power of books to unite and heal." --Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris 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. A powerful and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small, and the universal humanity in us all, Natalie Jenner's The Jane Austen Society is destined to resonate with readers for years to come."Brilliantly crafted, weaving together the lives of eight people in the most intriguing of ways....There is something utterly calming about The Jane Austen Society." --Barbara Delinsky, New York Times bestselling author of A Week at the Shore
"Anyone seeking an antidote to contemporary chaos will find a welcome respite among the members of a group whose outer lives may appear simple, but whose inner lives need the kind of balm Austen knew well." --The Washington Post "In my opinion, Natalie Jenner's first novel, The Jane Austen Society, could not have been published at a more appropriate time...it's a wonderful, magical journey to the end of the book." --Fredricksburg Freelance-Star "Just like a story written by Austen herself, Jenner's first novel is brimming with charming moments, endearing characters, and nuanced relationships...Readers won't need previous knowledge of Austen and her novels to enjoy this tale's slow revealing of secrets that build to a satisfying and dramatic ending." --Booklist (starred review) "Readers who enjoy character-driven novels will want to read this book. Like Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, it's a must-purchase for libraries of all sizes." --Library Journal (starred review) "Delightful... Jenner's immersive character development is juxtaposed against her study of Austen's characters, providing clever insight into how the trials of Austen's life were revealed through her books." --Publishers Weekly