Book Review

"The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" by Syrie James

From Amazon.com: Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life—finally, the truth may have been found. . . .

What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen's memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That's the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen's life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.

Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.

Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen's own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales. It's a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen—and to anyone who loves a great story.


The plot of James' novel is a dazzling combination of Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice. James' novel is not only rife with allusions to Austen's work, but it suggests to the reader that her works were based on her life experiences. Falling in love at first sight with Mr. Ashford, and being thwarted by fate is the basis of Austen's novel Sense & Sensibility. This novel also has many of the characters and distinguishing landmarks of Pride & Prejudice. James further sets the stage for Austen's other works, referencing the matchmaking in Emma and the popularity of novels in Northanger Abbey. James nimbly captures the very essence of Austen's writing and breadth of her works, and flawlessly makes it her own.

Jane Austen veraciously studied people, realizing that the smallest details bring a character to life. This humanity and passion is what makes each of Austen's characters so special. James accomplished this very thing with the characterization of Austen. She is portrayed as thoughtful, passionate, intelligent and romantic. Everything that a fan would desire her to be. Giving, but not selfless. Saucy, but not derisive. Austen herself becomes the quintessential romantic heroine.

James also achieves much through the setting of this work. A Jane Austen fan will recognize the description of Chawton Cottage as being similar to the Dashwood's cottage in Sense & Sensibility. Many of Austen's travels echo those of Elizabeth's in Pride & Prejudice. James has clearly done her homework, making the reader acutely aware of the early 1800's lifestyle, manner and language.

I have always been a fan of Jane Austen. I have set of her works in hardcover that are treasured. Pride & Prejudice is my favorite, I've read it many times. I don't know a woman who isn't in love with everything that Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth represent. The latest movie adaption of Pride & Prejudice is outstanding, and one that I could watch over and over. This book, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, is almost akin to introducing one to Jane herself. The author achieves her purpose in these Memoirs, so well, in fact, that I'm still a little shocked that it's not real, and that Austen didn't write this herself.

Book Review

"Mr. Cavendish, I Presume" by Julia Quinn

From the back cover: "Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting . . . for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all . . .

It's true. He doesn't. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her . . . eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas's world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he's not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love . . . with his own fiancée!"

This is the second of two novels featuring the Two Dukes of Wyndham. The first was clever, passionate, funny, and charming, and I was really looking forward to this follow-up. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy reading "the other side of the story". I had been hoping for a novel about what happens to Thomas and Amelia AFTER Thomas loses his title, but instead got a recycled book that followed the same story line as the first, complete with identical dialog. Because of this "re-telling" it lacked the excitement and charm of the first.

Amelia was a wonderfully thought out heroine, who deserved her own book. She was smart and a bit wicked, but she played off of Thomas, who was stiff and dull, and who's sense of duty seemingly squashed all the life out of him. Quinn's characters typically are consumed with passion for one another, but these two were stifled in that aspect. There was little romance between them. It wasn't until the 80 or so pages that these two really came together and it just felt like too little, too late.

All in all, a romantic story, but one that could easily have been included in her first book, "The Lost Duke of Wyndham".