Nancy Moser Just Jane: A Novel of Jane Austen's Life

Just Jane: A Novel of Jane Austen's Life

Nancy Moser

Bethany House, Sep 2007, $13.99 paper

ISBN 9780764203565

Twenty years old Jane Austen begins keeping a journal starting with falling in love with Tom Lefroy. Over the years, she has had good things and bad things occur, but always wrote an entry in her journal regardless. Thus when her dad decided to move to Bath, an outraged Jane grieves the loss of the family home even more than the unfortunate death of her sister's fianc . Her mom's constant complaints about illness drive Jane crazy as she believes most are in her mother's head. Then there are the men she desires. Writing novels has been a welcome relief although she originally assumes she had no talent, but as she is into her thirties, she also basks in the success of her novels as she never expected fame to shine a light on her.

With Jane Austen in almost as much readers faces as JD Rowling is, fans of the great author will appreciate this interesting historical fictionalized memoir. Jane is a fascinating protagonist as she relates her frustrations with her mom, her seemingly unrequited attraction to men starting with Tom, and her deep religious convictions. Ms. Austen's actual words are used throughout with the humor that is so apparent in her six novels appearing in her letters; interestingly though no quotations are used to delineate direct Austen quotes, readers will know with at least the longer passages as there is much word play involved. Fans who want to know more about Ms. Austen's life will appreciate this well written "autobiographical" fiction, although the journal fails to capture the essence of what made Jane write.

Harriet Klausner