Customer Reviews

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Our own dear Jane Austen died far, far too young, at the age of 41, leaving behind only 6 completed novels, a handful of other partial novels, juvenilia, and letters. Shortly before she herself died, Jane's beloved sister Cassandra burned an undetermined number of Jane's letters and cut portions out of many others. We will never find out what was in those letters.

But what if we could find out more about Jane's life? What if we could read about the great love of her life? That is what Syrie James has done in her novel The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen.

According to the "Editor's Forward," written by Mary I. Jesse, of Oxford University, President of the Jane Austen Literary Foundation, an old chest was recently found, walled up at Chawton Manor House. Inside the chest were manuscripts, written in a lady's hand. These manuscripts are the memoirs of Jane Austen.

The memoirs contained in this volume cover a period of years from about 1800-1817. Jane wrote her story because (pgs. 7-8 in the ARC & as experted on the website):

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there may, I think, be speculation when I am gone. People may read what I have written, and wonder: how could this spinster, this woman who, to all appearances, never even courted--who never felt that wondrous connection of mind and spirit between a man and woman, which, inspired by friendship and affection, blooms into something deeper--how could she have had the temerity to write about the revered institutions of love and courtship, having never experienced them herself?

To those few friends and relations who, upon learning of my authorship, have dared to pose a similar question (although, I must admit, in a rather more genteel turn of phrase), I have given the self-same reply: "Is it not conceivable that an active mind and an observant eye and ear, combined with a vivid imagination, might produce a literary work of some merit and amusement, which may, in turn, evoke sentiments and feelings which resemble life itself?"

There is much truth in this observation.

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Indeed. And fortunately for the readers, Syrie James is very good at observation. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen begins with Jane's life after she had to leave her beloved home at Steventon and move, with her father, mother, and sister Cassandra to Bath. Five years later Jane's father dies and the women are left without much income. They make extended stays with Jane's brothers and with family friends, but Jane is never settled enough to continue her writing.

On one occasion, while visiting Lyme with her brother Henry, she meets a gentleman who is everything one could ever hope for in a man. His name is Mr. Frederick Ashford. He's handsome, intelligent, charming, friendly, and, really, Jane's soulmate. They plan a picnic with Henry and another couple, but Mr. Ashford is, most unfortunately, called away. Over a year passes before she sees him again. The connection is still there. Jane and Mr. Ashford eventually embark on a lovely relationship, but their will their happiness be complete?

We all know that Jane Austen never married, but she did leave us with six fabulous novels. Apart from the love story, most of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen concerns Jane's attempts to reform her earlier stories into the novels that we all know and love today. It couldn't have been easy to maintain one's writing while moving from place to place. Fortunately, Jane's brother Edward gave his mother and sisters a cottage he owned, Chawton Cottage and eventually Jane was able to publish a novel, Sense and Sensibility.

Syrie James made an extensive study of Jane's life & times, novels & letters, and her research shows. It must have been a challenge to stay within the framework of what we know of Jane's life and create the love story, but she did it.

James also made use of Jane's ideas and quotes by creating situations, conversations, characters, and experiences that could feasibly have been Jane's inspiration. It was fun to notice lines similar to beloved ones from any of the novels or to recognize certain people in the people she met in this story. Very clever!

I honestly adored this book and even, for a time, forgot that Jane does not marry Mr. Ashford. He is almost even better than Mr. Darcy (shocking, I know!) because he and Jane have that true, deep connection from the start, without the pride or prejudice. I was very sad to reach the end and know they were never together. I truly wish Jane could married happily, though, as they all say, if she had married, perhaps she never would have written her novels. That would have been a crime against humanity.

I highly recommend The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. It was absolutely fabulous. There were lots of little touches that made it special, including "Editor" Mary I. Jesse's footnotes every so often. I already knew much of the information, but readers unfamiliar with the time period would have been very glad to have them. James also included a map of England, with places Jane Austen spent time in highlighted, and an Austen Family Tree, which I referred to throughout the story with great interest. After Jane's "text" ends, there is an "Editor's Afterward" which continues the magic a little longer. Following that, the publisher included an "A+ Author Insights, Extras, & More . . ." This includes a note from the author, Syrie James; a comprehensive list of Jane Austen's works; a chronology of Jane's life; a Q&A with Syrie James (You can read a longer one at her website); Quotations from Jane's works (including some that were used in this novel); and Book Club/Study Guide Questions.

A great read!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that there are only a handful of things in this world that are truly irresistible: Colin Firth in a cravat; a love story gone awry but with the promising outcome of a happily ever after; and a deliciously witty comedic scene a la Jane Austen.

Over the summer, a number of Austen-themed novels hit the store shelves: ever delightful and easily devoured in an afternoon or two by any real Pride & Prejudice fan who decided to harm her complexion by a day at the beach.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Darcy has captured the heart of every red-blooded wanna-be Elizabeth who dares calls herself a romantic (see: Colin Firth in a cravat), but where are those books for those fans of Mr. Knightley or Colonel Branden? Where are they to find their passionate read?

Look no further. Syrie James has satisfied us on every score...except that perhaps of a happily ever after. After all, anything titled: The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, comes with the ready knowledge that this romp does not end with a wedding. At least not Jane's wedding.

But whereas we know Romeo & Juliet doesn't end happily, it isn't any less a great love story--and Syrie weaves for us a very credible tale about a witty, budding authoress who upon touring with her brother, Henry, in Lyme, finds herself in a similar predicament as one of the heroines of her stories: that of being in danger of falling love with a captivating young man.

Mr. Ashford has all the dash of Colin Firth in a cravat with none of the awkward, introverted behavior. He is charming, friendly, trustworthy, and kind. Not only that, he is a mentor. He encourages Jane to pursue her dreams of becoming a published novelist--but he doesn't mince words about what it truly takes to do so. During their discussion about it, his questions if she's written anything lately makes Jane feel defensive. She turns all prickly:

"Writing is not an occupation which is easily picked up and accomplished on a whim."

He went quiet for a moment, and then said, "I am not a writer, I admit. But in my experience, I have found that there is never a perfect time or place for anything. We can always find a reason to put off that which we aspire to do, or fear to do, until tomorrow, next week, next month, next year--until, in the end, we never accomplish any thing at all." (127.)


Instantly shamed, she realizes he is right; that she has been allowing her fear to keep her from writing. She then confides her next fear to him: what if she can't find a publisher? He has an answer for that as well.

"What does that matter? In the end, talent will win out. Do you want to be a published novelist?"

"It is all I have ever wanted."

His eyes locked with mine, as a sudden breeze stirred the branches of the trees above us.

"Then a published novelist is what you shall be, Miss Jane Austen." (128.)


Yes, that's where I swooned as well.

But the hallmark of a wonderful novel isn't just all the passages with the cravat-wearing, dishy-accented hero. Oh, no. There are moments of pure comic timing and hilarity that unravel before our eyes like scenes in a movie. And granted, much of these scenes are endearingly familiar. Clearly Syrie offers us the suggestion that perhaps Jane did indeed pull moments of her real life and put them into the stories we know and love.

It was delightful to find the similarities between Jane's story and that funny and wryly true novel, Sense & Sensibility, but maybe that's a prejudice of my own, being I find bits and pieces of my own novel uncomfortably familiar. I'm sure if any of my Mr. Ashfords ever read my novel (of which I have no fear: I'm pretty sure they can't read), they too would be able to pick themselves out of the pages--and question me, wondering if the anger and passion displayed in print had any truth. It does. Why let all the melancholy and angst go to waste? Apparently Jane is as much a recycler like me.

In the end, I think this novel is about writing...and writers. The nature of how our secret selves are transformed into printed word; how all our experiences brought together are truly what makes great books. We should not live our lives in a turret, weaving from a mirror of life we've never tasted. Our voice and interpretation of these experiences everyone has had--these are what give something as universal, as repeatedly done as a love story a fresh and new understanding. It is a book of hope for writers-the last line says it all-but I can't tell you because you really should read the book for yourself.

Syrie James captures all that is best and true about Jane Austen. You will find yourself caught and enchanted and praying for an ending that will not come. For die-hard Austenites, this is the book you've been waiting for; for those of you who do not mind a bittersweet ending, this one is sure to entrance; and for those of you wishing for knowledge of how to be a writer like Austen, well, you can find that, too.

Author Syrie James's personal & professional accomplishments serve her well in her reverent presentation of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. Her website brims with such a diversity of talents that one does not question why she is qualified to write about such a sensitive subject, but rather why she waited so long! Even Jane Austen's discerning character Mr. Darcy might consider her one of the 12 most accomplished women of his acquaintance.

Breaching the hollowed halls of Jane Austen para-literature is a daunting task for none but the stout-of-heart and thick-of-skin writer. Mrs. James wears her Austen-armor well and delivers a sincere and honest love story that will engage and delight most Jane Austen devotees, and raise an inquisitive eyebrow of the Austen purists. Her Jane is real and approachable, flesh and bone, human and fallible; -- not the stour judgemental old maid envisioned in the 19th-century portraits. We feel her troubles, her joy, her pain, understand her life decisions, and appreciate her all the more for it.

It is not often that this discerning reader can offer unqualified praise, so I will not break my streak. Five Austen stars!

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

I just loved this book.....immediately I started reading I just jumped right in and walked along with Miss Jane Austin...I felt just like I was there with her and that she was telling me her story......this book captures completely the period of time, the ways,manners and etiquette's of the day......
I could just pick up the book for 10 minutes during my day and I was immediately pulled back in time to the 1800's and immediately feeling and being with my dear friend Miss Jane Austin
I have always wished I could go back in time for just one day to these times and this book took me back there
Beautifully written and just wonderful
I will keep this book forever and I know I will pick it up for a quick trip in to Jane's world many times in my future
Thank you

Gentle reader, so many Austen Scholars have written about this work, I have to add my two cents worth. I am by no means an Austen Scholar, but a great fan of all things Jane. It is amazing to find an author who can capture the voice of one of the greatest English speaking writers with such truth, conviction, honesty and insight that I had to try and not gulp this book all down in one read. I stretched it out, because I didn't want it to end. A difficult task for an avid reader. I believe we have much to look forward to from this acclaimed author If you haven't read it, Please.. beg ,borrow but do not steal..Jane would not approve.
Jeanne Gale
Swansea, MA

What a wonderful book! Those who know Jane Austen, know she never married, and know that there isn't much to be said about her romantic life. There was a fliration when she was 20 with an Irishman named Tom Lefroy and there was an unknown man who Jane met at an unknown time while she was at a seaside place. The movie Becoming Jane although fictional, portrays that Tom Lefroy and Jane Austen fell in love and that it was more than a flirtation! This book on the other hand takes the route of the unknown seaside man.

Now this story is a fictional story about Jane's life and her affair with this man, yet the writing, research, and the blending of true events in Jane Austen's life and made up events make you forget that it isn't a true story sometimes! I absolutely loved this book. Jane Austen is one of my favorite literary figures and I do believe here is a lot we don't know about her and this whole story could be possible!

Now we know Jane Austen is a private person and that this mysterious stranger reported by Cassandra was "worthy to possess and likely to win her sister's love." Cassandra also included that he left suddenly and that when they heard of him again it was that he died. Here Syrie James claims that this is was a "cover-up" and explores that possibility that this man did not die, and that there is more to the story than what Cassandra is telling. It is a wonderful dream come true for any Austen fan to see that she did experience love and happiness and that someone was worthy of her love!

Now some people complain that the author made Jane Austen too romantic. I disagree, Jane Austen may be known for her sharp with, biting comments, and sensibility; but I would argue that someone who can write about Anne Eliott and Marianne Dashwood has some romantic inclinations. Other people fault the author for writing in first-person and that she doesn't sound like Jane Austen. I disagree to this too. I commend the author for making this attempt and would also like to point out that there will never be anyone who sounds like Jane, but there will be people who come close. In my opinion, Ms. James came close to Jane Austen, she was sensible, romantic, satirical, and loveable! In addition, others will be upset because this does not read like a memoir, well I do agree with that because it really doesn't. But I do not think this is major complaint, I mean it doesn't disappoint me greatly. Yes, I suppose the author should change that title, but it isn't a big deal.

I highly recommed this book, the author did such a fantastic job writing and did her research thoroughly. In the back of the book she tells us what was fact and what was fiction, also she includes a timeline of Jane Austen's life, and quotes from Jane Austen's books. I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't a true story, although I seriously wished it was! She includes parallels from Jane's life and the books that she wrote. For example, in this book we see a lot of similarities with her life and Sense and Sensibility. While it is easy to believe that Jane has a very vivid and creative imagination, it is also believable that she maybe drew from her own experience. How could she write such wonderful love stories if she didn't ever fall in love.

I enjoyed this book very much and I will eagerly await her next book, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, coming out June 2009, (another one of my favorite authors!)

My first impression of Lost Memoirs was that it is written in a decent imitation of Jane Austen's style. Ms. James does not quite channel Jane Austen, but she is also not so modern to be distracting. I did find it odd that it doesn't read as a journal would at all. I have no problem with reading a fictionalized novel about Jane Austen, but don't tell me it is her (fake) lost memoirs and then give me a novel. This is just a personal peeve, however, and doesn't take away from the reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book. Around the halfway point is when the interworking of Jane Austen's novels becomes prevalent. At first the references are sparse and put a little smile of recognition on my face (although Ms. James felt the need to then point out the correlations which took away some of the fun). The story quickly falls into a tag team between "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride & Prejudice". It was almost as if the writer gave up trying to make up her own plot line and interjecting pieces that would have provided Jane inspiration, and instead she falls into having Jane actually LIVE every part of those novels (without the happy ending). The ending, out of necessity, does become Syrie James's own story again.

While I agree with almost every piece of Cheryl Tasses's review of the book, I don't think you have to either love or hate it. I did not love nor hate it. I was entertained and had a.. warm liking of it overall. I would have given it a strong four stars based on the beginning; it would have remained four stars if Ms. James had stuck to her own plot devices and not fallen into working in *so* much of Jane's novels. In the end, I am not sorry I spent $11 on it. It was a decent novel, I just feel the writer had all the tools at her disposal to make it much stronger.

This delightful novel tells a [fictional] story about Jane's great love affair during the period when she tweaks and tries to pblish Sense and Sensibility. Though the voice is certainly different from Austen's own, I think the author does a great job of capturing the best parts of Austen's writing. Jane (speaking in first person) comes alive, and although I knew the ending wouldn't be a typically happy one, I very much enjoyed it.

Other reviews have gone into more detail, but I just want to say that if you're an Austen fan, you'll like or love this book.

Truly, this is one of the most heartfelt stories I've had the pleasure to read in a really long, long time. This is not only the story of a secret romance, but of a writer who overcomes her doubts and her daily concerns for financial security to fully embrace the need to put pen to paper and write the stories from her heart and head. I happened to finish to the book on a plane and was in tears, which may have concerned my fellow flight-mates! But the story was over too soon and I look forward to many more stories from Ms. James.

Jane Austen. Fact: born December 16, 1775; died July 18, 1817 at age 41. Fact: never married. Fact: wrote six complete novels, including a few unfinished works, and juvenilia. Fact: lived out her life in a quiet Chawton Cottage with her older, spinster sister Cassandra and aging mother. Also known is that not long before her own death, Cassandra burned much of Jane's private correspondence and even cut out entire passages of the letters saved, driving many discussions as to why? Many Jane Austen biographies abound and mention her brief flirtation with Tom Lefroy at the age of 19, and even her short-lived engagement to Harris Bigg-Wither, heir of Manydown Park, where over night she retracted her acceptance of his hand. But nothing from the author herself. Nothing as rich as a personal journal. What a literary triumph that would be to discover such a one! Surely, a writer with transparent understanding of romance, great love and human nature would have had her own back story to mine such rich characters, conversations and scenarios as found in Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, et al. Surely, such a mind would have experienced first-hand what it is to be in-love! Author Syrie James undertakes this venture of speculation in her novel, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen.

In this fictional work, the story opens with an Editor's Forward, written by a Mary I. Jesse, of Oxford University, President of the Jane Austen Literary Foundation, stating that manuscripts written in Jane Austen's own hand were recently discovered in a chest that had been walled up at Chawton Manor House. These memoirs begin with Jane and Cassandra moving to Bath in 1801 with their parents, until Mr. Austen dies four years later, leaving the women barely solvent. During these years they make extended stays with their Austen brothers and are quite dependent on their kindness. On one particular occasion while visiting Lyme with her brother Henry, Jane meets the handsome, rich and amiable Mr. Frederick Ashford. As devoted Janeites will clearly perceive the language, phrasing and situations found in Austen's masterpieces, we would also easily recognize many of her male protagonists' characteristics in this fine gentleman. One example while strolling the Cobb, Jane loses her footing and would have fallen to her death on the hard pavement below if not for the quick actions by Mr. Ashford. A few moments later after this prophetic initial meeting, Jane attempts to properly thank him, Ashford declares

` No thanks are necessary.'

`Indeed they are. Reaching out as you did, you might have lost your footing and come to harm yourself.'

`Had that been the case, I would have given my life - or limb - in a worthy cause.'

`Do you mean to imply that it was worth risking your life, to save mine?'

`I do.'

`A bold statement, on such a short acquaintance.'

`In what way bold?'

`You are a gentleman and the heir to a title and, apparently, a vast estate. Whereas I am a woman with no fortune and of very little consequence.'

`If first impressions are to be believed, Miss Austen' he began.

`Never trust your first impressions, Mr. Ashford. They are invariably wrong.'

`Mine are invariably right. And they lead me to this conclusion: that you, Miss Austen, are a woman of greater fortune and consequence than I.'

`On what grounds do you base this claim?'

`On these grounds: if you were to have perished just now, how many people would have missed you?'

`How many people?'

`Yes.'

`I would like to think my mother, my sister, my friend Martha, and my six brothers would miss me. My brothers' wives, my nieces and nephews, who number more than a dozen, and perhaps several dear old friends.'

`Whereas I have only my friend and one younger sister to regret my passing.'

`No wife, then?'

`No. So you see, although I may be rich in property, you are rich in family, and therefore the far more wealthy and important of us.'

I laughed. `If wealth were based on your principle, Mr. Ashford, the entire class system of England would fall apart at the seams.' Chapter 3

Although knowing from the beginning that this was entirely a tale of fancy, and knowing in my head that Jane never married, the story filled my heart with an impossible hope. Moreover, I was surprised when I found myself weeping when the happy event never came to be.

Syrie James has extensively researched Austen's life and Regency times blending what we know as fact with the mysterious lore created by the gaps unknown to her public, creating a beautiful, fictional what if. The footnotes, maps and Austen family tree as well as the chronology of her life were delightful reference bonuses. Also included is a Q & A with the author, Quotations from Austen's works and letters, and even Book Club/Reading Group Study Guide discussion points.

Although this novel is a work of fiction, I read it through wishing all along that it were not. Like many, I would like to imagine this brilliant, opinionated, witty woman had met the great love of her life and that she did in fact experience some of the magic she so keenly wrote of. Syrie James successfully creates a world of Jane Austen we can only wonder. "...but for my part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short." (The Juvenilia of Jane Austen) With such sage words I can only echo that The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen is indeed entirely too short!

--my AustenProse review