Overview

A richly imagined novel of the Austen family by the #1 International bestselling-author of Miss Austen. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. 1820. Mary Dorothea Knatchbull is living under the sole charge of her widowed father, Sir Edward - a man of strict principles and high Christian values. But when her father marries Miss Fanny Knight of Godmersham Park, Mary's life is suddenly changed. Her new stepmother comes from a large, happy and sociable family and Fanny's sisters become Mary's first friends. Her aunt, Miss Cassandra Austen of Chawton, is especially kind. Her brothers are not only amusing, but handsome and charming. And as Mary Dorothea starts to bloom into a beautiful young woman, she forms an especial bond with one Mr Knight in particular. Soon, they are deeply in love and determined to marry. They expect no opposition. After all, each is from a good family and has known the other for some years. It promises to be the most perfect match. Who would want to stand in their way?

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9781639369652

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Reviews

Praise for Gill Hornby ""Drawing her plot from events described in the diary of Jane Austen's niece, Fanny, Hornby imagines the early life of Fanny's governess, Anne Sharp, who forged a close friendship with Jane. The pleasure of this novel lies in its quietly satisfying portrait of a woman facing social prejudice and ill health, yet gradually coming to realize her own worth.""-- ""The New York Times Book Review"" ""Based on actual individuals, all of Hornby's characters are engaging, and the small details of their daily lives build a colorful picture of this time and place. Enjoying the thoughtful treasures and quiet moments encourages a leisurely reading pace, while the Author's Note is chock-full of fabulous true tidbits. Janites, fans of the Brontë sisters, and readers of immersive historical fiction will savor every moment.""-- ""Booklist, starred review"" ""The excellent latest from Hornby (Miss Austen) traces several years in the life of Anne Sharp, a friend of Jane Austen's. Hornby's skillful mix of fact and fiction captures the complexities of the Austens and their era, and her crisp, nimble prose sparkles throughout. Best of all, Hornby genuinely channels the sentiment of 19th-century English literature. Janeites aren't the only readers who will relish this smart, tender tale.""-- ""Publishers Weekly, starred review "" ""With Godmersham Park, British writer Gill Hornby makes a second fictional foray into Austen territory. A sprightly story.""-- ""The Washington Post""

""Thanks to the author's ability to make her characters and their struggles engaging and relatable, this is an excellent work of detailed historical fiction and a timeless story of family and love. A novel to savor.""-- ""Booklist"" ""Hornby (Miss Austen) continues her series devoted to the family of Jane Austen with a supple tale of Fanny Knight, the eldest daughter of Jane's brother Edward. Hornby breathes life into the characters, highlighting the societal restrictions faced by women in Regency England and their roles as daughters and wives.""-- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""An affecting, and even somewhat feminist, return to the world of the Austen family and its offshoots. There's a method to the author's impeccably researched look at 19th-century manners: Not only does she get to the titular event (never fear, there's an Austen-worthy young gentleman involved), but she shows the choices available to the era's women. Austen herself would approve. Janeites, rejoice!""-- ""Kirkus Reviews"" ""Combines meticulous period research with a fine feeling for the characters' inner lives, hopes and fears.""-- ""The Daily Mail"" ""Few writers are as perspicacious or half as delightful as Hornby.""--Karen Joy Fowler, international bestselling author of The Jane Austen Book Club ""Gripping and moving and also so sharp and funny. I loved it!""--Sabine Durrant, author of Lie with Me ""Has all Austen's wit and unnerving powers of observation with an extra twenty-first century zap.""--Ferdinand Mount, author of Big Caesars and Little Caesars and Kiss Myself Goodbye ""Hornby's Austen books are funny, bittersweet family sagas, impeccably researched and lavishly imagined.""-- ""The Times (London)"" ""Tremendous. Darker than Miss Austen but rendered with her characteristic lightness of touch and quick wit.""--Nigella Lawson, acclaimed food writer and television cook Praise for Gill Hornby ""Drawing her plot from events described in the diary of Jane Austen's niece, Fanny, Hornby imagines the early life of Fanny's governess, Anne Sharp, who forged a close friendship with Jane. The pleasure of this novel lies in its quietly satisfying portrait of a woman facing social prejudice and ill health, yet gradually coming to realize her own worth.""-- ""The New York Times Book Review""

Author Information

Gill Hornby is the author of the novels Miss Austen, The Hive, and All Together Now, as well as The Story of Jane Austen, a biography of Austen for young readers. Her most recent novel is Godmersham Park, also available from Pegasus Books. She lives in Kintbury, England, with her husband and their four children.

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