Miss Austen: A Novel

In Miss Austen: A Novel we experience the life of Cassandra Austen as imagined by Gil Hornby. Cass is unconditionally devoted to her family and, most importantly, to her sister, Jane Austen. Cass and Jane have an unbreakable bond that spans their lifetimes, even after the passing of one sister.

Miss Austen: A Novel leads us through Cass’s quest to forever protect the legacy of her sister. Hornby transitions us from 1840, when Cass is seeking out her sister’s letters in order to hide any controversy they may contain, to her earlier life and experiences that the letters reference. Hornby’s imagined story of Cassandra Austen is a powerful representation of loyalty.

After reading Miss Austen: A Novel I was left wanting to read more about the Austen family. Although this book is a work of fiction, it is very much intertwined with what is known about the life of Jane Austen. Hornby portrays Cass as having so much affection toward her sister and her work that the reader is left loving Jane Austen’s novels even if they have not read them yet.

From beginning to end, I was charmed by Cassandra Austen. This is a wonderful and heartwarming story that will allow your imagination to fill in the gaps in Jane Austen’s life with intriguing detail. However, I would caution readers to remember it is a work of fiction.