From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
There’s a new debutante at the ball Janeites, and she’s going to knock your bonnets off.
Meet author Natalie Jenner. Her debut novel, The Jane Austen Society, arrives on May 26, 2020—that’s 8 months and 17 days and counting.
Mark your calendars. You will thank me!
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of individuals band together to attempt something remarkable.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the last home of Jane Austen, one of England’s finest
novelists. Now it’s home to a few remaining distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the history of Jane Austen’s life in the village on the verge of disappearing, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both her home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, a visiting movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from losses incurred in the recent war, some from more distant tragedies, they join together to create The Jane Austen Society.
A charming and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small and a community that forms around a shared loved of the written word.
Her last residence is now Jane Austen’s House Museum, the most treasured Austen site in the world. However, during post-WWII its future was uncertain as Austen’s family needed to divest portions of the estate. How her home was saved by an unlikely group of unique and endearing locals and fans from afar, is not only a compelling story inspired by real events and Austen lore but wholly original and authentic in its own right. Here is a description of the novel from publisher St Martin’s Press:
Luck was on my side when my agent, Mitchell Waters, asked me to be one of the first to read The Jane Austen Society in manuscript form last year. I loved it. I found it reverent, moving, and uplifting. It will appeal to those who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and the novels of bestselling author Helen Simonson. Like Austen’s milieu, it includes “three or four families in a country village,” and reminds us of what is important in our lives, and how we can make a difference by acknowledging and celebrating art in a troubling world.
Today, I am honored to reveal the gorgeous cover of this amazing Jane Austen-inspired novel. As you will see, the design represents five individuals lined up arm-in-arm facing Chawton Cottage, Austen’s final home near Alton, Hampshire. Any Austen fan worth their weight in syllabub recognizes it is as the epi-center of the Austen universe.
Designed by Michael Storrings at St Martin’s Press, the cover features five of the main characters: a widowed village doctor, an heiress to the Knight family estate, a young house girl on that estate, a local schoolteacher and recent war bride, and a middle-aged bachelor farmer. This group is rounded out by a local solicitor from the neighboring town of Alton, an appraiser from Sotheby’s in London, and a Hollywood movie star and lifelong Janeite—all drawn together by their mutual passion for Austen’s work and a desire to preserve her legacy.
Jenner’s inspiration for the book was twofold: firstly, a family tragedy returned her to reading books by her favorite authors, principally Jane Austen. And secondly, a trip to the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, UK, as well as the village of Chawton where Austen revised or wrote all her books, and where Natalie found her inspiration for The Jane Austen Society. Over time she continued to develop the idea about a group of villagers at the end of WWII coming together to save a place so critical to Austen’s legacy.
My sincere congratulations and thanks to author Natalie Jenner and her publisher St Martin’s Press for selecting Austenprose to host the cover reveal of a novel that will delight Jane Austen and historical fiction fans. I recommend it highly.
AUTHOR BIO
Natalie Jenner is the author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY (St. Martin’s Press, May 2020), a fictional telling of the start of the society in the 1940s in the village of Chawton, where Austen lived. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie is a former lawyer who also recently founded the independent bookstore Archetype Books in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs. A lifelong devotee of all things Jane Austen, THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY is her first published novel.
Visit Natalie online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
The Jane Austen Society: A Novel, by Natalie Jenner
St Martin’s Press (2020)
Hardcover and eBook (320) pages
ISBN: 978-1250248732
Pre-orders for The Jane Austen Society are now available through the following links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BooksAMillion | Indiebound | Apple | Kobo | Google | Goodreads
Cover image courtesy of St Martin’s Press © 2020; text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2019, Austenprose.com
Yay! It’s the perfect cover! Congratulations, Natalie! So exciting.
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Two time periods on one cover without a time-travel plot is definitely intriguing!
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Pride and Prejudice is my favorite story and probably because I can personally relate to how one’s background (wealth and family) can be a sticking point in a relationship. I would be interested in reading this book so as to read why each person wants to be part of saving the estate. Their backgrounds must be very interesting – even if fictional. Good luck with the release.
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This sounds like a great read! My favorite is Pride and Prejudice; love Lizzie and Darcy!
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I love all of Jane austen works so it’s hard to choose!
I think it would be Mansfield park. I’m alot Like fanny price and can relate to her.
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Sounds like a wonderful read! 1940s + Jane Austen + historical preservation= Intriguing read! Just added to my Goodreads tbr list. Thanks!
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As an Austen fan and a history buff, I am interested in understanding how this disparate group of people came together to preserve a part of literary history.
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Can’t wait!
Cover is totally en pointe! Well done.
As a lover of “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” and an unabashed fan of anything Austen, I am tapping my foot in anticipation for this book.
Did I mention, I can’t wait?
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Since I enjoyed the characters in Helen Simonson’s “The Summer Before the War” so much, I’m intrigued to see if JA Society can charm in a similar fashion.
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My favorite JA book is Persuasion. I love the relationship between Anne and Wentworth and how they are able to find one another again.
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I love all things Austen. Enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. So this is definitely on my TBR list.
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The cover looks beautiful! I’ve always been intrigued about the preservation of Austen’s legacy and in particular the house.
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What a stunning cover! I am quite intrigued that those readers who liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society would be drawn to The Jane Austen Society. I chuckled that it is based on a country village with 3 or 4 families. Congratulations on your first published book, and I would love to win an ARC copy.
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Gorgeous cover, Natalie. Can’t wait for this, sounds like a compelling story and a whole new take on Jane Austen-related fiction. Hope it does really well when it’s released next year. BTW unfortunately I’m in the UK so not eligible for the giveaway.
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I was thrilled to read this one early and have been so curious about the cover. It’s exquisite and just right for the tone of the story. Enjoyable post, Laurel Anne!
Please do not enter me in the contest.
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I’m intrigued by this story. I had no idea how the idea of saving Chawton came about and thank goodness it did!
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I love how varied the characters are, it will mean lots of interesting interactions between them! Looking forward to reading this book!
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This book looks wonderful! My love of Jane Austen coupled with my love of the 1940s makes this book a sure-fire addition to my TBR.
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such a beautiful cover!
denise
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It’s Jane Austen inspired. Nuff said.
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What a fabulous cover. Thank you for sharing.
I love the idea of fellow Jane Austen lovers coming together to save her legacy.
My favorite novel is Pride and Prejudice because Elizabeth is such a strong-minded character, and admits her own shortcomings.
Best of luck with your book launch.
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Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel because Anne and Wentworth get a second chance at love.
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This sounds like something I’d love. Thanks for the chance to win!
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Oh my goodness! Jane, Chawton and historical fiction? It is everything I love to read. Congratulations Natalie!
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Sounds fascinating. Lovely cover. Thanks for the chance!
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Anything that takes me back to Chawton is of interest to me. P&P by a nose over S&S. Jane and Elizabeth…nuff said!
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My favorite Austen novel is Persuasion. In fact, it’s probably my favorite novel generally. I love Captain Wentworth and I’m a sucker for second chances. And there’s my favorite line “you pierce my soul”… swooning
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Thank you for hosting this lovely cover reveal, Laurel Ann, and tell readers about this wonderful new novel. The book sounds fascinating. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity, but whether I win an ARC or not, I will be reading it when it releases next year.
I truly enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and it came immediately to mind as I was reading the description of The Jane Austen Society. I like the idea that people of all walks of life came together to save Jane Austen’s home and start The Jane Austen Society. It depicts the universality of her work.
Best wishes to author, Natalie Jenner, on your debut novel.
Pride and Prejudice is my favorite novel by Jane Austen, with Persuasion coming in a close second. Each of her works has something special and unique about it.
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What a delightful cover. Congratulations on your debut.
The writings of Jane Austen has had a powerful impact on my adult life as well as that of my daughter. Gathering with friends and acquaintances who feel the same is both upbuilding and stimulating. I desperately look forward to ordering a copy of your book once it becomes available. Best of wishes to you.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Laurel Ann.
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What a delightful cover. Congratulations on your debut.
The writings of Jane Austen has had a powerful impact on my life as well as my daughter’s. Gathering with friends and acquaintances to discuss her stories, in particular Pride & Prejudice, is both insightful and stimulating. I am eagerly awaiting the day when I can order my own copy of your story. Best wishes for a successful launch. 🚀
Thank you for bring this to our attention, Laurel Ann.
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What a perfect cover for this new book. This book will be wonderful and I cannot wait to read it. My favorite book is Persuasion because in it Jane Austen lets us know that mistakes of the past can be rectified and a happy ending is always possible.
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The book description is intriguing. I look forward to enjoying this book!
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I can hardly wait to read this novel! As a life member of JASNA, a very involved member of the society, and an avowed addicted Anglophile and Janeite, I’m fascinated to read Natalie Jenner’s take on the formation of the Jane Austen Society. I’m especially excited because YOU love this book so much Laurel Ann, and you have impeccable taste — there could be no higher praise for an Austenque work of fiction.
As for my favorite Austen novel, it is of course P&P, with Persuasion also holding a place dear to my heart. I love stories about second chances which is what both of these novels are really about. Thank you for hosting this wonderful giveaway, I have my finger crossed!
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I love the cover and the very diverse characters coming together despite their own trials and tragedies. I love all Jane but Elizabeth and Darcy…❤️❤️❤️. Can’t wait for this book!
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This sounds like a great book. I can’t wait to see how these different characters bond together in their common love for Jane.
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Beautiful cover. The books sounds intriguing. I always thought P&P was my favorite, but I finally read Persuasion for the first time and it has become my new favorite. I love the tale of having a second chance at love and Anne is a great character. I love the ending.
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Love them all, but especially Persuasion.
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My all time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen). I could speak liberally on my love of the slow burn romance…However, it is actually the language that draws me to it over and over. It lifts and transports me beyond the everyday, casual speech of this modern era and whenever I read it, my vocabulary improves and my wit is sharper. These are qualities I respect a great deal in others and, while I often miss the mark, I enjoy making attempts at.
I am very excited for The Jane Austen Society to come out! I alternate between reading Pride and Prejudice at least once annually and watching the much loved BBC mini-series. The story makes me feel less lonely in the world and I look forward to Jenner’s work adding to the lore of my treasured and very dog-eared copy of my favorite book.
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I say that cover would make beautiful wallpaper. ❤️
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My favorite Austen book is Pride and Prejudice. And I want this book because the amazing Natalie Jenner wrote it.
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This looks amazing! My favorite Austen book is Persuasion. CONGRATULATIONS!
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This story sounds really interesting and indicative of the diverse world that is the world of Janeites. I’d love a copy!
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I have always been drawn to Jane’s way of bringing out differences between the Regency Period classes. I love how there are characters grounded enough to get past those class restrictions. This book sounds like it is in the same vein. Different people coming together for better.
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It’s like picking your favorite child, but I think I like Emma best. At least today. And I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!
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Gorgeous cover! Appealing invitation to intriguing content…the inclusion of men with women involved in the project and the timing in light of postwar economy.. you have another reader here, Natalie!
Congrats 🙆 ⚘
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Congratulations, Natalie!! What a gorgeous cover, and intriguing premise! I love the idea that people in different walks of life come together because of an author <3 My favorite Jane Austen has to be Pride & Prejudice; just can't get enough of Mr. Darcy *swoon*
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Congratulations, and thanks for this wonderful opportunity! I just finished Northanger Abbey, and it’s currently my favorite, because it reminds me of the Victoria Holt novels I loved so much when I was a young girl.
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I love Pride and Prejudice. It is a classic
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Anything Jane Austen intrigues me, I’m in already! 😊
The time period, the subject, everything about about it, & not to mention the cover is gorgeous.
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