From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
There is something intriguing to readers and writers about an unfinished work by an author that they admire. Everyone wants closure in their life, and certainly in their fiction! Therefore, I was very excited to learn that there would be a new novel completing Jane Austen’s unfinished fragment The Watsons, by Rose Servitova.
I had read and enjoyed Servitova’s debut novel, The Longbourn Letters, and was very impressed by her ability to neatly turn an Austenesque phrase—and it also just made me laugh. It was on my Best of 2018 list for Austenesque novels and I highly recommend it.
Following in the wake of a successful first novel is always a challenge to authors, so I was curious to know what she would write about next. Choosing to complete The Watsons was not what I expected, but a welcome surprise. It takes a confident and capable writer to complete an Austen novel. I was eager to see if she could pull it off.
Here is a brief preview of the new novel publishing on October 10, 2019.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Can she honour her family and stay true to herself?
Emma Watson returns to her family home after fourteen years with her wealthy and indulgent aunt. Now more refined than her siblings, Emma is shocked by her sisters’ flagrant and desperate attempts to ensnare a husband. To the surprise of the neighbourhood, Emma immediately attracts the attention of eligible suitors – notably the socially awkward Lord Osborne, heir to Osborne Castle – who could provide her with a home and high status if she is left with neither after her father’s death. Soon Emma finds herself navigating a world of unfamiliar social mores, making missteps that could affect the rest of her life. How can she make amends for the wrongs she is seen to have committed without betraying her own sense of what is right?
Jane Austen commenced writing The Watsons over two hundred years ago, putting it aside unfinished, never to return and complete it. Now, Rose Servitova, author of acclaimed humour title, The Longbourn Letters: The Correspondence between Mr Collins and Mr Bennet has finished Austen’s manuscript in a manner true to Austen’s style and wit.
ADVANCE PRAISE
- “A gift for Austen fans everywhere – full of wit, informed imagination and palpable affection for Austen’s characters.” — Natalie Jenner, author of The Jane Austen Society
- “Very satisfying, sometimes moving and often laugh-out-loud hilarious.” — Jane Austen Regency World Magazine
AUTHOR BIO
Irish author Rose Servitova is an award-winning humor writer, event manager, and job coach for people with special needs. Her debut novel, The Longbourn Letters – The Correspondence between Mr. Collins & Mr. Bennet, described as a ‘literary triumph’, has received international acclaim since its publication in 2017. Rose enjoys talking at literary events, drinking tea and walking on Irish country roads. She lives in County Limerick with her husband, two young children, and three indifferent cats. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
BOOK INFORMATION
- A Completing of the Watsons, by Rose Servitova and Jane Austen
- Wooster Publishing (October 10, 2019)
- Trade paperback & eBook (256) pages
- ISBN: 978-1788461184
- Genre: Austenesque, Historical Romance
We received a review copy of the book from the publisher. Cover image, book description, and author bio courtesy of Wooster Publishing © 2019; text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2019, austenprose.com, an Amazon affiliate. Updated 1 January 2023.
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I look forward to reading another finished version of this story
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It’s a clever tale deftly told. I hope that you enjoy it.
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I’ve always liked The Watsons. If completed, it would have been a second, Surrey novel. I’ve had a beer in the The White Horse in Dorking on many occasion, however it is not big enough to hold a ,”ball.” I should think Jane Austen used places she knew in Dorking and its surrounds but then used her creativity and imagination to make them fit her story. I suppose that can go for any author, use what you know and elaborate and create. The turnpike road is a busy duel carriageway these days by the way,
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I liked your thoughts on The Watsons being a social novel. You have the most interesting travel adventures, Tony.
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Ha! Ha! I don’t have to travel, Laurel Ann. I live here in the middle of ,”Jane Austen Country,” Every day of my life I cross the footfall of Jane Austen but I don’t go around thinking about it. I wouldn’t get on with everyday living if I did that. I think attempts at trying to complete Jane ‘s unfinished novels are interesting exercises if you can attempt to get into the mind set of Jane Austen.( Is that possible?.) I hope Rose Servitova is successful. I have followed the recent Andrew Davies series, Sanditon, on our TV recently.(I think you get it next year) He used the basic premise of the story and the characters but developed it outlandishly. I think he has upset a lot of Janeites. I found that once I stopped thinking, “Jane wouldn’t write that,”I began to enjoy it in its own rights. All the very best, Tony
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I still need to read her first book, but man, this looks fab, too. I do love when authors tackle Austen’s unfinished works or her juvenilia. :)
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The Longbourn Letters is hysterical Sophia. I hope you can read it soon.
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Will look forward to this one. I’ve read the Ann Mychal ‘Watson’ novels and enjoyed them. Also knowing the author is Irish is a boon for me. I’ll have to support my fellow native:)
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Hi Teresa, I have read Ann Mychal’s Watsons series and enjoyed it very much. I hope you will give Rose’s book a chance too. She has captured Austen’s spirit beautifully.
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