Godmersham Park: The Sunday Times top ten bestseller by the acclaimed author of Miss Austen

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But could her connection to them, a triangle of sorts, ruin her chances to support herself as a governess? ANNE SHARP At times there's a sense of fun to the writing, something you get with Austen herself, and it's true that it feels like Godmersham feels at times idyllic.

Much of the author's research came from the diaries of Fanny Austen Knight who Anne looked after for several years at the house. She was Jane's niece and the daughter of Elizabeth Austen, The book moves slowly and there are Bridgerton and Downton Abbey vibes as the estate and landscape are brilliantly evoked as are the dresses and customs of the day. The author has done a really good job of bringing the time and society of that time to life as to the worry that women, whatever their station, worried about and had to face. Anne Sharp no es una mujer convencional, y ha decidido ganarse el pan, tras la muerte de su madre, y el supuesto abandono, incluso económico de su padre. A través de ella, veremos las condiciones reales en las que se movía una mujer con profesión en una época en la que una dama, si trabajaba, se convertía en una especie de animal mitológico, pues no era parte de los criados ni de los señores. Es una descripción curiosa, realista y lineal comparada con la anterior novela austenita de la autora, que tiene una pluma inteligente, calmada y detallista con el personaje.The business of Jane Austen continues to soar in today’s publishing and entertainment industries – each book, film, or show adding something new to Austen’s world. In its moments of celebration, each family did reveal its true self. The Austens, she saw, were entirely contented unto themselves. There were no unsettling cross-currents of feeling, no signs of individual rancor or preference. They were all bound together by custom, tradition and an even, simple affection: united in their felicity.” (168) I had to let go of that expectation and recognize that Anne is a different sort of character – she doesn’t have to confront the men or anyone else who mistreat her – as cathartic as that would have been to read. On 21 January 1804, Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent to take up the position of governess. At 31 years old, she has no previous experience of either teaching or fine country houses. Her mother has died, and she has nowhere else to go. Anne is left with no choice. For her new charge -- twelve-year-old Fanny Austen -- Anne's arrival is all novelty and excitement.

In 1804 the Knights hired a governess for their eldest daughter, Fanny, who was eleven. Henry’s friend recommended Anne Sharp. Raised in luxury, well educated, and pretty, with the death of Ann’s mother came poverty. Her father had disappeared from their lives and left her a mere 35 pounds per annum to live on. Anne donned plain garb, adjusted her attitude to fit into the role of lowly governess, and with dread reported to Godmersham Hall.

This pastiche, peopled with actual historical figures, follows the trials of a new governess whose charge is Fanny Austen, the eldest daughter of Edward, Jane’s wealthy brother. Hornby’s long, deft narrative is not her first trip into Austen territory, following Miss Austen (2020). Her style takes its cue from Austen’s irony and tone…An immersive excursion to Austenland.” The book is described as “a novel of the Austen family” and the first half of the book focuses primarily on Fanny and her parents, and Anne Sharp (with lots of Henry Austen, too). Jane herself is talked of and corresponded with in the first half of the book but does not make an appearance until Act 3, chapter 27. She remains a central figure in the story from that point. I really enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend it to Austen fans and those who appreciate well written historical fiction. Governesses. Jane Austen and governesses. Anne Sharp. It's interesting that Ms. Hornby chose to title the book with the place name instead of the name of the governess; both would have been equally Austenian, but it implies a different emphasis. I would love to know if she wavered on this question, and why she chose as she did.

When tempting this Austen lover with a new book, one merely need mention that it is based on real life figures in Jane Austen’s life, and I am hooked. By making it a governess’ tale with a mysterious past, I am well-nigh bewitched. I settled in eager for Godmersham Park, anticipating Gill Hornby’s thoughtfully considered development of characters, setting, historical context, and engaging plot. Utilizing limited records and preserved information about Anne Sharp, the letters she exchanged, and Fanny Austen’s diaries Gill Hornby fleshes out the details and inner-developments of Anne Sharp’s life. Godmersham Parkwould make an excellent film or limited series. And since Miss Austenis already being adapted as a four-part miniseries, it’s certainly possible this film could receive similar treatment if Miss Austendoes well. In its moments of celebration, each family did reveal its true self. The Austens, she saw, were entirely contented unto themselves. There were no unsettling cross-currents of feeling, no signs of individual rancor or preference. They were all bound together by custom, The premise of Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby appealed to me in part because of the main character’s connection with Jane Austen. Though little detail is known about their relationship, Anne Sharp and Jane first met during the period that Anne was engaged as a governess at Godmersham Park for Fanny Austen Knight, Jane's niece, and remained close friends until Jane’s death.I was caught up in the novel immediately, as Anne was informed of her loss of income and change in status by a shady lawyer, but that part of the story was not really explored to its fullest. Since this is historical fiction, I would have liked the author to give us some real closure there. Anne's time at Godmersham was fairly short, as she only spent two years there. The best parts of the book were her interactions with Jane and the glimpse into the Austen family dynamics.

There is one character though who steals the spotlight from Anne: Jane Austen. She matches Anne in intelligence but surpasses her in wit. Quips effuse from her, and seemingly nothing escapes her notice. She sees through people’s facades and astutely observes all that goes on around her. She also does not shy away from voicing her opinion, including as it relates to topics deemed unseemly by her contemporaries. Moreover, she proves herself to be a kind and loyal friend to Anne, encouraging her artistic pursuits and supporting her whenever possible. Their friendship is one of the highlights of the book. I love Shakespeare, and this sounds so intriguing! Plus that cover is dreamy. Will definitely be adding to my TBRI planned to read this novel later, but it surprised me two weeks ago in the bookstore and of course I had to take it, because after Miss Austen, a novel that I thought was wonderful, this one is also signed by Gill Hornby and again about a figure of the Jane Austen world.