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The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen Kindle Edition

by Syrie James (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 491 ratings
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Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life—finally, the truth may have been found. . . .

What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen's memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That's the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen's life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.

Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.

Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen's own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales. It's a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen—and to anyone who loves a great story.

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  1. Print length
    408 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Avon
  5. Publication date
    October 13, 2009
  6. File size
    823 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“This fascinating novel will make readers swear there was such a man as Mr. Ashford and that there is such a memoir... Tantalizing, tender, and true to the Austen mythos, James’s book is highly recommended.”

About the Author

Syrie James is the author of five critically acclaimed novels, including the bestseller The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë, Nocturne, Dracula, My Love, and Forbidden. Her books have been translated into eighteen foreign languages.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000W93BJG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon (October 13, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 823 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 408 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0061992844
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 491 ratings

About the author

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Syrie James

Syrie James

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SYRIE JAMES is the author of 13 critically acclaimed novels of historical fiction, romance, and young adult that have been international, Amazon, and USA Today bestsellers and are published in more than 20 languages. Her books have been Library Journal Editor’s Picks of the Year, won starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus, and numerous awards including the Audiobook Audie.

Hailed by Los Angeles Magazine as the “queen of nineteenth century re-imaginings,” Syrie is a research and story structure maven whose goal is to write page-turning novels that take her characters on challenging journeys of growth and discovery.

A member of the WGA, Historical Novel Society, and Jane Austen Society of North America, Syrie has sold numerous scripts to film and TV and addressed organizations and literary conferences across the U.S., Canada, and in England. Find Syrie at syriejames.com.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
491 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

meverse
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and poignant
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2014
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An avid reader and obsesser of all things Jane Austen, I stumbled upon this book in my search for "more." I had friends who had also recommended it, but I thought that it might just be, at best, a sorry attempt to copy Jane Austen's style and, at worst, a terrible piece of fanfiction that would cause our dear Jane to roll over in her grave. However, as you can see by my rating, I was completely blown away. The author's excellent incorporation of historical facts and her own fiction make this book a MUST for any one who has wished there was more to know about Jane's personal life than her letters and biographers give us. James' style is fluid, descriptive, and incredibly captivating, echoing Austen's tone while still offering enough of herself to make the work new and fresh. Though other reviewers have criticized her for using some of Austen's own plot lines, I found it comforting and, in my opinion, it made the work that much more poignant. James skillfully wove parts of Austen's own life with bits of Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice to create a world that was all the more believable because of its familiarity to Austen fans. James' heartwrenching descriptions of love and loss left me speechless and at the end of the book I had the urge to cry and hug the author. This book has also now provided one of my new favorite closing lines....

"I have come to believe, in the end, that there is no shame in truth, only freedom; and that, in time, every tale has a right to be told."

.... as well as the best ending to a fictional editor's note, I have ever read:

"But another theory, which cannot be ignored, can best be summed up in the words of her young nephew James-Edward, who so solemnly asked his aunt Jane, on that golden morning at Steventon, “Do you mean to say, that if I believe in your story as you have told it, then it is as good as if it were true?”

Bravo, James. Bravo.
14 people found this helpful
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carol p
4.0 out of 5 stars The facts are true, but the story is not
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2014
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I didn't like the fact that the author put all her novels in Jane's story as if they came from her life. because I am sure they came from her imagination. But it was a charming piece of work and kept the facts known to us in place through out the book. She does write a lot like I would think Jane would write. It does make me wonder why Jane quit writing for 10 long years. What other wonderful books might she have written if she had not been too sorry to live in bath or be thrown into a brother's busy household. I am so glad she went back to her writing as none of her novels would have seen the light of day if she had not. Such a special voice, such humor and wonderful characters along with a very wonderful love story with out the kisses and the passion although you know it is there. I do think most every one will love this book and so I do hope you will give it a try.
4 people found this helpful
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J. Lesley
5.0 out of 5 stars This book, Gentle Reader, is marvelous.
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2009
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Okay, so I might have appropriated the "Gentle Reader" part from someplace else, but this book was simply marvelous for me. I loved everything about it. I have always wanted to think that the Jane Austen who wrote those books I absolutely love must have experienced a great passion in her life. Syrie James gives readers that great passion for Jane Austen. And it is completely believable.

The basic premise of the book is that a trunk was discovered in an attic and upon opening it various manuscripts, letters, journals and a ring were found. The trunk and everything it contained had belonged to Jane Austen. Dr. Mary I. Jesse, has been given the task of editing the material and this book is the result of her work on the final segment of the journals found. I had to remind myself over and over that this book is a work of fiction. The fictional portions have been woven so seamlessly into the actual facts known of Jane Austen's life that I have to say this is the most realistically presented book of fiction I've read concerning the life of Jane Austen. I simply loved how events and experiences written into the Austen novels were used in the "journal" to show that Jane had lived those events or met those people during her lifetime. And the man Jane loved and who loved her in return was precisely the strong, confident man who would have positively been the right partner for her. Most fans of Jane Austen know her history and we know there is no evidence that a man such as this one existed for her. But, wouldn't it have been wonderful for her if she had been given the chance to love as passionately as her characters loved? If you feel that way about Jane Austen, the woman, then you will probably enjoy this book as much as I did.

Also of interest in the book was the added material which is included: the authors note, the list of Austen's works, the chronology of events in her life, the question and answer session with the author, quotations on various topics from Austen's novels, even the reading group study guide.

If you, Gentle Reader, enjoy exploring books written by authors who have obviously fully researched their subject, you will find pleasure in reading this book. If you want to feel that you are actually reading a long lost memoir from the pen of Jane Austen, you will find pleasure in reading this book. If you just want to read a wonderful, romantic story set in the early 1800's, you will find pleasure in reading this book. I loved every minute I spent with it.
8 people found this helpful
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Ellen H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it so much I bought the paperback version for ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2018
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I was reading this on my iPad. Loved it so much I bought the paperback version for my mother. She loved it as well. The author really got me going. If you know anything of Jane Austins life, you know how this fictional memoir will end, but the author puts in lots of interesting twists. Then events are backed up by other writings by Jane herself and family members and friends. Very well done!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite book ever!
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2022
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So beautiful, witty, very reminiscent of who Jane is. Clean content while being so romantic and heart wrenching. Highly recommend!
2 people found this helpful
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Elizabeth du Fresne
4.0 out of 5 stars A novel about Jane Austen and her imaginary secret love.
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2017
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Using the pleasant conceit of a newly "found memoir", this novel follows the factual outline of Austen's biographical life while adding t he delicious
Imaginary interior emotional tale of her thwarted love affair. It is written with a highly reflective style of Miss Austen herself which will make this book a delight for her countless fans -- it is as though we are gifted with an addition to the six books that those fans re-read over the years. One could snobbishly reject the thought of a "fake" Austen story. But why? Relax and enjoy a fictional stroll down Austen's love story. Let's let our Jane have her chance to experience the same heart and mind love that she wished for her heroines.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in Canada on August 5, 2022
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This story is so well written that it is hard to believe that it isn't JA's long lost memoir. The author has cleverly integrated JA's life and novels into a very realistic reimagining of Jane Austen's life.
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Filomena Galeazza
5.0 out of 5 stars a must read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2013
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Utterly Perfect. Couldn't put it down!!! A must read for all Jane Austen lovers.
James has brought Jane Austen back to life!!!
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Del
5.0 out of 5 stars dans le monde de Jane
Reviewed in France on February 20, 2013
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J'ai beaucoup aimé cette variation autour de pride and prejudice : ou comment Jane a-t-elle écrit l'un de ses chefs-d'oeuvre... un livre audacieux qui s'en tire bien...
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Jacqui9
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2020
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I loved the concept of the book, imagining what may have happened during the 'missing' years of Jane Austen's correspondence. Knowing that it was a work of fiction; I settled down to be entertained. Some dialogue, perhaps not of the era, but on the whole an enjoyable read.
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Gwen
4.0 out of 5 stars La vie de Jane Austen mêlée à une histoire d'amour imaginaire
Reviewed in France on January 11, 2014
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The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen est un livre qui prétend avoir retrouvé les mémoires de Jane Austen. Une introduction écrite par un professeur nous raconte comment ces mémoires ont été retrouvés dans un grenier.

On apprend alors par la plume de Jane Austen son envie d’écrire un journal pour y raconter ce qu’elle ne peut révéler aux autres – mis à part à sa sœur et confidente de toujours Cassandra. Les premières pages nous indiquent que c’est une histoire d’amour qu’elle souhaite coucher sur le papier et à partir de là, on se prend à y croire et à imaginer.

L’auteur, Syrie James, s’en sort admirablement puisqu’elle reprend de nombreux éléments biographiques de la vie de Jane Austen : le déménagement de sa maison d’enfance à Bath, la mort de son père ou encore sa difficulté avec la publication de ses romans. Mais en plus de ses évènements, on apprend qu’elle aurait rencontré l’amour, le vrai. L’auteur a choisi aussi de reprendre des scènes ou personnages mémorables de "Raison et Sentiments" ou "Orgueil et Préjugés". Jane Austen s’en serait alors inspiré pour écrire ses romans.

Ce livre est bel et bien une histoire fictive mais surtout un roman envoûtant. La fin m’a tiré quelques larmes. Je m’attendais à toute autre chose et ce que j’ai découvert coïncidait bien plus à la vraie vie de Jane. Sachez que si vous pensez être un peu perdu entre la réalité et la fiction, l’auteur précise à la toute fin les éléments qui ont été inventés ou non.

En un mot : C’est une jolie histoire que je recommande grandement pour sa facilité de lecture et sa profondeur de sentiments.
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