The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Vol. II
by Collins Hemingway
Publication Date: August 8, 2016
eBook & Paperback; 332 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1535444958
Jane Austen Lived a Quiet, Single Life-Or Did She?
Tradition holds that Jane Austen lived a proper, contemplative, unmarried life. But what if she wed a man as passionate and intelligent as she-and the marriage remained secret for 200 years?
The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen resolves the biggest mystery of Austen's life-the "lost years" of her twenties-of which historians know virtually nothing.
• Why the enduring rumors of a lost love or tragic affair?
• Why, afterward, did the vivacious Austen prematurely put on "the cap of middle age" and close off any thoughts of finding love?
• Why, after her death, did her beloved sister destroy her letters and journals?
The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen trilogy answers these questions through a riveting love affair based on the history of the times and the details of Austen's own life.
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Excerpt:
“I must apologize,” she said. “There is so much going on, and so much still to accomplish.”
“I have no doubt.”
Management of a house the size of Hants was, in actuality, a responsibility for which Jane had not been prepared and about which she remained significantly ill at ease. Indeed, she felt that she had more good will than method in her guidance.
“How many servants do you think we have?” she asked.
“I have no idea. Twenty, thirty? It must be substantial.”
“Five and seventy. There are eighteen in the kitchen alone!”
Cassandra was as surprised as Jane had been to learn the total number. After all the years they had come to Hants, to be aware of only a third the number of people who were in service! So much of the work occurred imperceptibly: before the family awakened, when they were out, or after they had retired for the night. Most of the staff thereby remained invisible to guests and residents alike. Servants, if they were seen at all, were black-and-white-clad ghosts scurrying into the depths of a dim corridor.
“The best sign of a home being well-governed,” Jane said, “is that nobody recognizes that it is being governed. One should not observe the effort that produces the general result of ease and elegance that prevails throughout. It would not do to have dozens of servants trooping through the interior in the execution of their chores while the finer people were lounging about enjoying their leisure.” She pointed out that there were at least another fifty or sixty people employed in farm operations. These workers were under the direction of the steward, Mr. Fletcher, but many of their activities and most of their provisioning required coordination with the House.
“Perhaps you can make use of Mrs. Dennis’s capabilities here,” Cassandra said. “She has run Hants House for thirty years. She would not object to carrying on. At least until you are ready.”
“As soon as I arrived, Ashton’s mother made the necessary pronouncements regarding the new regime. She has not seen fit, however, to impart any information necessary to the discharge of my duties. I received keys, but no guidance. Nor was I handed the memorandum books. Like a queen who received her scepter but not her exchequer or army, I was given a title without power. There has been a transfer, but not a transition.”
“Her goal is for you to embarrass yourself, so that she may rush to the rescue? A double win for her in the eyes of her son.”
“I do not wish to assume the worst, though she is certainly capable of it.”
The uncertainty of the working relationship with Mrs. Dennis was one reason that Jane had asked her sister to visit so soon after resettling in Bath. Even as she struggled to carry out new duties, she was determined to carry off perfectly the event that Ashton wanted. “Not nearly as large as Mrs. Dennis’s wedding celebration but daunting enough for me,” she said. Her husband sought to bring together some of England’s best thinkers to discuss science, industry, and business—natural philosophers, chemists, engineers, and explorers, including any deputations he could entice from the Royal Institution and the Royal Society.
“What does he hope to gain?”
“He has no idea! Or at least, nothing definitive. He wants to bring a lot of intelligent people together and listen to them chatter! And hope something interesting emerges.”
Ashton had emphasized his desire for informality and casualness—“plain fare for a plain meeting,” he had insisted. “More like friends over for a shoot than a formal occasion. One cannot think properly if one is cowed by the surroundings.”
Jane saw that the achievement of the kind of ordinary comfort he sought for his guests would require an extraordinary effort from everyone at Hants. “What we remove in extravagance we must replace with perfection,” she said. “If someone merely thinks of needing something, a servant must appear at his side. If Ashton forbids exotic foods, the plain fare must be prepared exquisitely.”
Praise for The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Series
"A skillful portrayal of an early nineteenth-century literary icon takes this historical romance on an imaginative journey of the soul. … The adventure of a true romantic partnership and all the excitement that the nineteenth century had to offer. … [The] novel invites you to linger, to savor, and to enjoy. … Makes for wonderful reading. … A Jane that lives and breathes on the page."—Claire Foster, Foreword Reviews, 4 stars"Hemingway captures the energy of the times, while also writing with the irony and sly humor of Austen herself. … A strikingly real Jane Austen fully engaged in the turbulent times. … She is a living, breathing presence. … [He] displays a notable ability to recreate time and place. … A lively, compelling read, [a] sobering but moving conclusion." —Blueink Starred Review
"An enjoyable novel in an imaginative, well-researched series. … A well-researched work of historical fiction … [with] sweet moments and intriguing historical insights. … An incredibly moving portrait of a woman facing loss and love." —Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Whether his subject is literature, history, or science, Collins Hemingway has a passion for the art of creative investigation. For him, the most compelling fiction deeply explores the heart and soul of its characters, while also engaging them in the complex and often dangerous world in which they have a stake. He wants to explore all that goes into people's lives and everything that makes tThe hem complete though fallible human beings. His fiction is shaped by the language of the heart and an abiding regard for courage in the face of adversity.As a nonfiction book author, Hemingway has worked alongside some of the world's thought leaders on topics as diverse as corporate culture and ethics; the Internet and mobile technology; the ins and outs of the retail trade; and the cognitive potential of the brain. Best known for the #1 best-selling book on business and technology, Business @ the Speed of Thought, which he coauthored with Bill Gates, he has earned a reputation for tackling challenging subjects with clarity and insight, writing for the nontechnical but intelligent reader.
Hemingway has published shorter nonfiction on topics including computer technology, medicine, and aviation, and he has written award-winning journalism.
Published books include The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen trilogy, Business @ the Speed of Thought, with Bill Gates, Built for Growth, with Arthur Rubinfeld, What Happy Companies Know, with Dan Baker and Cathy Greenberg, Maximum Brainpower, with Shlomo Breznitz, and The Fifth Wave, with Robert Marcus.
Hemingway lives in Bend, Oregon, with his wife, Wendy. Together they have three adult sons and three granddaughters. He supports the Oregon Community Foundation and other civic organizations engaged in conservation and social services in Central Oregon.
For more information please visit Collins Hemingway's website and blog. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads.
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The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Vol II
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