The Jane Austen Society

‘A wonderful book, a wonderful read’ - Karen Joy Fowler, Booker Prize-nominated and bestselling author of The Jane Austen Book Club

The starlet, the scholar.
The dreamer, the doctor.
The loner, the collector.
The heiress, the lover. 

1940s England.  

In a small village 
still reeling from the war,
eight very different people
come together with one
shared passion:
Jane Austen.

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Named One of the Best Books of 2020
Goodreads, Amazon, Indigo and the CBC 

  2020 Goodreads Choice Awards
Runner-up for Best Historical Fiction
& Finalist for Best Debut Novel

International Bestseller 
USA Today, LA Times, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star,
Seattle Times, Vancouver Sun, ABA Indie & Publishers Weekly  

 Indie Next & Library Reads Pick 

A People Magazine Pick

 Starred Reviews
Library Journal & Booklist  

The Lariat List 2021

"Sweet, smart escapism."
People Magazine

"Anyone seeking an antidote to contemporary chaos will find a welcome respite."
The Washington Post

Breathing new life into the world of a literary genius, The Jane Austen Society is a celebration of the written word and its power to comfort and connect us.

Only a few months after the end of the Second World War, a new battle is beginning in the little village of Chawton. Once the final home of Jane Austen, the Chawton estate is dwindling, and the last piece of Austen’s heritage is at risk of being sold to the highest bidder…

Drawn together by their love of her novels, eight very different people – from a local farmer to the village doctor, a precocious servant girl to a glamorous film star – must unite to attempt something remarkable. As new friendships form, and the griefs of the past begin to fade, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society, and to save the beloved novelist’s home and legacy. But can her words change all their lives in return?


‘A charming and memorable debut, which reminds us of the power of books to unite and heal’
Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris

 Recommended By

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“Sweet, smart escapism.”
People Magazine

“Anyone seeking an antidote to contemporary chaos will find a welcome respite.”
The Washington Post

“Fans of Pride and Prejudice will rejoice….Delightful!”
Woman’s World Magazine

“Lovingly crafted.”
The Christian Science Monitor

“Delightful.”
Publishers Weekly

“A wonderful, magical journey.”
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

“Brimming with charming moments, endearing characters, and nuanced relationships.”
Booklist

“A humorous mix of characters, from both upstairs and downstairs, that would do Julian Fellowes proud.”
Amazon's Featured Debut for May 2020

“A complex dance of love, social position and gossip that would make Jane proud.”
BookBub

“Plots akin to an Austen novel...any fan will just adore it! ”
Woman's Way Magazine (Ireland)

“Uplifting and warm, the characters and charming setting can’t fail to bring a smile to your face.”
Woman Magazine (UK)

“The Jane Austen Society stands on its own as a moving examination of the power of story.”
Shelf Awareness

"Engaging, beautifully written and unapologetically romantic.”
The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

“A book to read again and again whenever your faith in humanity is threatened. ”
Indie Next Great Read

“An intensely moving and thought-provoking story.”
Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine