The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

295 Pages·2007·1.41 MB·English

by  Syrie James

The Lost Memoirs
of
Jane Austen
$|
SYRIE JAMES
To my husband Bill, my own Mr. Ashford, whose love
makes me complete, and whose support and
encouragement have made it possible for me to enjoy this
wonderful life as a writer . . .
To my sons Ryan and Jeff, my finest creations, whose
insightful input and animated conversations keep me on my
creative and intellectual toes. I could not be prouder . . .
To Jane Austen, with the greatest admiration, appreciation,
and respect . . .
To my agent Tamar Rydzinski, and my editor, Lucia Macro,
whose dedication to and enthusiasm for this project cannot
be measured . . .
Thank you with all my heart. You prove to me, on a daily
basis, that all things are possible.
Contents
Map
vii
Jane Austen’s Family Tree
ix
Editor’s Foreword
1
Chapter One
Why I feel the sudden urge to relate, in pen…
7
Chapter Two
At first we divided our time, as James suggested,
between…
22
Chapter Three
I had visited many seaside towns of the southern and…
37
Chapter Four
Our walk had brought us down from the Cobb to…
48
Chapter Five
In the waning weeks of 1802, when my father was…
59
Chapter Six
He asked you to marry him?” cried Cassandra in
astonishment. 75
Chapter Seven
As my mother agitatedly paced the room beside us on…
84
Chapter Eight
How very wet the weather is!” said my mother as…
92
Chapter Nine
I told Mr. Ashford that a picnic in early March…
106
Chapter Ten
What happened?” cried Maria anxiously, as I paused in
my…
117
Chapter Eleven
That night, when I was certain that Cassandra was asleep,
…
129
Chapter Twelve
Take care, Jane!” said Cassandra the next morning…
139
Chapter Thirteen
It is cruel to leave me in such suspense,” said…
145
Chapter Fourteen
Mr. Ashford engaged?” I cried with great emotion, when
we… 155
Chapter Fifteen
Dear, dear Steventon,” I said, gazing out the window of…
163
Chapter Sixteen
The squire assured Mr. Morton that our journey had been…
174
Chapter Seventeen
Here we are!” cried Mr. Morton, as we turned into…
187
Chapter Eighteen
I froze in surprise, as the housekeeper and half a…
196
Chapter Nineteen
Miss Austen,” said Mr. Ashford, bowing, an urgency to
his…
208
Chapter Twenty
This was—at last—the conclusion of his speech?”
enquired Cassandra, struggling…
218
Chapter Twenty-One
Unlike the years at Steventon, our social life at Chawton…
231
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was a delight to visit Henry and his wife…
240
Chapter Twenty-Three
A surge of anger and dismay flooded through me as…
254
Chapter Twenty-Four
There are some who might complain that August in
London…
262
Chapter Twenty-Five
On the first of October, as I sat down to…
275
Chapter Twenty-Six
A note arrived from Mr. Ashford the next morning.
286
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I never saw Mr. Ashford again. I never returned to…
296
Editor’s Afterword
Author’s Note
About the Author
Other Books by Syrie James
Credits
Cover
Copyright
About the Publisher

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