Godmersham Park: A Novel of The Austen Family by Gill Hornby

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A richly imagined novel inspired by the true story of Anne Sharp, a governess who became very close with Jane Austen and her family by the #1 International bestselling-author of Miss Austen.

On January 21, 1804, Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent to take up the position of governess. At thirty-one 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.

The governess role is a uniquely awkward one. Anne is neither one of the servants, nor one of the family, and to balance a position between the "upstairs" and "downstairs" members of the household is a diplomatic chess game. One wrong move may result in instant dismissal. Anne knows that she must never let down her guard.

When Mr. Edward Austen's family comes to stay, Anne forms an immediate attachment to Jane. They write plays together and enjoy long discussions. However, in the process, Anne reveals herself as not merely pretty, charming, and competent; she is clever too. Even her sleepy, complacent, mistress can hardly fail to notice.

Meanwhile Jane's brother, Henry, begins to take an unusually strong interest in the lovely young governess. And from now on, Anne's days at Godmersham Park are numbered. 

my thoughts:

What a beautiful story! Absolutely loved Godmersham Park! Such a wonderful read. 

Gill Hornby has written a story about the Austen Family via Jane Austen's friend, Anne Sharp - the governess to Jane's niece, Fanny Austen Knight. Through this story we get to know the Austen family and many of Jane's friends. We do meet up with Jane partway through the book, but she is never at the forefront of the story. No, this story belongs to Anne and her relationships with the Austen family and it makes for a fascinating read. I just loved getting to know Anne, Fanny, Henry, and so forth. Talk about blasts from the pasts. 

I just loved getting to read Hornby's reimaginings of the Austen family and the introduction of Anne. It's fun to see them in a new light and to meet someone who was a dear friend of Jane's. Plus, I found it interesting to see the ways in which Anne was allowed into their lives, but kept at a distance due to her position as governess. Social rules were never forgotten. Oh, and, I loved how Hornby inserted historical tidbits throughout - the ways in which women's lives were so limited in what they were allowed to do; along with the roles they had forced upon them, which were so rigid. He really makes you think about these characters (and the people they represented) and their lives in the Regency era. Such a great book!

I would happily recommend Godmersham Park to fans of Hornby and to anyone looking for their next read - you are going to fall in deep with this one. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!