The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

Now that "The Education of Portia" is finished, I have a little more time for reading, gardening and sewing--and planning my next novel.

Reading is the number one priority however, and I have been doing lots of it. A book I just finished is "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" by Syrie James. It is a novel that offers, according to the back cover blurb, "...a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales."

The book is a very enjoyable read. The author has found a believable voice for Jane Austen, though not perhaps as tart as the real woman's tongue. Her lost romance, which we suspect happened but cannot be certain of, comes to life in this telling.

The author's attempts--via a fictitious editor and an 'editor's forward'--to convince us that this memoir is real and its discovery a modern miracle are rather heavy-handed. It is not necessary, in my opinion, to be convinced that the memoir is 'true' and factual to enjoy the story. Nevertheless her description of the supposed wonderful discovery and its meaning for scholarship has a certain charm.

The book would still entertain without the self-conscious intrigue and manipulation. Particularly entertaining is the author's insertion of some scenes from Austen's novels into her supposed real life. Austen supposedly then uses these actual occurrences of her life, in her novels. That's confusing, isn't it? I don't think I can explain it better, though I am a writer. You will have to read the book to understand what I mean :)

Syrie James has cultivated a convincing Regency voice, with only one error that leaped out at me--she used the word 'vest' when she meant 'waistcoat'. A classic mistake, one made by many authors in the past, and something that would go unnoticed by most North American readers.

I wish that the tale spun in the foreward was true; that we could find some mythical cache of Jane Austen documents, or those letters that Cassandra burned. It is unlikely ever to happen however, so it is pleasant to explore what Jane Austen might have done and thought during those missing years of her history. And Mr. Ashford is a hero worthy of her, which is all any woman can ask for.

Good summer reading -- let me know what you think of it!

New Contest on www.lesleyannemcleod.com

Regency romance number seven--The Education of Portia--is finished! I sent it to my editor a couple of days ago, and I was even ahead of schedule by a week. I'm glad it's done; now I can do all the things that I've been putting off because of lack of time!

Shakoriel is working on the cover for Portia. It's going to be really great--the hero and heroine are often at loggerheads and Shakoriel has captured that perfectly. I can't wait to display the cover.

I have a new contest on my website. I am giving away a paperback copy of Georgette Heyer's great Regency novel, Venetia. You can see the book at www.lesleyannemcleod.com/contest.html Venetia is one of my all-time favourites; if you haven't read it, you are in for a treat. Please sign the guestbook at my website www.lesleyannemcleod.com to be entered for the prize draw.

Shakoriel has done another Regency fashion colouring picture for the colouring book. There are four pictures now; we are aiming for twenty. I am going to post my own coloured versions so you can see how they can look. We are talking of doing a paper doll as well--paper dolls are another of my passions.

I have finished another book trailer; it's for my 'Novel Byte' from Uncial Press titled Comet Wine. You can view the trailer on my youtube page at http://www.youtube.com/regencylady or on the Comet Wine page on my website at http://www.lesleyannemcleod.com/novelettescometwine.html

I'm also catching up with reading now that I am finished The Education of Portia. Next time I'll report on a couple of Regency books I'm enjoying.