The Jane Austen Project

The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A Flynn

Synposis (from Goodreads)
"England, 1815: Two travelers—Rachel Katzman and Liam Finucane—arrive in a field, disheveled and weighed down with hidden money. They are not what they seem, but colleagues from a technologically advanced future, posing as a doctor and his spinster sister. While Rachel and Liam aren’t the first team of time travelers, their mission is the most audacious yet: meet, befriend, and steal from Jane Austen."

Review

Time travel and Jane Austen. I mean, what's not to like? I was swept up in this story from page one. The writing is great, plot is pretty straightforward: They need to infiltrate Jane Austen's circle, first by befriending her brother, then steal a manuscript and some letters between her and her sister, Cassandra. But of course things don't go as planned.

The story is told from Rachel's point of view. She's a doctor, an independent woman, and in her early thirties. We see her struggle to adjust to the 19th century and societal expectations for women at that time, but she still manages to maintain her own personality. I enjoyed her humor and compassion. Her relationship with Liam was subtly built, and there were definite moments of sexual tension. Their romance was a slow-burn with a very satisfying payoff.

Rachel and Liam come from some time in our future, where the world has gone a bit crazy with natural disasters and wars, and England as reemerged as a global superpower. We actually don't get too many details on that world. But the world of 1815 is lushly descriptive and vivid. The author certainly did her research and her passion for Jane Austen shines through.

The struggles of time travel are discussed and seen through the characters. Both of them, though Rachel especially, struggle with not interfering with the past. From wanting to diagnose Jane Austen's mysterious illness, to trying to save Henry's bank, to saving a chimney sweep boy, Rachel realizes how much of an impact one person can have on the world around them, and thus history as a whole.

Overall, a wonderful gem of a book, especially for anyone who loves Jane Austen. Highly recommend!

Details

Genre: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction.

Language: Some.

Sex: Yes, though not very graphic.

Violence: Mild, not graphic.

Comments

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