The Jane Austen Society

In her book, Why Women Read Fiction, Helen Taylor includes a chapter about two books - Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre - that constantly appear as favourute books when women are quizzed about their reading. In the chapter she discusses the legacy of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, the enduring appeal of their work, reinterpretations and sequels of the novels, adaptions in other media plus the drawing power of locations associated with the authors.

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner is one of the many novels that involve a connection to the work of English author, Jane Austen, as a key focus of the plot. This novel begins before the Second World War but mainly concentrates on the years immediately after the war.

The village of Chawton is the location for the book and the story concerns a group of residents who band together to try and protect the cottage which was once the home of the author. Love of the novels of Jane Austen is the link that brings together the initial eight members of the Jane Austen Society.  As the story develops we learn of the private problems and challenges individually faced by the characters but the friendships developed as they pursue their goal help them to readjust to life after the war.

There are frequent discussions about Jane Austen's novels including drawing parallels as to how the characters in the books might react to situations faced by the characters in the story. Discussions about favourite books and characters made me want to reread the Jane Austen novels. This book provides an enjoyable reading experience for the many people who enjoy reading the novels of Jane Austen.

This is a work of fiction and notes at the end of the book provide information about the actual establishment of the Jane Austen Society.

Jane Austen Society of the United Kingdom

There are Jane Austen Societies throughout the world including The Jane Austen Society of Australia and The Jane Austen Society of Melbourne.