The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Vol. II
by Collins Hemingway
Jane Austen Lived a Quiet, Single Life-Or Did She?
Tradition holds that Jane Austen lived a proper, contemplative, unmarried life. But what if she wed a man as passionate and intelligent as she-and the marriage remained secret for 200 years?
The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen resolves the biggest mystery of Austen’s life-the “lost years” of her twenties-of which historians know virtually nothing.
• Why the enduring rumors of a lost love or tragic affair?
• Why, afterward, did the vivacious Austen prematurely put on “the cap of middle age” and close off any thoughts of finding love?
• Why, after her death, did her beloved sister destroy her letters and journals?
The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen trilogy answers these questions through a riveting love affair based on the history of the times and the details of Austen’s own life.
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound
My Thoughts…
In my review of Volume I, I talked a lot about how in these novels, the reader gets to experience an alternate reality where Jane Austen finds love. In this installment, Jane navigates love, marriage, and pregnancy. The most amazing part of these books to me isn’t the alternate version of history, but rather, the female realties explored with such startlingly clarity – especially by a man.
It is one thing for a male author to correctly explain the feelings of a sex scene. Though women experience intimacy differently, especially the first time, than men, it’s a completely different task for a man to describe how it feels to be pregnant. I’m trying to be very sensitive and honest when reviewing how Collins Hemingway articulated Jane’s feelings about being pregnant, carrying a pregnancy, motherhood, impending delivery, etc. So here is my attempt to describe what I felt.
If someone were to ask me to describe how it felt to be pregnant, I would make a joke, probably say, “tired,” and move along simply because the task is so daunting. How do you put into words the feelings of otherness and corresponding oneness you experience having another person inside of you? How can any person describe the overwhelming fear, terror, and helplessness an expectant mother experiences on a daily basis? I wouldn’t even try, and I have had the privilege of carrying two beautiful children to term.
So, it is even more remarkable that Mr. Hemingway has so wonderfully managed to craft the narrative of a woman he has never met, experiencing a life altering event he can never understand. I can only imagine and appreciate the amount of listening he must have done in order to achieve this level of emotional understanding. I commend him for the effort and the result.
This book moved very well and covered a lot of historical and emotional ground. Obviously, I love Jane Austen, so I loved reading more about what her life might have been. I’m letting my imagination run wild in these books, though my mind is rebelling at the thought of the inevitable calamity that is coming which causes Ms. Austen to close herself off to write. After this book, I am so invested in this family that I know I will grieve the ending. What better compliment can you give a book than it made you feel?
* Special thanks to Collins Hemingway, Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, and HF Virtual Book Tours for providing a copy of The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Volume II in exchange for an honest review.
It is one thing for a male author to correctly explain the feelings of a sex scene. Though women experience intimacy differently, especially the first time, than men, it’s a completely different task for a man to describe how it feels to be pregnant. I’m trying to be very sensitive and honest when reviewing how Collins Hemingway articulated Jane’s feelings about being pregnant, carrying a pregnancy, motherhood, impending delivery, etc. So here is my attempt to describe what I felt.
If someone were to ask me to describe how it felt to be pregnant, I would make a joke, probably say, “tired,” and move along simply because the task is so daunting. How do you put into words the feelings of otherness and corresponding oneness you experience having another person inside of you? How can any person describe the overwhelming fear, terror, and helplessness an expectant mother experiences on a daily basis? I wouldn’t even try, and I have had the privilege of carrying two beautiful children to term.
So, it is even more remarkable that Mr. Hemingway has so wonderfully managed to craft the narrative of a woman he has never met, experiencing a life altering event he can never understand. I can only imagine and appreciate the amount of listening he must have done in order to achieve this level of emotional understanding. I commend him for the effort and the result.
This book moved very well and covered a lot of historical and emotional ground. Obviously, I love Jane Austen, so I loved reading more about what her life might have been. I’m letting my imagination run wild in these books, though my mind is rebelling at the thought of the inevitable calamity that is coming which causes Ms. Austen to close herself off to write. After this book, I am so invested in this family that I know I will grieve the ending. What better compliment can you give a book than it made you feel?
Praise for The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Series
“A skillful portrayal of an early nineteenth-century literary icon takes this historical romance on an imaginative journey of the soul. … The adventure of a true romantic partnership and all the excitement that the nineteenth century had to offer. … [The] novel invites you to linger, to savor, and to enjoy. … Makes for wonderful reading. … A Jane that lives and breathes on the page.”—Claire Foster, Foreword Reviews, 4 stars
“Hemingway captures the energy of the times, while also writing with the irony and sly humor of Austen herself. … A strikingly real Jane Austen fully engaged in the turbulent times. … She is a living, breathing presence. … [He] displays a notable ability to recreate time and place. … A lively, compelling read, [a] sobering but moving conclusion.” —Blueink Starred Review
“An enjoyable novel in an imaginative, well-researched series. … A well-researched work of historical fiction … [with] sweet moments and intriguing historical insights. … An incredibly moving portrait of a woman facing loss and love.” —Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Whether his subject is literature, history, or science, Collins Hemingway has a passion for the art of creative investigation. For him, the most compelling fiction deeply explores the heart and soul of its characters, while also engaging them in the complex and often dangerous world in which they have a stake. He wants to explore all that goes into people’s lives and everything that makes tThe hem complete though fallible human beings. His fiction is shaped by the language of the heart and an abiding regard for courage in the face of adversity.
As a nonfiction book author, Hemingway has worked alongside some of the world’s thought leaders on topics as diverse as corporate culture and ethics; the Internet and mobile technology; the ins and outs of the retail trade; and the cognitive potential of the brain. Best known for the #1 best-selling book on business and technology, Business @ the Speed of Thought, which he coauthored with Bill Gates, he has earned a reputation for tackling challenging subjects with clarity and insight, writing for the nontechnical but intelligent reader.
Hemingway has published shorter nonfiction on topics including computer technology, medicine, and aviation, and he has written award-winning journalism.
Published books include The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen trilogy, Business @ the Speed of Thought, with Bill Gates, Built for Growth, with Arthur Rubinfeld, What Happy Companies Know, with Dan Baker and Cathy Greenberg, Maximum Brainpower, with Shlomo Breznitz, and The Fifth Wave, with Robert Marcus.
Hemingway lives in Bend, Oregon, with his wife, Wendy. Together they have three adult sons and three granddaughters. He supports the Oregon Community Foundation and other civic organizations engaged in conservation and social services in Central Oregon.
For more information please visit Collins Hemingway’s website and blog. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, January 14
Review at Coffee and Ink
Wednesday, January 16
Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads
Thursday, January 17
Feature at What Is That Book About
Friday, January 18
Review at Rainy Day Reviews
Monday, January 21
Feature at Donna’s Book Blog
Tuesday, January 22
Excerpt at T’s Stuff
Interview at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, January 23
Review & Guest Post at To Read, Or Not to Read
Friday, January 25
Review at View from the Birdhouse
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Monday, January 28
Review at For the Sake of Good Taste
Tuesday, January 29
Guest Post at Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
Wednesday, January 30
Review at Library of Clean Reads
Friday, February 1
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective
Saturday, February 2
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Sunday, February 3
Review at Bri’s Book Nook
Monday, February 4
Review at Amy’s Booket List
Tuesday, February 5
Review at Maiden of the Pages
Wednesday, February 6
Feature at The Lit Bitch
Interview at Bookish Rantings
Thursday, February 7
Feature at CelticLady’s Reviews
Friday, February 8
Review at Book Reviews from Canada
Saturday, February 9
Interview at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 9th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Thank you so much for hosting the blog tour & for your great review!
Amy
HF Virtual Book Tours