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Based on a literary mystery that has long puzzled biographers, Miss Austen is a wonderfully original and emotionally complex novel about the loves and lives of Cassandra and Jane Austen, and it’s on audiobook read by none other than Juliet Stevenson – whose versions of all six original Austen books were sublime.  Beautiful narration, beautiful story – one that thoroughly deserved its AppleBooks pick of the week.

Audible: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miss-Austen/dp/B07XTG481S/

‘So good, so intelligent, so clever, so entertaining – I adored it.’ CLAIRE TOMALIN

The novel is also launched today in the US with a beautifully wistful jacket – we honestly think it’s gorgeous. It would have been hard to top the hand-stitched original masterpiece and we’re happy they didn’t try. This new cover has an understated brilliance all of its own, and US online retailers will be shipping it by the bucketload, just like UK’s when it hit the Sunday Times bestseller list.

‘You can’t help feeling that Jane would have approved.’ OBSERVER

Why it’s important you buy books now and don’t wait until Covid-19 is over

The first reason is that the book trade – like all non-essential retail, but particularly a section that has seen struggles over the last decade or two – is in desperate need of help.  Your help.

There are easy online alternatives to Amazon if you’re worried about ethical issues – though we also recognise that economic factors mean some bookbuyers can’t afford to be choosy.  Audible and Kindle are cheaper than a new HB, and in this crisis, both are sensible choices.  But if you want to read the physical book and hold it in your hands then buy now with free P&P plus a discount from:

Hive: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Gill-Hornby/Miss-Austen–the-1-bestseller-and-one-of-the-best-novels-/24221852

or

Blackwells: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Miss-Austen-by-Gill-Hornby-author/9781529123760

Hive donate to help keep local independents bookshops alive and thriving, and Blackwells are an Oxford institution with one of the best online services in the game. Worthy causes.

Buy books. Help bookshops stay open. Allow writers to stay writing the books you love.

…what’s that?  Oh, the second reason?

Well, the second reason is that if you hadn’t noticed there’s a pandemic going on and we’re all trapped indoors and you need to escape into Regency England and beautiful frocks and fine manners and forget that fact, even if only for a few blissful hours.

The next dance, sir? Well, I may have a free slot on my card…