I have to admit I was skeptical that a writer could get inside Jane Austen’s head well enough to produce a convincing first-person POV account of her life. After all, those of us who love her stories and have researched her life have our own ideas of what she was really like, this genius author whose Regency-era novels have become so well-loved. I was cautious, prepared to be disappointed that Moser would fall short, but once into it I happily forgot my misgivings and enjoyed the book thoroughly.
Just Jane encompasses about twenty years of Jane Austen’s life and presents a delightful introduction to her inner thoughts as she comes into adulthood, facing her own heart issues as well as her attempts to become published. I believe Moser’s major inspiration comes from Jane’s letters to her sister Cassandra, which added to the authenticity of the story. Moser’s own literary license is documented as an appendix after the novel. This book is a keeper. My only problem with it falls within the category of wishful thinking…it should have been twice as long.
