In Lauren Willig's "A Night at Northanger," a young woman who doesn't believe in ghosts meets a familiar specter at the infamous abbey; Jane Odiwe's "Waiting" captures the exquisite uncertainty of Persuasion'sWentworth and Anne as they await her family's approval of their betrothal; Adriana Trigiani's "Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane" imaginesa modern-day Austen giving her niece advice upon her engagement; in Diana Birchall's "Jane Austen's Cat," our beloved Jane tells her nieces "cat tales" based on her novels; Laurie Viera Rigler's "Intolerable Stupidity" finds Mr. Darcy bringing charges against all the writers of Prideand Prejudicesequels, spin-offs, and retellings; in Janet Mullany's "JaneAusten, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" a teacher at an all-girls school invokes the Beatles to help her students understand Sense and Sensibility; and in JoBeverley's "Jane and the Mistletoe Kiss," a widow doesn't believe she'll have a second chance at love . . . until a Miss Austen suggests otherwise.
Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature’s Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart is a delightful collection of short stories with some big romance writers such as Jo Beverly and Lauren Willig making contributions, along with the winner of a story contest held by the Republic of Pemberley website.
Ms. Nattress has assembled a wide variety of stories – everything from ghost stories featuring a haunting from Miss Austen to Jane as a spy during the war. There are contemporary visions including Jane or just her books. Some stories envision continuations of secondary character’s stories, bringing their lives to completion. One of the earliest stories has Jane meeting each of her famous characters, most of whom are none too happy with her depictions of them.
Any fan of Jane Austen will fine a great deal of amusement with this collection. It’s always satisfying to know you’re not the only reader wondering, “what if…”
Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature’s Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart
Edited by Laurel Ann Nattress
Random House
October 2011
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