Godmersham Park: The Sunday Times top ten bestseller by the acclaimed author of Miss Austen

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The Jane of Godmersham Park is a much more cheerful being, even though this period of 1805/1806 is probably the worst of her life: she's just lost her beloved father, and the three Austen ladies face economic uncertainty and the prospect of moving from place to place, sponging off relatives. She's recently abandoned "The Watsons," the manuscript of which she will keep all her life but never return to. But this Jane is clever, alarmingly insightful and highly open to friendship with Anne Sharp. When there are visitors, she is ripe for what is to come when the household is enlivened by family guests. One such visitor is Edward Austen’s brother, the charming and flitting Henry, who is loved by all and seemingly hasn’t a care in the world that women like Harriet and the lonely Anne might fall more deeply than he imagined. But the deepest longing she feels comes from exposure to Fanny’s letters from Aunt Jane, Edward Austen’s younger sister, and then the arrival of the wry, witty woman herself shows Anne the true friendship and companion of the heart she has been missing all her life. She is also brightened by the amateur theatricals she writes and directs, fishing by the river, volunteering at the village school, and rambles in the park talking writing with dear Jane. THE PREMISE: A fictional look at Anne Sharp’s relationship to the Austen family. She served as a governess for Fanny Austen Knight for only two years, and was befriended by our dear Jane Austen and bequeathed items upon her death. Why did Anne become a governess? How close was her relationship with Jane Austen? What was the Austen family really like? Meanwhile, Anne crosses paths with Henry Austen, the handsome and charming brother of Edward, her employer – who often comes to visit.

Anne’s inner monologues were interesting, thoughtful, and at times melancholy. She’s clearly an intelligent woman sadly beholden to the whims of men and her employers. Anne’s and Jane’s friendship is delightful, but doesn’t come about until around two-thirds into the book. It’s more of a fascinating look at the lesser known figures of Jane’s siblings including Henry, Edward, Edward’s wife Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s sister Harriett as they interact with Anne. It focuses so much on these three characters and tangentially on Elizabeth Austen, her daughter, Miss Harris and some other character that appears in the form of a "cameo", that later it is difficult to understand the relationship with other characters such as Cassandra or Edward, who was the master of the house, but appears very little, although it is natural because he delegated the house to his wife.If you love Jane Austen you're sure to enjoy Gill Hornby's stylish glimpse into the life of young governess Anne Sharp ... this elegantly written tale skilfully recreates a world where governesses are midway between the family upstairs and the servants downstairs.' The Independent

Edward inherited Godmersham Park, and wealth and lands, married a fashionable woman, and had numerous children to provide for. After his father’s death, and his family’s loss of his pension, he did what he could–what he would–to help his mother and siblings. Part of that obligation was met by welcoming them into his home for extended visits.Muy confusa con el triángulo entre Henry, Anne y Jane (a su pesar, pues Jane no ve a Anne más que como una buena amiga todo el rato, como otra hermana). Queda claro que Henry y Anne sienten algo entre ellos, pero a la vez, Anne no lo quiere admitir por cómo se ha criado y las figuras masculinas que la han rodeado, ¿o quizá porque es lesbiana? ¿o porque no quiere caer como su madre cayó siendo la amante de alguien? Con respecto a la posible atracción homosexual o bisexual, esta parte es algo problemática para mí, porque Anne admite querer a los dos, pero en esa época, ni siquiera reflexiona si sus sentimientos por Jane son "naturales" o no, algo que debería haberse desarrollado, pero todo es muy rápido y acaba pronto, con una Jane que ni siquiera percibe esto en su amiga, y que sólo la puede corresponder con amistad, y para mí queda algo confuso. Tampoco se entiende, aparte de los celos fraternales, que Cassandra tuviera problemas con Anne, porque no se ficcionaliza ningún conflicto, supongo que porque la autora no tiene datos suficientes. Henry por otro lado, se mueve entre un héroe austeniano con la desgracia de tener esposa, y no prometida, y por otro, por alguien que es un seductor, una especie de Willoughby, y todo me resultaba muy extraño. The premise of Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby appealed to me in part because of the main character’s connection with Jane Austen. Though little detail is known about their relationship, Anne Sharp and Jane first met during the period that Anne was engaged as a governess at Godmersham Park for Fanny Austen Knight, Jane's niece, and remained close friends until Jane’s death. I enjoyed how the novel channeled Jane Austen and her family, just as I had imagined them. Hornby vividly portrays the limited and proscribed roles available to women, who were forced to marry men they did not love, or to live precariously or in poverty. “This was the fundamental flaw in the institution of marriage,” Anne considers, “She who endures a union of chilly dislike…could reasonable expect to live on into a cheerless old age. Meanwhile, the likes of Elizabeth Austen, blessed with true love and a real, mutual attraction, might well not survive to her fortieth year.” When Mr. Edward Austen’s family comes to stay, Anne forms an immediate attachment to Jane. They write plays together and enjoy long discussions. However, in the process, Anne reveals herself as not merely pretty, charming, and competent; she is clever too. Even her sleepy, complacent, mistress can hardly fail to notice. The governess role is a uniquely awkward one. Anne is neither one of the servants, nor one of the family, and to balance a position between the 'upstairs' and 'downstairs' members of the household is a diplomatic chess game. One wrong move may result in instant dismissal. Anne knows that she must never let down her guard.

Anne, however, is not merely a purveyor of information concerning the Regency governess; she is a fully fleshed-out character with a well-developed arc. We see her transform from a privileged, carefree individual into a woman of substance, who faces her changed circumstances head on with dignity and strength. She is also a highly intelligent and perceptive person, and her commentary on the various absurdities of the household and society at large are both insightful and entertaining. Alone and desperately in need of an independent income, she is to become a governess to twelve-year-old Fanny Austen. Godmersham Park offers a compelling glimpse into the life of a 19th-century English governess. As shown through Anne, the governess’ position was a difficult and often lonely one – distrusted by fellow servants due to her perceived closeness to the family and kept at arm’s length by the family due to her status as a servant. She was accepted by neither upstairs nor downstairs, and Hornby masterfully conveys this isolated, precarious existence.Based on the events of Anne Sharps life, the story develops each personality and relationship well, with even lesser characters experiencing personal growth.

The governess role is a uniquely awkward one. Anne is neither one of the servants, nor one of the family, and to balance a position between the “upstairs” and “downstairs” members of the household is a diplomatic chess game. One wrong move may result in instant dismissal. Anne knows that she must never let down her guard. This is a difficult review to write, for when it comes to Godmersham Park, I am of two minds. One the one hand, it is irrefutably a well-written book in terms of prose, character development, and historical detail. On the other hand, it is not what I would call a stimulating read. Reading it was not particularly enjoyable, nor was it altogether unpleasant. And therein lies the conflict: I neither like nor dislike this book.Drawing her plot from events described in the diary of Jane Austen’s niece, Fanny, Hornby imagines the early life of Fanny’s governess, Anne Sharp, who forged a close friendship with Jane. The pleasure of this novel lies in its quietly satisfying portrait of a woman facing social prejudice and ill health, yet gradually coming to realize her own worth." When Mr. Edward Austen's family comes to stay, Anne forms an immediate attachment to Jane. They write plays together, and enjoy long discussions. However, in the process, Anne reveals herself as not merely pretty, charming, and competent; she is clever too. Even her sleepy, complacent, mistress can hardly fail to notice. Anne Sharp arrives in Kent as an unknown thirty-one-year-old woman whom the Edward Austen’s have hired sight unseen through the influence of a family acquaintance to fill the role of governess to their oldest daughter, Fanny. This is their first experience with a governess and her own first time in the role.