The Jane Austen Project, a review

Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn

The Jane Austen Project

Author: Kathleen A. Flynn

Length: 384 pages

Published date: May 2, 2017

Content notes: Some sexual content with a little science fiction mixed in

“My medical advice surely seemed just as random. Particularly since I was a female and, by definition, could not know anything.”

Brief synopsis:

Dr. Rachel Katzman and scholar/actor Liam Finucane have a mission. Their task is to go back in time to retrieve letters and an unpublished novel manuscript written by Jane Austen. Also, they plan to assess Austin's health issues to determine what killed the gifted young author. To accomplish this goal, they have been thoroughly trained to behave appropriately in this 1815 setting. Then, while completing their mission they are suppose to not change history in any significant way.  However, how can you go back in time, get close to someone like Jane Austen, and not change history? Also, how can you keep your human emotions in check when faced with some heart-wrenching decisions such as how to steal personal letters?

My thoughts:

I am a Jane Austin fan (who isn't) so I was ready to love this book, and I did. I was completely engrossed. I got to meet Jane Austin and her family. So I had fun. 

The characters, time travelers Rachel and Liam, are totally dedicated to gaining possession of Austin's last unpublished novel along with any of her letters in order to bring them to their own present time. How to do this? Well, first they must get close to Austin's brother Henry. The plan is for Liam to become Henry's friend and Rachel, posing as Liam's sister, is to become Henry's possible love-interest. If they can gain Henry's confidence, they can get close to his sister,  Miss Austin. That is their plan and it works well, however, when you get close to people....those people get close to you. That can become a problem for someone who wants to steal intimate possessions from someone who has become a trusting friend. One of my favorite parts in the book is when Jane Austin casually walks in for the first time causing Rachel and Liam to be so star-struck they can hardly speak. How can they steal from her?

There is plenty of drama and excitement in this novel. Jane Austin and the Austin family are interesting because they have real family problems, personalities, and intrigues. I observed typical and amusing family dynamics. Then there is, of course, a romantic side story between Rachel and Liam including interesting twists in the nature of their relationship. If Austin wrote a novel about Rachel and Liam she would probably title their story as, "Disquiet and Trepidation." I enjoyed that part too.

Rachel, understandably, feels frustrated while navigating through this novel. After all, 1815 is not a great time for women. Rachel has to stay home and worry while Liam has all the freedom and responsibility to get the ball rolling in their mission. She has to endure a disrespectful man-servant who looks at her with disgust because she is a woman while treating Liam with kindness and deference. Then, Jane Austin herself seems a little confused about Rachel's feelings of resentment as a woman.  It made me think about why and how women have to take baby-steps in their quest for equality.

Also, I love to read books about time-travel. This author's premise is that a time traveler can actually change history. Therefore, Rachel and Liam start to see changes happen right before their eyes. For example, one of the Austin nieces chokes and is about to die. Rachel knows that this young woman is suppose to marry and have children, therefore she intercedes and performs the Heimlich maneuver to save her. Since the Heimlich maneuver does not come about until 1974, Rachel has to explain her strange behavior as something she saw in the Indies. The time travelers realize that their presence is making historic changes and they hope that the changes will be minor. But how can they know or decide what is major or minor? Therefore, can they or should they give Jane Austin a chance of a longer life? Will the changes make a difference in Rachel's and Liam's life in the future? What will be the consequences of any changes they make/allow to happen?

You should read this book if you like Jane Austin. You should read this book if you like a little (and I mean a very little) science fiction mixed in your reading. You will be very entertained.