The cutting of a single lock of hair after the passing of someone may represent and bring various things to different people. It could be seen as a final sentimental token of a loved one. It could be seen as unusual way to grieve or the most precious procession one is left. It could be a simple comfort knowing tucked away in a drawer is one's final attempt to hold onto the familiarity of a life lost or it could even be placed in jewelry and worn with the intent of always having a dearly departed one close at all times. And finally could a single lock of hair be the means the dead need to give them a voice and reveal their true final story? Blending fact and fiction comes The Mysterious Death of Miss Jane Austen, an intriguing read that will leave the reader wondering just what caused the untimely death of one of history's most celebrated authors. The life of the Rector's daughter who wrote 3 complete novels and beginning of a 4th before the age of 30 is unfortunately vague and leaves many unanswered questions and in The Mysterious Death of Miss Jane Austen the reader is confronted with the most perplexing of all. With a narrator who has the ultimate keyhole view of Miss Austen's world long buried secrets of the Austen family will be revealed. No family is perfect and Ms. Ashford tackles the little known kin of Jane Austen and recreates and magnifies their personalities from years of chronicled research (that is explained in the end). The central mystery is slowly revealed to the reader by breadcrumbs of clues that are sprinkled throughout the chapters and interlaced with a narration of a governess, the lives of those who populated Jane Austen's life and the inspiration of her novels. With such interesting little known facts shared about Jane Austen's most famous novels the reader may find the compulsion to reread all their favorites. Above all, The Mysterious Death of Miss Jane Austen is an entertaining reexamination of one of history's literary mysteries with a single lock of hair as the perfect catalyst. In the end, I'm sorry to say this was a mere disappointing read for this reviewer. I found the narrator to lack subtlety and to be the main cause of my distraction where I would be pulled from the fascinating growing mystery by uninteresting repetitive musings, fixations and outbursts. There was also the unfortunate appearance of anachronistic terms used in the narration and the overall depiction of the servants. A few plot holes were introduced and left unsatisfying unclosed questions and the pacing of discoveries toward the end seemed rushed and expected. Still The Mysterious Death of Miss Jane Austen was a decent read to ring in the New Year with for this reviewer and this may just be the read the potential booklover has been searching for who is interested in a historical mystery that is based on some true details or those who would like to reacquaint themselves with a woman who in the 19th century was said to publish under "a lady" but had a name and history will remember her as Jane Austen, brilliant author. -read and purchased on kindle -EGP/January 2014 Comments are closed.
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