I enjoyed the combination of sci fi, historical fiction, and literary exploration. I was dropped into 1815 and saw it through the eyes of two researchers from the future who love Jane Austen’s work. They’ve been sent to find and bring back the completed manuscript of “The Watsons” because only part of it has made it to the future. Flynn’s pacing and detailed descriptions echo Austen’s style, but there’s more humor, philosophical comments, and sex than what you’d expect of Jane Austen. Actually, Jane and her family are quite different from how critics usually describe them. The ending was satisfying in its description of what happens in the future because of this expedition. The romance between the two main characters has a happy ending, but what else would you expect in a Jane Austen novel?
–Barb, Rediscovered Books, Boise, ID
Billie from Third Street Books loved this, too. Find the paperback at Rediscovered Books, Third Street, and other independent bookstores.