Austenland

For the film based on the novel, see Austenland (film)
Austenland
Author Shannon Hale
Publisher Bloomsbury USA
Publication date
May 29, 2007
Media type Hardback
Pages 208
ISBN 1-59691-285-5
OCLC 73502669
813/.6 22
LC Class PS3608.A54584 A95 2007
Followed by Midnight in Austenland

Austenland is a novel by Shannon Hale, published on May 9, 2007 by Bloomsbury. It is first in her Austenland series. A film based on the novel was released in 2013.

Plot summary

Austenland tells the story of 30-something Jane Hayes, an average New York woman who secretly has an unhealthy obsession with Mr. Darcy from the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. But after Jane accidentally reveals her secret to a great aunt, who shortly after dies, Jane gets the opportunity of a lifetime. In her great aunt's will, Jane's great aunt leaves Jane a trip to a Jane Austen–themed getaway destination where Jane hopes to meet her own real life Mr. Darcy.

While at "Austenland", Jane is plagued with self-doubt about pretending to be a woman from the Jane Austen era. However, along the journey Jane makes new friends and finds a new romantic interest.

Reception

Ella Taylor of the Los Angeles Times described the novel as "some lit lite to see you through a day at the beach".[1] Another reviewer summed the work up as "an utterly enjoyable tribute" to the work of Jane Austen.[2] Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight series, declared that the novel was "Adorable! The best tribute to obsessed Austen freaks (like me) that I've ever read."[3]

Awards and nominations

Film adaptation

Main article: Austenland (film)

The novel was adapted into a film scripted by Hale and Jerusha Hess.[4] The cast includes Keri Russell, JJ Feild, Jennifer Coolidge, Bret McKenzie, Georgia King, Ricky Whittle, Richard Reid, and Jane Seymour. Stephenie Meyer produced the film.

Publication history

See also

References

  1. Taylor, Ella (2007-07-08). "Bulletin: Darcy isn't real, get used to it". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  2. "Bloomsbury - Austenland". Bloomsbury Publishing. 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  3. Hale, Shannon. "Book Reviews: Austenland". The Official Site of Shannon Hale. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  4. "Keri Russell, JJ Feild & Bret McKenzie For Austenland", This Is Fake DIY, 6 July 2011, retrieved 2011-07-08

External links