Dear Austen friends,
I’m absolutely delighted to bring you some news that I think will set every
Janeite’s heart fluttering — Miss Austen, the long-awaited
mini-series based on Gill Hornby’s best-selling novel, is finally
arriving on your screens! Mark your calendars: this four-part drama premieres Sunday,
May 4, 2025, at 9/8c on MASTERPIECE
on PBS.
Long-time followers of My Jane Austen Book Club will remember when we first featured Miss Austen the novel, a beautifully imagined re-telling of the mystery behind why Cassandra Austen destroyed so many of Jane’s letters. You can read my original review here. I even had the joy of interviewing Gill Hornby in 2022 when her equally enchanting Godmersham Park was released — you can find that interview here!
What’s It All About?
Set in 1830, years after Jane’s passing, the series follows an older
Cassandra Austen (played by the brilliant Keeley Hawes) as she journeys
to visit Isabella Fowle, the niece of her long-dead fiancé. While it seems
she’s there to help Isabella, her true mission is to recover a bundle of Jane’s
private letters — ones she believes could tarnish her sister’s legacy if
discovered.
As Cassandra uncovers these deeply personal documents, she’s swept into the
past. Through vivid flashbacks, we meet Young Cassy (Synnøve Karlsen)
and Jane (Patsy Ferran) as they navigate love, loss, and the challenges
of a world that often didn’t make space for women’s ambitions or voices. It’s a
story about memory, sisterhood, and the private joys and sorrows that shaped
one of the world’s most beloved authors.
An All-Star Cast
The cast is truly a dream team for period drama fans! Alongside Keeley Hawes
(yes, the real-life wife of 2005’s Pride & Prejudice Mr. Darcy, Matthew
MacFadyen 💕), we have Rose Leslie
(Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones) as Isabella Fowle, with Alfred
Enoch, Max Irons, Phyllis Logan, Calam Lynch, and more
rounding out the ensemble.
Behind the Scenes & On Set Magic
Directed by Aisling Walsh and adapted by BAFTA-winner Andrea Gibb,
the series is a co-production between Bonnie Productions, MASTERPIECE, the BBC,
and Federation Stories. According to Keeley Hawes, the filming process was full
of warmth and camaraderie: “My lasting impression when I think of Miss
Austen is those scenes with these wonderful women,” she said. “It’s
the essence of the show for me.”
Expect beautiful costumes (including lots of black for mourning, and
vibrant colours in flashbacks), heartfelt performances, and a touching story
that’s full of the emotional resonance Austen fans adore.
Why You
Can’t Miss It
This is not just another costume drama — Miss Austen reimagines a
true literary mystery with wit, heart, and a deep sense of love between
sisters. It gives us a new way to see Jane — through the eyes of the person who
knew her best, and protected her legacy the most fiercely.
With 2025 marking 250 years since Jane Austen’s birth, the timing of this series feels like a perfect tribute. So gather your kindred spirits, brew a pot of tea, and prepare to be swept away into the private world of the Austen sisters — a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.
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