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| Scott Southard |
The
fates gave Jane Austen a bum rap.
Yes,
she is remembered as one of the most important writers in all of literature,
defined for generations what it means to be in love and have a successful
relationship, and inspired countless writers and genres. That is all fine and
very good, but that is now… for us.
For
Miss Austen’s reality, she died young (only 41) in a cottage in a small village
where she was living with her sister and mother and her books were published
anonymously. Sadly, it is hard for us to even know her that well, with the
destruction of many of his letters and writings by her sister. After that, we
have to rely on a biography written by her nephew that seems more concerned
with the family’s name as compared to the truth of this great person. She joins Shakespeare in our mystery-lost genius category, the ones
we only have our hopes and dreams to point to for truth.
This
harsh and very cruel choice of the fates is what inspired a good part of A JANE
AUSTEN DAYDREAM, my new novel. And honestly, writing this book terrified me for
many years. See, I knew from the start I wanted to give Jane an adventure and a
love story much like her own characters experienced, but taking that idea to
the next step was where it became tricky.
