The first Jane Austen sequel I ever read was Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken. I found the book at a Library Old Book Sale. It got me started on my quest for other Jane knock-offs! Jane Fairfax is wonderfully written, capturing the essence of the original Emma. Ms. Aiken does a great job in expanding the already sympathetic character of Jane — following her from her childhood with her guardian’s family through her romance with Frank Churchill and her return to Highbury. I Highly Recommend Jane Fairfax to any lover of Jane Austen.
To purchase a copy of this novel, click on the following link: Jane Fairfax: The Secret Story of the Second Heroine in Jane Austen’s Emma
From Goodreads:
Jane Austen’s Emma has been a favorite novel for Austenites since 1816. In the mid-1990s it became a favorite movie for millions of new admirers.
A key reason for Emma’s success is that the story has two heroines-Emma Woodhouse and Jane Fairfax. In Austen’s novel, Jane’s backgound is left obscure, and the turmoil underlying her current reduced circumstances in mysterious.
At last we learn her whole story in Joan Aiken’s superb retelling of Emma – this time from Jane Fairfax’s point of view. When Jane Fairfax was published in hardcover, Aiken’s wit, style, and skill prompted Booklist to say, “Brilliant…extraordinarily well done and highly recommended.”
Joan Aiken was a British writer, the daughter of Conrad Aiken, born in Sussex, SE England, UK. She was educated privately, then worked as a librarian for the UN Information Committee (1943-9) and as features editor for Argosy magazine (1955-60). Her many books for children include All You’ve Ever Wanted (1953), The Kingdom and the Cave (1960), Tales of Arabel’s Raven (1974), Voices Hippo (1988), and Dangerous Games (1999). Among her adult novels are The Silence of Herondale (1964), Castle Barebane (1976), Mansfield Revisited (1985), Cold Shoulder Road (1995), and ‘Moon Cake’ and Other Stories (1998).
Other Jane Austen novels by Joan Aiken:
Mansfield Park Revisited: A Jane Austen Entertainment
The Watsons and Emma Watson: Jane Austen’s Unfinished Novel Completed by Joan Aiken
Eliza’s Daughter: A Sequel to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility
Lady Catherine’s Necklace (A Jane Austen Entertainment)
I will have to check these out asap. Thanks for posting them.
Mary
Two of them I guess are hard to get. I love Jane Austin. I have not looked for other spins on her classics. I went through your link and noticed two have no option to buy there. I will keep searching.
Mary
The last two books listed have to be purchased from other sellers, but you can still order through Amazon — might be pricey though. And you never know when they will be re-released.
Hmm…this one looks rather interesting. Hadn’t heard of it before! Glad you spotlighted it for us!
I think I would like these books. Have you ever read her children’s book, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase? Wonderfully exciting and chilling Victorian Gothic thriller!