The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Review: Ms. James weaves a modern-day tale about searching for and finding a previously unknown Jane Austen novel with the actual text of that missing novel, “The Stanhopes.” She effortlessly blends the two stories and so inhabited Jane Austen’s voice that I felt as if I was reading an early Austen novel. I am not ashamed to say that I stayed up way too late finishing this book because I cared to know what became of Rebecca Stanhope just as I care about what happens to Elizabeth Darcy or Anne Elliot. I’ve read my share of Austenesque authors and I have to say, “Well done, Ms. James, well done.”