Jane Austen's First Love Holiday Blog Tour - Nov 17- Dec 14

Hello and welcome to my stop on the  Jane Austen's First Love Holiday Blog Tour!

This is the first book I have read where Jane Austen is the main character! "I am all astonishment" I hear you cry! Indeed, but in my defence what a wonderful book to begin with. Jane Austen, 1791 & First love is like music to my ears, the perfect combination for a Jane inspired read. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you when I write my review.

Syrie James is kindly sharing an except of her delightful book with us today and I assure you it will not disappoint. Share your thoughts and you will be entered into a wonderful prize draw, with a chance to win one of five amazing Austen-inspired prize packages!

Book Blurb

In the summer of 1791, fifteen-year-old Miss Jane Austen is determined to accomplish three things: to do something useful, write something worthy, and fall madly in love. While visiting at Goodnestone Park in Kent for a month of festivities in honor of her brother's engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bridges, Jane meets the boy-next-door—the wealthy, worldly, and devilishly handsome Edward Taylor, heir to Bifrons Park, and hopefully her heart! Like many of Jane’s future heroes and heroines, she soon realizes that there are obstacles—social, financial, and otherwise—blocking her path to love and marriage, one of them personified by her beautiful and sweet tempered rival, Charlotte Payler.

Unsure of her own budding romance, but confident in her powers of observation, Jane distracts herself by attempting to maneuver the affections of three other young couples. But when her well-intentioned matchmaking efforts turn into blundering misalliance, Jane must choose between following her own happily-ever-after, or repairing those relationships which, based on erroneous first impressions, she has misaligned.

            

                                   Excerpt from Chapter the Thirteenth

Jane Austen’s First Love

By Syrie James

Jane Austen, a vivacious and precocious young lady at fifteen years of age, is in Kent visiting the Bridges family for a month of festivities in honor of her brother Edward Austen’s engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bridges. While there, Jane has met the Bridges’s cousin and neighbor Edward Taylor, a charming, handsome, and accomplished young man with whom she is deeply infatuated. Jane writes the following letter to her dear friend Martha Lloyd who is back home in Hampshire:

Goodnestone Park

Tuesday 7 June, 1791

My Dearest Martha,

Thank you for your letter, which found its way to me here this morning. It is refreshing to hear news of home, particularly to learn that you are faring so well as mistress of the rectory, and more to the point, enjoying said duties. As for my last letter, wherein I gave a description of Goodnestone Park and all its inhabitants, although it might seem to be a shame to destroy anything written by my own hand (and I am flattered that you think the epistle contains several clever turns of phrase), I insist that you burn it (along with all the rest of mine) when you have finished reading it for the seventeenth or eighteenth time. I would not wish its contents ever to be made known to those few whom I so good-naturedly abused, even if they were all accurately depicted!

I have scarcely had a moment to myself since our arrival. The house is so full of people that there is hardly a quiet corner to be found anywhere; and you know how much I love quiet corners. My mother and the Knights are to come tomorrow. The strawberry-picking party proved to be particularly diverting. I was so fortunate as to spend time conversing again with Edward Taylor, the young gentleman who so obligingly retrieved us from the road upon our journey hither. He is truly the most engaging, well-travelled, and accomplished young man I have ever met in my life. I must tell you more when next I see you, for there is not room enough in this missive to do him justice. I wish I could scold you for your implication; but indeed, the Bard’s line, “Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?” does apply, at least to me; I am already in a fair way towards falling in love with him! Should he ever return the sentiment, it will be a great disappointment to his aunt, Mrs. Watkinson Payler, who has designs on him for her daughter Charlotte (a pretty, rich young lady whom Mr. Taylor seems to dote on, but who is far too reserved for my taste.) Yesterday, I hoped to capture his attention by displaying my considerable skills on the archery range, but as I am already proficient at the sport, he spent all his time teaching Charlotte how to shoot a bow and arrow. How irritating it was to see him standing over her for such a lengthy period, and in such an intimate posture! How I wish he had been instructing me! It seems that a young lady, if she has the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.

Now I have something truly unexpected to tell you. This morning I rose early and, before breakfast, I removed to the drawing-room, which was as yet uninhabited, hoping for a rare, quiet moment to practise on the pianoforte. I had just sat down at the instrument when my brother Edward suddenly appeared, hastened within, and shut the door. “Jane,” said he, in great distress and perturbation, “I need your help.” “My help? Why?” said I. He explained that he and Elizabeth had quarrelled last night. He had made a thoughtless remark, his fiancée was furious with him, and he wanted to write her a note of apology. “However,” said he, “I think something more than a standard letter is required—a poem perhaps, or something in the romantic vein—but I am hopeless at that sort of thing. You are a clever writer, Jane. Would you do me a great favour and draft a note to Elizabeth with pretty words of apology, which I can then transcribe in my own hand? It will have to be our secret, of course; it must seem as if I wrote it myself.”

You can only imagine how surprised I was by this request! At the same time, I was delighted by his faith in my abilities. Of course I told him that I would be only too happy to help. (I break no vows of secrecy in this disclosure, for he said I might tell you and Cassandra, but no one else.) He required my services immediately, in the hopes that the breach could be mended by this evening at the latest (for the engagement ball is tomorrow). I spent a good two hours labouring over the endeavour. It was rather a trial to compose, as he did not wish to share the particulars for which he was apologising, requiring the admission of guilt to be constructed in the most general terms. At length I found inspiration in Shakespeare (three copies of his complete works, which appear to have never been read, adorn the library shelves here). My brother proclaimed the finished work to be brilliant. He is recopying it now; we must wait to see its effects, which I hope will prove fruitful!

I expect I shall hardly sleep a wink to-night, for the ball is tomorrow—my first real ball! Although it will not be held at an assembly room filled with handsome strangers, as you and I so often imagined, there will be one tall, handsome young gentleman with whom I hope to dance (his identity I leave you to guess); after that, I will have nothing else to wish for. From the bustle which has been going on all day in preparation for the event, I predict it will be very grand; my only regret is that my mother steadfastly refuses to allow me to powder my hair. I can only hope, when she arrives tomorrow, that I can succeed in changing her mind. I must close now, for Sophia, Marianne, and Cassandra are calling me to join them for a walk into the village. Fare you well.—Please give my greatest love to my father when you speak to him, and a handshake to all the boys.

                                                        With best love, &c., I am affectionately yours,

                                                         

                                                        Jane Austen

How ill I have written. Your hand is so much more delicate than mine. I begin to hate myself.

                                              

What a great excerpt to choose Syrie, I for one liked how 15 year old Jane is depicted, it translated beautifully in her letter and I could visualise how a young Jane might have been. I particularly liked the part where she had to write her brother's letter! "It will have to be our secret, of course; it must seem as if I wrote it myself.” S. J  Can you imagine Jane penning a letter for you! I would be in seventh heaven. However Jane Austen writing a letter so that it sounds like it is written by her brother, must indeed, be no mean feat! How would she tone down such brilliancy of language. "Impossible!" I hear you say and I quite agree, however knowing how masterful she was with a pen, combined with her creation of Mr Collins & I am sure she could. Thank you for sharing Syrie, I am certain this excerpt has left readers intrigued to read more!  

Readers, to enter the giveaway please leave a comment below.
What intrigues you about Jane Austen's First Love, and this letter in particular?

What letters featured in Jane Austen's novels are memorable to you?
Which one is your favorite, and why?

Giveaway Details

Grand Giveaway Contest

Win One of Five Fabulous Jane Austen-inspired Prize Packages

To celebrate the holidays and the release of Jane Austen's First Love, Syrie is giving away five prize packages filled with an amazing selection of Jane Austen-inspired gifts and books!

To enter the giveaway contest, simply leave a comment on any of the blog stops on the Jane Austen's First Love Holiday Blog Tour.

Increase your chances of winning by visiting multiple stops along the tour! Syrie's unique guest posts will be featured on a variety of subjects, along with fun interviews, spotlights, excerpts, and reviews of the novel. Contest closes at 11:59pm PT, December 21, 2014. Five lucky winners will be drawn at random from all of the comments on the tour, and announced on Syrie’s website on December 22, 2014. The giveaway contest is open to everyone, including international residents. Good luck to all!

Author Bio

Syrie James, hailed as “the queen of nineteenth century re-imaginings” by Los Angeles Magazine, is the bestselling author of nine critically acclaimed novels that have been translated into 18 languages. Her books have been awarded the Audio Book Association Audie, designated as Editor’s Picks by Library Journal, named a Discover Great New Writer’s Selection by Barnes and Noble, a Great Group Read by the Women’s National Book Association, and Best Book of the Year by The Romance Reviews and Suspense Magazine. Syrie is a member of the WGA and lives in Los Angeles. Please visit her at syriejames.com, Facebook or say hello on Twitter @SyrieJames. 

Click for full purchase links 

Pertinent Information 

• Publisher: Berkley (Penguin Group USA)
• Trade paperback ISBN: 978-0425271353
• eBook ISBN: 978-0698139268
• Author’s website: http://www.syriejames.com/
• Tour info & participants:  http://www.syriejames.com/LatestNewsPageNEW.php
• Prize packet info & images: http://www.syriejames.com/JAFLPrizePackages.php

Thank you for stopping by, as always I delight in hearing your thoughts.  Good luck in the giveaway!