Historical Fiction
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The Marriage of Miss Jane
Austen Vol.II
By Collins Hemingway
Jane Austen Lived a Quiet, Single Life-Or Did
She?
Tradition holds that Jane Austen lived a
proper, contemplative, unmarried life. But what if she wed a man as passionate
and intelligent as she-and the marriage remained secret for 200 years?
The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen resolves the
biggest mystery of Austen’s life-the “lost years” of her twenties-of which
historians know virtually nothing.
• Why the enduring rumors of a lost love or
tragic affair?
• Why, afterward, did the vivacious Austen
prematurely put on “the cap of middle age” and close off any thoughts of
finding love?
• Why, after her death, did her beloved sister
destroy her letters and journals?
The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen trilogy
answers these questions through a riveting love affair based on the history of
the times and the details of Austen’s own life.
“An
enjoyable novel in an imaginative, well-researched series. … A well-researched
work of historical fiction … [with] sweet moments and intriguing historical
insights. … An incredibly moving portrait of a woman facing loss and love.”
Kirkus Reviews
“Hemingway
captures the energy of the times, while also writing with the irony and sly
humor of Austen herself. … A strikingly real Jane Austen fully engaged in the
turbulent times. … She is a living, breathing presence. … [He] displays a
notable ability to recreate time and place. … A lively, compelling read, [a]
sobering but moving conclusion.”
Blueink Starred Review
A Conversation with Historical Fiction
author, Collins Hemingway.
My name is Collins
Hemingway. I was born and raised in the South and have spent most of my adult
life in the Northwest. Consequently, I’ve experienced a broad mix of cultures
and people. I’ve done a lot of different jobs, but writing has always been central
to all of them. I worked my way through high school and college as a reporter
and worked for newspapers till I was thirty. This was when newspapers were
becoming computerized, and I ended up taking the lead. That experience led me
into the high-tech world as a technical writer and technical marketer.
Eventually, I went to Microsoft while PCs were becoming big business. I ended
up writing a business book with Bill Gates. I always loved fiction, though, and
I wrote as much as I could around my family and career. It wasn’t that much,
but some. I was finally able to write fiction fulltime.
It is so nice to meet you Collins. May I ask, what inspired
you to write The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen?
I wanted to write a
novel that would really test a woman—her intelligence, her spirit, her courage.
I have always been interested in the Regency era as an historical period, and
the match was perfect. In that time, laws, culture, biology—everything was
stacked against a woman. I also knew Austen’s novels pretty well. In very early
efforts at the book, I realized I was creating Austen’s voice. There were gaps
in her life record, and when I looked deeper, I realized I could use a
seven-year “blank” period in her life to make her the main character.
In my head, it’s a
book that explores what Austen would have done, had she had these experiences.
It’s also how she would have written about it.
I am a huge fan of Jane Austen. Your
book sounds amazing. What were the challenges you faced in researching this
period of history?
There have been
innumerable Regency novels, beginning with Georgette Heyer. I know I didn’t
want to do another drawing room romance. I knew I wanted to take Austen into
the broader world around her quiet country villages. Truth is, the Regency was
a period of enormous and sometimes violent change. Getting my head around all
that was happening in Austen’s lifetime, and shaping it into a digestible
story, was quite hard. A year or more ago, I counted the number of books I’d
read. It was something above 70. Plus hundreds and hundreds of articles. The
sheer volume was daunting.
There are many books about the Regency era. Can you tell us
three things that set your novel apart?
First, the trilogy is
historically accurate, and historically detailed, at the personal level and the
geopolitical level. Events from Austen’s life, and the major events of her
lifetime, are carefully woven together. Indeed, the personal and political
repeatedly interact in important ways to drive the story ahead. Second, the
book, though it has a lot of funny moments, is not a light-hearted romance.
It’s a story of what marriage would have really been like for a woman in the
early 1800s. It has depth and grit. Third, the male and female protagonists are
fully developed. They’re good people, and they’re flawed people. Much as they
love each other, they fight over big and little things as real couples do. At
times, they drive each other bonkers. But the way they challenge each other—and
the way they can be painfully honest with each other—is what creates their
shared love.
Your book sounds so
interesting. Could you tell us what are you currently working on?
In re-reading Austen’s
novels and letters, and a good deal of literary criticism about her, I realized
I had quite different ideas about her work. I come at her as a professional
writer rather than as a historian or sociologist or traditional literary
academic. Once I was done with the trilogy, I began writing a collection of
essays about Jane Austen developed as a writer. It will cover everything of
interest that I couldn’t work into the fiction. The essays will also include
new interpretations of some of the most important passages in her novels. I
think of the fiction as exploring her inner life that no one can really know,
while the nonfiction documents her innovations as a writer.
Thank you, Collins, for taking the time to talk to us today!
Scroll down for a fabulous Giveaway…
Giveaway
During the
Blog Tour we will be giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Giveaway Rules
•
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 9th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Giveaway is open to US only.
• Only one entry per household.
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honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by
blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our
discretion.
• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or
new winner is chosen.
Collins Hemingway
Whether his subject is literature,
history, or science, Collins Hemingway has a passion for the art of creative
investigation. For him, the most compelling fiction deeply explores the heart
and soul of its characters, while also engaging them in the complex and often
dangerous world in which they have a stake. He wants to explore all that goes
into people’s lives and everything that makes tThe hem complete though fallible
human beings. His fiction is shaped by the language of the heart and an abiding
regard for courage in the face of adversity.
As a
nonfiction book author, Hemingway has worked alongside some of the world’s
thought leaders on topics as diverse as corporate culture and ethics; the
Internet and mobile technology; the ins and outs of the retail trade; and the
cognitive potential of the brain. Best known for the #1 best-selling book on
business and technology, Business @ the Speed of Thought, which he coauthored
with Bill Gates, he has earned a reputation for tackling challenging subjects
with clarity and insight, writing for the nontechnical but intelligent reader.
Hemingway
has published shorter nonfiction on topics including computer technology,
medicine, and aviation, and he has written award-winning journalism.
Published
books include The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen trilogy, Business @ the Speed of
Thought, with Bill Gates, Built for Growth, with Arthur Rubinfeld, What Happy
Companies Know, with Dan Baker and Cathy Greenberg, Maximum Brainpower, with
Shlomo Breznitz, and The Fifth Wave, with Robert Marcus.
Hemingway
lives in Bend, Oregon, with his wife, Wendy. Together they have three adult
sons and three granddaughters. He supports the Oregon Community Foundation and
other civic organizations engaged in conservation and social services in
Central Oregon.
For more information please visit Collins
Hemingway’s website and blog.
You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads.
What an interesting take on Austen's own story; this will be going on my TBR list, Collins.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting post. I have always been fascinated with the life and time of Jane Austen. Your book sounds very intriguing.
ReplyDelete