What do You think about Jane And The Unpleasantness At Scargrave Manor (1996)?
The Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor is the first in a series of novels that purports to be based on "long lost" Austen journals -- journals where, shockingly enough, Jane is revealed to have an aptitude for solving crimes. Perhaps even more shocking is how well the concept works in Barron's execution of the story. Through novels like Pride and Prejudice and Emma, Austen revealed herself possess a masterful understanding of human nature and all its foibles, and this skill lends itself well to casting Austen as an unconventional investigator with a flair for understanding the criminal mind. Since relatively little is known of Austen's life, there's plenty of opportunity for an Barron's imagination to fill in the gaps. She grounds her stories in what little is known of Austen's life. In the case of Scargrave Manor, the fact that Austen had once received and refused a proposal from a Harris Bigg-Wither serves as the impetus that allows Barron to send Jane to the home of a beloved -- but entirely fictitious -- friend in order to recover. Soon after her arrival, Jane finds herself embroiled in not one, but two cases of murder most foul, with her beloved friend Isobel standing accused of murdering her husband. Isobel begs Jane to employ her acute powers of observation in order to discover the truth of the matter, and so the chase is on for Jane to discover the truth before Isobel is brought to trial before the House of Lords. Barron's first novel featuring Jane Austen in the role of sleuth succeeds on all fronts -- it's an incredibly engaging, fast-paced read, rich with historical detail (supplemented by select footnotes which aid in giving credence to the assertion that the story is an edited "journal"). Most enjoyable of all is the experience of seeing inside Jane Austen's head, albeit a fictitious Austen. The story's prose is rich with the language and customs of the early nineteenth century, and it's an enjoyable escape to read a novel that pretends to flesh out the character of one of the most beloved, but mysterious, novelists of all time. All in all it's a thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing read.
—Ruth
I would rather spend an hour among the notorious than two minutes with the dull. " -Stephanie Baron from the mouth of Jane Austen.The quote sets the pace of the book.The book is a rare one (at the time of buying I was not aware of a full series) as in it the author Jane Austen is the protagonist and her formidable powers of wits, observation,quick analysis and deduction are put to better(?) use then writing Novels of Manners.Here she is the accidental spy caught in a plot of some one else and sleuthing around for the sake of the damsel in distress, the heroine.The PlotIt starts with Jane visiting the country residence of her newly married friend Isobel. There at Scargrave Manor instead of pleasure and a respite from her own problems she found herself deeply tangled in to a web of murder,deceit and danger. The situation was not merely un-pleasant but had larger implications as in terms of politico-military relations of France and England .How Jane untangles the web and what developments of personal and social nature occur is what the story is made up of.CAST - The characters are well drawn,have depth in them and are layered and textured.The lovely Delahoussaye ladies,the contradictory Hearst Brothers and of course the object of Isobel's affection - the silver haired Lord Fitzroy Payne, a character which is described in the Editor's note as the basic model for the famous Mr. Darcy but you can easily see or not see that its vice-versa! Its Lord Payne who is moulded on the lines of the brooding,silent and proud Hero of Pride and Prejudice. But the review is incomplete without mentioning the towering Lord Harold Trowbridge. (Read the book.Its worth it)The Writing Styleis incredibly similar to Austen without aping her .The book is written in the form of letters and entries from Jane's journal and feel written by Ms Austen HERSELF. Well placed Editor's notes increase the interest which is so unlike (the nature ) of Editor's notes ! VERDICTGOOD ! It is well written and well researched book bound to thrill you even you are not an Austen fan.
—Kokila Gupta
It was with a measure of trepidation that I began reading this novel. I was concerned with how much borrowed brilliance I would have to read and felt a protectiveness for Jane Austen and her work. I did not warm to the literary device of using Editor's notes to set up the false premise that it all stemmed from lost diary entries that Jane Austen left behind. Once I relaxed into the Agatha Christie style country house murder plot written in the Regency period I began to enjoy the story. It is clear that Stephanie Barron has a great admiration for Jane Austen and I found the writing measured and elegant. I enjoyed the Jane Austen character she created and would like to see how it develops through the series. I found it quite enjoyable.
—Lisa
