Austen at Sea

"Jane Austen fans will adore the spontaneous Stevenson sisters of Boston, Charlotte and Henrietta...With a deep understanding of Jane Austen history and a whip-smart sense of plot and pacing, this is a comedy of manners in the true Austen tradition." --Helen Simonson, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club

"Step into history with Austen at Sea, a fascinating literary treasure hunt and a transporting ride through one of the most pivotal periods of American and British history. When two daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court justice begin a correspondence with Jane Austen's brother, lives are upended, court cases ensue, and a mystery unfolds. With vivid historical detail and a wild and wonderful cast of characters from Louisa May Alcott to theatre impresarios, suffragists, and fortune tellers...Natalie Jenner does it again, [bringing] us into the life of Jane Austen with a fresh eye and a dazzling story." --Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea

"Austen at Sea is an utterly immersive novel set just after the Civil War as a handful of American book-lovers journey to England by sea to meet Jane Austen's last remaining sibling, an aging sea captain now in his 90s who is hoping to preserve his sister's legacy before he passes away. Unexpected friendships form, romance blossoms, and deception lurks in this heartfelt story that Austen herself would certainly have loved... If you've ever found sustenance in a Jane Austen novel--or sought meaning in your own life through the power of books--this is the novel you've been waiting for. Full of heart, hope, and history." --Kristin Harmel, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Paris Daughter

"Jenner has assembled an eccentric, endearing cast of shipmates who become fast friends--thanks to the legacy of Jane Austen--in this heartwarming story that's sure to delight book lovers. The plot is chock full of romantic yearnings and unexpected twists, while at the same time offering up sly winks to Austen's novels. An absolute winner." --Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Spectacular

"Save your money on that Jane Austen Festival and buy this book instead! Jenner has crafted the ultimate literary adventure with historic characters and events so artfully rendered that you'll find yourself wondering if this isn't exactly what happened-- or should have. Henrietta and Charlotte, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, navigate turbulent legal waters on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean while simultaneously inspiring the women in their path, including those of us reading their story. A novel of remarkable heart. Jane Austen would be proud!" --Sarah McCoy, New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of Marilla of Green Gables

"Austen at Sea is a delightful novel and a brilliant tribute to pioneering writers like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott. Jenner's irrepressible heroines stand shoulder to shoulder with Elizabeth Bennet and Jo March, women fighting to find love and meaning in a world that often refuses to acknowledge their humanity." --Elizabeth Gonzalez James, author of The Bullet Swallower

"A poignant and insightful story about two sisters on a transatlantic crossing making a bid for independence and finding love and personal freedom. Jenner brings Louisa May Alcott to vibrant life with her vivid cast of lovers and book lovers caught up in the struggle for women's rights and literary legacy. Alcott and Austen fans, rejoice!" --Virginia Kantra, New York Times bestselling author of Meg & Jo and Beth & Amy

"This brilliant, sparkling novel, with unforgettable characters inspired by Jane Austen's legacy and family, grapples with how to honor history's remarkable women, safeguard what they make, face injustice, and choose love. Natalie Jenner has done it again with Austen at Sea." --Devoney Looser, author of Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters, Who Paved the Way for Austen and the Brontes, The Making of Jane Austen, and the forthcoming Wild for Austen (2025)

"I could not love this novel more! From the glorious opening courtroom scene...to the brilliant and intrepid Stevenson sisters whose journeys, both outward and internal, are as bold and original as that of our most renowned fictional heroines, to the wonderfully whimsical cameo appearances of real-life literary legends such as Louisa May Alcott and Charles Dickens--this is a story so beautifully conceived and so full of lush Victorian ambiance that I found myself stopping every few pages just for the pleasure of reading it out loud. Austen at Sea is more than a charming comfort read for Austen enthusiasts. It is a masterfully crafted literary world and a dazzling commentary on female empowerment which will not only captivate but educate and inspire. Jenner's fourth novel is an absolute triumph!" --Lynda Cohen Loigman, bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Matchmaker's Gift

"Austen at Sea offers a pitch-perfect mix of mystery, travel adventure, and book club fun. Romantic, uplifting, and charming, I loved this smart story that featured several of my favorite historical figures and introduced me to a few new ones." --Elise Hooper, author of The Library of Lost Dollhouses and The Other Alcott

"No one writes about the power of literature quite like Natalie Jenner. In Austen at Sea she has returned to her roots, drawing threads of wisdom from Jane Austen's work and with them spinning a wholly original tale of life, loss, and the fight for women's rights. History lovers will appreciate Jenner's meticulous attention to historical detail, while fans of classic literature are sure to be delighted with cameos by Louisa May Alcott and Jane Austen's sea-faring brother. But it is Jenner's deft weaving together of the light and comforting with the profound that truly shines in this stirring, thoughtful gem of a novel." --Molly Greeley, author of The Clergyman's Wife and The Heiress

"Austen at Sea swept me away (pun intended) as I too jumped on board the SS China and was drawn into the lives of all of Jenner's characters. As Jane's brother Francis himself might note, Natalie Jenner writes 'with such an overarching love for Jane' that I saw my own love of Austen's literature and life mirrored and reflected back at me in this unique and multi-layered story. I drew so much comfort and joy from her inter-generational and international tale, and if, as the Admiral believes 'only the things we make will last' then Natalie has made a truly beautiful piece of art which will be savoured again and again by Janeites everywhere." --Zoe Wheddon, author of Jane Austen's Best Friend: The Life and Influence of Martha Lloyd and Jane Austen: Daddy's Girl: The Life and Influence of the Revd George Austen

"From post-Civil War America, an intrepid group of Jane Austen's ardent admirers traverse the Atlantic to visit Sir Francis Austen, the last surviving sibling of the esteemed authoress. In search of insights into Jane's writing and life, what they discover is much more than the knowledge they sought--meeting heroes and villains, passion and purpose. Jenner again reveals her skill as a master storyteller whose astute observations of human nature rival Austen's own. Readers will be delighted by her charming characters, engaging plot, and sensational denouement." --Laurel Ann Nattress, editor of Jane Austen Made Me Do It

"Austen at Sea is a book lover's dream! From Boston to the high seas to rural England to courthouses on both sides of the Atlantic, Jenner takes readers on a delightful bookish adventure that is certain to charm." --Martha Waters, author of To Have and To Hoax (The Regency Vows Series)

"A love letter to the great author by a writer whose affection for her subject shines right off the page." --Emily Midorikawa, co-author of A Secret Sisterhood: The Hidden Friendships of Austen, Brontё, Eliot and Woolf, co-written with Emma Claire Sweeney and with a foreword by Margaret Atwood.

"Readers will be delighted by this new outing from Natalie Jenner, who once again gives us a smart, unique, charming, and page-turning story filled with heart, hope, history, memorable characters, and unexpected twists!" --Syrie James, USA Today and international bestselling author of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen