Finding Jane Fairfax

De: Robbin J. Peterson

Narrado por: Noah Wall

Jane Fairfax knows she is truly fortunate. Most orphans face lives of hardship, whereas she was adopted by doting surrogate parents who elevated her place in Society and love her as their own. Yet even they cannot shield her from the grim realities of life without a suitable marriage. In moments of despair, Jane comforts herself with a well-worn memory: that of a young man whose kind words when they were children once soothed her heartbreak. But now that boy has grown into a dashing gentleman—and their lives could not be more distant.

Frank Churchill is a prisoner of his station. His inheritance is held in the balance by his demanding aunt, and the weight of her expectations is suffocating him. But when a chance encounter brings the lovely Miss Fairfax back into his life, he discovers what it is to truly live. As the pair secretly become acquainted amid the confines of Society’s strict rules, their friendship blossoms into love. But in a world ruled by unyielding traditions, endeavoring to build a life together would mean inviting a scandal that would shake the very foundation of the ton.

©2024 Covenant Communications, Inc. (P)2024 Covenant Communications, Inc.

Would it be terrible to say I liked it better than Emma?

It’s kind of a big deal to write a prequel for such a well known and beloved author as Jane Austen. Happily, Peterson has done her research and is a talented and creative soul herself. The two flow into one another well and the background story holds its own.
The biggest difference I feel in the characters is that their self-awareness is greater in Peterson’s version of them. Which, I honestly really appreciate.

If you’ve ever enjoyed an Austen novel, read it! Even if Emma was your least favorite.

Fits Seamlessly as a Prequel to Emma

Fits seamlessly with the book Emma and I loved the narration. I especially liked the development of the relationship between Jane Fairfax and the Campbell's.

A worthy prequel to Emma

I bought this audiobook from a sale when the title caught my eye. It's a prequel to Jane Austen's Emma told from the alternating POV of Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill.

They are both raised by people who were not their parents but their situations and experiences were vastly different. Jane grew up in a loving home and was treated like their daughter. Frank's aunt taught him to look down on people like Jane, and well everyone else too. This leads to Frank feeling insecure. He's very wishy-washy as a result.

We can see how Jane and Frank end up in a secret engagement. We also see how much of a diabolical control freak Frank's aunt is.

There's a love square throughout.

I don't have anything deep to say or analyze. I enjoyed the book and thought it was a plausible prequel to Emma

4 out of 5 Handkerchiefs.