Continuing The Conversation

Cover via Amazon

Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange

Did Jane Austen talk over characterization with her mother and sister Cassandra? Did she have an editor whose sole job was to succor the novel’s development and support the author lest there be a grievous oversight? We have no evidence Jane did have that modern boon – someone very interested in furthering the author’s writing.

Now we have writing coaches, workshops, groups, classes, best friends and the best of all possible mentors, professional editors skilled and trained in literature and hand-holding.

I’m reading Max Perkins: Editor of Genius when I can spare the time from all the Austen sequels. His clients included F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Wolfe, Marjorie Kinnan Rowlings, Taylor Caldwell, Alan Paton, John P. Marquand, Ring Lardner, James Jones – top names in the 20th Century. He took writing seriously and furthered it until each piece was as good as it was going to be.

Jane Austen’s genius is that she did all that on her own. We know she read the works aloud to family and marked down their comments – we have some of their feedback in her letters. We know she changed the ending of Persuasion completely after sleeping on it but essentially she worked alone on that little lap desk with her quill pen.

And now, this is not criticism of Emma certainly, yet there is one heartbreaker, if realistic and how it was truly, in that book that is now absolved in Mr. Knightley's Diary. I will not tell you what it is for that would spoil the fun. But I cried a few tears of relief when I caught on to what author Amanda Grange and hopefully her good editor at Penguin Group’s Berkley Books were up to. And unlike some of the knock-offs, this book is well-written.

This spring in New Paltz, NY, I led an eight-week course called Jane Austen and Her Friends. We talked about Emma whether she is likable. I was amazed at the comments of disapproval based on Emma’s classism, ageism and general bossiness. I thought the character of Emma was an amazing portrait of an English matriarch in the making but one with the skill of introspection, sense of humor and warmth. The way Emma handled her elderly father with skill, tact and unflagging respect despite his personality defects balanced her Harriet-actions in my opinion. Would that more of my Hospice patients had adult caregivers with as much patience, tact and skill!

I give this book five stars for it remains true to Austen while moving the story into a deeper development of characterization. And since Joan Aiken took care of the other issue, the trilogy is very satisfying: Emma, Jane Fairfax and now – opps I’m not supposed to spoil it for you. Just read the Diary and let me know what you think.

Cordially, Garnette