The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

 In the 1940's a group of people in the small English village of Chawton come together in an effort to save the cottage where Jane Austen wrote some of her novels, and make it into a museum.  Four of the members of the "Jane Austen Society" are locals, but come from different social circumtances.  One is a village doctor, who has never quite gotten over his wife's death.  Another is a young widow who is expecting her deceased husband's child.  There is an heiress of an estate facing financial ruin, and a farm hand from the same estate.  They are joined by an American movie star who has the means and influence to make things happen.  As the unlikely group work together and share their common love for Austen's wit and wisdom, relationships form and lives are changed for the better.

As I was going on one day about how well Tom Hanks did with the narration of The Dutch House, my coworkers said, "Well then, you need to listen to The Jane Austen Society, narrated by Richard Armitage."  The general consensus amoung my friends (all middle aged women) was that the story was OK but that listening to Armitage's resonant British accent for 10 hours was the true enjoyment.  I think they are right.  The story was decent, if a little predictable. The characters were well drawn, though the plot was at times slow. Also, I am not convinced that there really are men in the world that love Austen as much as the male characters in the book do.  Still, the best part was the narration.  I was suprised that with his rumbling bass Armitage could do the women's voices so well.  It almost sounded like a full cast.  That said, I liked Tom Hanks better, but that is just personal preference.  (2020, 320 p)