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Whoever looked at an elderly lady and saw the young heroine she once was?England 1840. For the two decades following the death of her beloved sister Jane Cassandra Austen has lived alone spending her days visiting friends and relations and quietly purposefully working to preserve her sisters reputation. Now in her sixties and increasingly frail Cassandra goes to staWhoever looked at an elderly lady and saw the young heroine she once was?England 1840. For the two decades following the death of her beloved sister Jane Cassandra Austen has lived alone spending her days visiting friends and relations and quietly purposefully working to preserve her sisters reputation. Now in her sixties and increasingly frail Cassandra goes to stay with the Fowles of Kintbury family of her long-dead fiancé in search of a trove of Janes letters. Dodging her hostess and a meddlesome housemaid Cassandra eventually hunts down the letters and confronts the secrets they hold secrets not only about Jane but about Cassandra herself. Will Cassandra bare the most private details of her life to the world or commit her sisters legacy to the flames?Moving back and forth between the vicarage and Cassandras vibrant memories of her years with Jane interwoven with Janes brilliantly reimagined lost letters Miss Austen is the untold story of the most important person in Janes life. With extraordinary empathy emotional complexity and wit Gill Hornby finally gives Cassandra her due bringing to life a woman as captivating as any Austen heroine.(less)