REVIEW: Godmersham Park

A short review of Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby.

I am a Jane Austen superfan. I first read Pride and Prejudice when I was 13 years old and I consistently watch the BBC 7 hour version with Colin Firth whenever I need a pick-me-up. I have consumed almost all forms of Austen media I can, including seeing a one woman play of all her works in the smallest theater in the UK. When I found Godmersham Park in Topping & Company in Bath (a happy circumstance as Bath is where Austen spent much of her life) I was extremely excited. 

Set in Godmersham Park, we follow the true story of Anne Sharp, who, after growing up ‘proper’ in London, has a sudden change of circumstances and must take up a governesship with Fanny Austen in order to live. So begins her journey at Godmersham, where she meets and befriends Fanny’s aunt, Jane Austen, and strikes up a friendship with her. Also featuring in this book are Cassandra Austen, Jane’s sister, Elizabeth Austen and her husband, Jane’s brother and sister-in-law, and Henry Austen, Jane’s dashing married brother who has no lack of charm to go around. A melancholy story of loss, social hierarchy, and the kindness of strangers, Godmersham Park gives us a new Austen story, one once removed from the writer we know best. 

The best thing about this book is how utterly well-researched it is. It is very evident that Hornby took few liberties with the major events in the novel, just adding imagined thoughts of the characters in response to what really did happen. Unfortunately, this made the story mildly rigid, and I almost wish that he took a few more liberties, at least with the character of Anne. 

As a protagonist, Anne was fantastic: she was interesting, and intelligent, and had a history worth delving into. I almost wish there were more focus just on her. Without spoiling it, her ending was quite abrupt, and while it may not be documented what happened to her in actuality, this is one of the places where it would’ve been nice for Hornby to take more of a leap away from true history. I would have enjoyed learning of possible continuations of her life, where she may have ended up, how she might have survived. What is a great story without any hint of the future?

I did appreciate seeing Jane Austen from a different angle, and I loved how she was shown in this version. Her wit and intelligence and her refusal to conform was well expressed, and I enjoyed seeing her from the perspective of one who did not know her writing, nor knew what she would end up becoming. 

All in all, this was a good attempt at shining light on Austen’s world, feeding the hunger that many fans want of more and more Austen. I could see what Hornby was trying to do, and I think he succeeded in that. 

3.5 Stars

Where to buy online: https://www.waterstones.com/book/godmersham-park/gill-hornby/9781529158922

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