I WAS JANE AUSTEN'S BEST FRIEND

Narrator Alison Larkin deftly conveys the girlish gossip and romantic dreams of a teenaged Jane Austen and her best friend. Their daily lives are described in the diaries of 16-year-old Jenny Cooper, who is Jane's cousin. Larkin effectively takes on the identity of Jenny, sounding like a giggly adolescent girl. As the two young ladies experience the excitement of attending their first ball and meeting eligible single men, they're also constantly reminded that, being poor, they must marry into money. Through Larkin's strong performance, listeners will connect with both Jane and Jenny. V.M.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2019]