Six Weeks by the Sea by Paula Bryne

Six Weeks by the Sea by Paula Bryne is a fictional account of Jane Austen and her family’s time in Sidmouth. Each chapter shares a week of their time seaside as a family. The book has many references to Jane Austen’s writings and you wonder along with the author “What if Jane Austen had fallen love?" "Who would she have fallen in love with?”

The book is beautifully written and does a lovely job giving you a glimpse into the world of England in the year 1801. I left with a greater understanding of the social issues, Jane Austen's life, and what it would be like to be a woman during this time period. I enjoyed walking with Jane Austen as she navigated finding love, participating in society, and spending time with her family.

 
This is a gentle read that will be a enjoyed by anyone who loves learning about the life of Jane Austen, her books and wonders if she had a true love. I recommend Six Weeks by the Sea by Paula Bryne.

I was given a copy and not required to write a positive review.

Paula was born by the River Mersey in Birkenhead in 1967, the third daughter in a large working-class Catholic family. She lives in Arizona (though back in England every summer) with her husband, the Shakespeare scholar Sir Jonathan Bate, and their three children (Tom, Ellie and Harry). She is founder and lead practitioner of ReLit, the charity for literature and mental health. Paula is represented by The Wylie Agency and, for TV and film, The Gersh Agency. In 2016 she was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She has previously been a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of Warwick. She was the historical and literary consultant for the PBS series based on Jane Austen’s unfinished last novel, Sanditon.