Julia Barrett

Shortly before she died, Jane Austen started working on a new novel. Never finished, it was bequeathed to her favourite niece and remained unknown until 1871, when her nephew referred to it in his 'Memoir of Jane Austen'. While her nephew did not consider it worthy of publishing, novelist and critic E M Forester firmly disagreed, stating that the work would undoubtedly 'throw light on the last phase of the great novelist' if published. There have been a few attempts to complete this work, but none have captured the true magic of an Austen novel until now. Julia Barrett has emerged with this literary treasure, holding true to the characters and theme designed by Ms Austen. Set in the developing seaside town of Sanditon, a young woman from the countryside is exposed to the sophistication and cynicism of resort life. With disarming charm and wit, she observes for us the array of quirky characters who reside in the developing Sanditon.

This witty sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice follows the fate of Georgiana Darcy, Mr. Darcy's younger sister, who must choose between two suitors, a well-placed navy captain and a brash young architect. Masterfully adapted to Austen's original nineteenth-century style, Presumption brings back to life the book's most memorable characters, the Bennets, Darcys, Collins, and de Bourghs. An elegant emulation and continuation of Pride and Prejudice. . . . Jointly composed by two admirers of Jane Austen, the book often achieves crisp replication of her style. . . . Presumption shows how sequel-writing can, like parody, be a sharp exercise in literary appreciation.--Peter Kemp, Times Literary SupplementJulia Barrett is a pseudonym for Julia Braun Kessler and Gabrielle Donnelly.