Dearest Cousin Jane

March 29, 2010
Jane Austen, along with her family, once again feature prominently in Pitkeathley's latest romantic, meticulously researched period melodrama. This time around, Austen's glamorous cousin Countess Eliza de Feuillide (once known as simply Betsy) takes center stage. Suggesting that Eliza made a significant impression on Jane's development as an author, Pitkeathley depicts a spirited woman who certainly made an impact on the entire Austen clan, as well as stole her share of hearts, including her first husband Jean Capot, the Comte de Feuillide, who was guillotined in 1794. Pitkeathley (Cassandra and Jane) explores several impressions of Eliza, who ultimately married Jane's brother Henry, through the various perspectives Austen family members; while Jane's is naturally appealing, Eliza's viewpoint is far more fascinating, especially as she worries about her impending death from breast cancer.

April 1, 2010
A single, penniless woman must be in want of a rich husband. Or maybe not. Pitkeathley's second Austen novel based on historical facts (after "Cassandra and Jane") traces the life of Austen's vivacious and audacious older first cousin, Eliza. The story of Eliza's life begins with her supposed conception in India during a love affair between her married mother and Warren Hastings, later governor-general of India. Years later, Eliza marries a French count and gains the title of Countess Eliza de Feuillide. But during the French Revolution, while Eliza is visiting relatives in England with her young son, her husband is arrested and summarily executed. Two of Austen's brothers vie for her hand in marriage and ultimately Henry, Austen's favorite, wins. Eliza's captivating life is traced through distinct first-person narratives and letters by Eliza, various Austen family members, and, of course, Jane herself. VERDICT Highly recommended for Jane Austen aficionados, who are afforded an entertaining and enlightening look into the people and events that influenced Austen's life and her timeless novels. [Ebook edition: ISBN 978-0-06-198617-8. ]Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. P.L.s, MD

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