Sanditon - Jane Austen

I mistakenly believed that I had read all of Jane Austen's works, until the recently republished, unfinished Sanditon appeared, along with 'The Watsons', and the finished epistolary novella 'Lady Susan', which I had read. This 2019 volume combines these three fragmented pieces, whereas before, 'Lady Susan' only made an appearance in the 2014 'Love and Freindship' collection of Austen's juvenalia. I enjoyed the latter vigorously a second time round, even if the epistolary format did seem quite contrived. It is rare and refreshing to see Austen depict such a coolly calculating villain, and I found that the reader's sympathies were more in-line with her conduct than the rather pathetic crowd of characters she moves among. The second piece, 'The Watsons', like 'Sanditon', is only the beginning of a novel, but it was abandoned for reasons we do not know. Perhaps the plot was rather too similar to Pride and Prejudice, but I can see modern academics being excited about the heroine's description of 'dark skinned.' 

The titular work, 'Sanditon', is the first twelve chapters (arranged by the editor) of what would be Austen's seventh novel should she have lived to complete it. Being in failing health from Addison's disease when she wrote it, the story has a satirical involvement with health and hypochondria. The fictitious seaside town of Sanditon in Sussex is the location for the drama, a new community spearheaded by a gentleman named Mr Parker and the coarse Lady Denham who are determined to turn it into a fashionable bathing resort. The writing here is more obviously comical than Austen's former works, being almost in the same style as her earlier juvenalia pieces. It is probable she sensed she did not have much time left, and did not want to indulge in too serious-minded a project. Her writing is as masterful and engaging as ever, even if the characters do seem more underdeveloped than usual. A 2019 ITV television series that continues and finishes the story will no doubt help fill in the blanks for disappointed fans. 

Rating: 3/5