British biographer Paula Byrne (The Real Jane Austen) turns to historical fiction in the winsome Six Weeks by the Sea. Based on Jane Austen's family's sojourn in Sidmouth, Devon, in 1801, Byrne's narrative imagines Jane's interactions with her family members and several eligible gentlemen, including one who makes quite an impression.
When Jane arrives in Sidmouth, she is heartbroken over leaving her home in Steventon and dreading her upcoming move to Bath. Gradually, the seaside town's charms revive her, especially when her brother Frank and best friend Martha Lloyd come to visit. Though Jane hopes Frank will marry Martha, she does not think of her own romantic prospects until she meets Frank's friend, Captain Parker. Jane finds him engaging, but she is also nettled and intrigued by Samuel Rose, a lawyer who joins their circle. As she works on her latest novel and enjoys Sidmouth's social life, Jane is forced to revise her first impressions of both men.
Byrne writes in a style reminiscent of Austen's own, contrasting her characters' inner desires with the superficial politeness they must display. Austen fans will enjoy nods to well-known incidents and characters from her novels: a talkative clergyman, a matchmaking mother, a picnic in the sunshine. Byrne also explores the issues of abolition and racism in Regency England, and gives glimpses into the lives of several contemporary poets. Six Weeks by the Sea is a poignant reimagining of a pivotal summer in Austen's life. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams