In the Path of Jane Austen: Travels and Tales: A 250th Birthday Anthology by Carol S. Bowes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a huge fan of Kelly Miller and her elegantly written, page-turning Austenesque variations, I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to read her short story included in the anthology.

“The Love Potion” begins with a curious encounter that leaves Miss Elizabeth Bennett in possession of a tincture that is supposed to have the power to secure the attachment of the heart of any gentleman of her choosing. Since it is just a little while after an unfortunate episode at the Meryton assembly, where a gentleman whose name is all too familiar to us, “Pride and Prejudice” devoted fans, making our hearts skip a beat no matter how often we read it, sensible and pragmatic Lizzy decides that this unbearably proud man deserves a little punishment. Alas, as it often happens with nefarious plans, even when decent people wield them, everything goes awry, and the consequences are impossible to predict.

I confess, I’ve bought “In the Path of Jane Austen Travels and Tales A 250th Birthday Anthology” curated and edited by Carol S. Bowes solely because while waiting for Kelly Miller to publish her next book, I wanted to enjoy her lovely writing style and also to meet the beloved characters on the pages, confident that they’ll be given proper respect and justice. I was also interested in reading about her impressions from her trip to England, especially since I have been to Bath as well. Yet, at the time I visited it, I had not thought much about its connection to Austen’s works. Next time I happen to be there, I’ll be sure to include seeing the places Kelly Miller mentioned in the essay describing her memorable journey.

It warms my heart that the profits from the sale of the book will go to a Jane Austen charity. At some point, I’ll read the rest of the stories included in the anthology. I am curious about other writers’ vision and interpretation of the books of one of my favourite authors.



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In the Path of Jane Austen: Travels and Tales: A 250th Birthday Anthology