The Elopement

by Gill Hornby

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’

1820. Mary Dorothea Knatchbull is living under the sole charge of her widowed father, Sir Edward – a man of strict principles and high Christian values.

But when her father marries Miss Fanny Knight of Godmersham Park, Mary’s life is suddenly changed.

Her new stepmother comes from a large, happy and sociable family and Fanny’s sisters become Mary’s first friends. Her aunt, Miss Cassandra Austen of Chawton, is especially kind. Her brothers are not only amusing, but handsome and charming.

And as Mary Dorothea starts to bloom into a beautiful young woman, she forms an especial bond with one Mr Knight in particular.

Soon, they are deeply in love and determined to marry. They expect no opposition. After all, each is from a good family and has known the other for some years.

It promises to be the most perfect match. Who would want to stand in their way?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Fiction, Historical Romance, Regency, Audiobook

480 pages, Hardcover

First published May 22, 2025

Reviews

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gill Hornby has done it again with another beautifully written Austen-adjacent family drama that opens up the world of the extended family A.J. (or, After Jane, if I may coin a phrase!).

This one focuses on the family that Jane Austen's niece Fanny Knight married into: the Knatchbulls. It goes far deeper than a typical Regency romance, with a meaningful thread on the subject of women's freedom of choice (or lack thereof) uniting the narrative. It alternates between giving us the viewpoint of Fanny and that of her stepdaughter Mary Dorothea.

As usual in a Gill Hornby book, the research and the historical voice are impeccable! I've come away with new information and interpretations about some of the individuals in Austen's world and beyond it. Loved the reading experience.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Century for this advance review copy.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If one thought Jane Austen’s novels had some entertaining drama, The Elopement, a story based on her next generation relations in the wake of her death could argue that real life offers up even more. After appreciating Gill Hornby’s Miss Austen and her Godmersham Park, I was eager to press forward with her latest, The Elopement.

The Elopement is a dual narrative story of Fanny Knight Knatchbull and her step-daughter, Mary Dorothy Knatchbull. Gill Hornby’s Fanny Knight is first encountered in her younger iteration in Godmersham Park. While I don’t believe The Elopement is meant to be directly connected, my reader memory was convinced they were so I just went with it.

The Elopement is a framed story that opens and closes with the old aunt, Cassandra Austen reflecting on the events- past and present- in her family. Then the heart of the story opens with Fanny Austen Knight, oldest child of Mr. Edward Austen Knight, contentedly running her widowed father’s household, looking after her younger siblings and the estate homes. Fanny receives an eligible proposal of marriage from a middle-aged widower and she does her duty as a woman and accepts. Sir Edward Knatchbull is not a tender man, but he is serious and of good character. Fanny takes up the responsibility of his home and his children including the oldest daughter who prefers Fanny’s lively younger siblings to herself.

Fanny wishes to sees herself as the warm, beloved, responsible and reliable caregiver of all- Lady Bountiful, if you will, but in actuality, she is not regarded so by her own family or, predominantly, Mary Dorothea. She is admired for abilities and efficiency, but not warmth and charm.
Mary, who also narrates the story, eventually falls for Fanny’s impulsive, boisterous brother Ned, the first son and heir, and the interest is mutual. Unlike her step-mother, she will resist letting duty dictate her choice though she is in anguish of going up against her father’s will and Sir Edward indeed, is much put out about his daughter’s choice.

I was surprised to learn that ‘The Elopement’ promised in the title took a while to happen. Years of story developing the two main protagonists- Fanny and Mary’s lives as well as the lives of the Knatchbulls and Austen-Knights, separately and together happen before the fateful events that occur in the latter pages of the book. The faster-paced, higher drama had a stronger emotional grip on me than the earlier parts of the tale.

While I rather liked Fanny in Godmersham Park, the mature woman of The Elopement was one less easy to like though I appreciated her situation and wanted to read how she made a life as Lady Knatchbull. Her loyalties and sense of duty dominated though she finally showed a softness to her step-daughter later on. I found it fascinating to compare the two lives and two different choices of duty vs love.

The Elopement was immersive in historical setting down to detailed description and dialogue, manners and motives. I felt the life of the people were carefully delved into and The Elopement had a ‘this could have been true’ quality if one goes with certain lines of thought regarding Jane Austen’s real-life relations that the remaining diaries and letters allow for interpretation. Another gently-paced, thoughtful and emotional tale of the Austen family from Gill Hornby that left me satisfied.



My full review will post at my Instagram Page, @sophiarose1816 on 11.7.25

I rec'd a print copy from Pegasus Books and Austenprose to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Elopement” by Gill Hornby has witty and clever writing, reminiscent of Jane Austen herself. It is the third book written by Hornby about the Austen family. It can be read as a standalone. I read and loved Hornby’s first book, “Miss Austen” (as well as the television series on Masterpiece). I liked “The Elopement” even more! The book takes place later than the events of “Miss Austen,” after Jane Austen has died and it features other members of the Austen family. Cassandra (Jane’s sister) is briefly in this one and the next generation of Austens are the focus of “The Elopement” (specifically Jane’s niece, Fanny). “The Elopement” takes place during the Georgian period. The book deals with the fears that the women of that time faced—the fear of being unmarriageable and of being married. Miss Hornby gives nods to characters from “Sense and Sensibility,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Mansfield Park.” The book was hard to put down, even though it is a big book, and I flew through it! Miss Hornby displays superb writing and presents characters with depth and nuance (many characters are based on real people). Her story also gives commentary on the class system. In my opinion, “The Elopement” is a modern classic and I highly recommend it, especially to lovers of Jane Austen and classic literature!

Content: I give this book a low PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: vague talk of marital relations; death from childbirth; past infidelity; mention of hauntings; the word “hell” is used.
TW: parentified child; stepfamily dynamics; miscarriages and a past stillbirth; depression.
Spice: a married couple has a sensual touch in bed; vague reference to the wedding night; closed door.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

1820. Mary Dorothea Knatchbull is living under the sole charge of her widowed father, Sir Edward – a man of strict principles and high Christian values. But when her father marries Miss Fanny Knight of Godmersham Park, Mary’s life is suddenly changed. Austen Her new stepmother comes from a large, happy and sociable family and Fanny’s sisters become Mary’s first friends. Her aunt, Miss Cassandra Austen of Chawton, is especially kind. Her brothers are not only amusing, but handsome and charming. And as Mary Dorothea starts to bloom into a beautiful young woman, she forms an especial bond with one Mr Knight in particular.
Another well written & researched book which drew me in from the start & I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters have lovely depth, the pace is good & it felt true to the era. This is the first book I’ve read by the author but it won’t be the last, I did see & loved the TV adaptation of Miss Austen which drew me to this book
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Elizabeth McFarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elopement, the newest installment of Gill Hornby's novels based around the family of Jane Austen, was a delight to read. What Hornby does so beautifully is that she takes the facts about the family, weaves a story out of them, and then writes it as though it were a Jane Austen plot.

This novel features Jane Austen's neice Fanny Knight and the Knatchbull family, into which she married. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, giving us insights into both Fanny's experiences and those of her stepdaughter, Mary Dorothea. I loved that this book was both poignant and romantic. The characters come to life on the page and bring you into the world of Jane Austen's family. The drama and the turmoil are wonderfully written.

I really enjoyed seeing all the different relationships and how they changed, and I was very invested in Mary's relationship with her stepmom Fanny and the problems they encountered.

This was my second book by Gill Hornby and an engaging read. I will definitely be reading more by this author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Girl with her Head in a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my full review: https://girlwithherheadinabook.co.uk/...

Gill Hornby seems to setting herself up as purveyor of Austen family biographical fiction, with this instalment as her third on the topic. This time, she has steered clear of the more widely-known aspects of Austen's life, relegating Jane Austen to a passing detail rather than a main or even supporting character. Instead, Hornby tells the story of the Knight and Knatchbull families and their various matrimonial travails. Spoiler alert: at least one couple gets fed up of playing by the rules and takes off for Gretna.

The main plot centres around Fanny Knight, otherwise known as Fanny Austen or Fanny Austen Knight. For novices to Austen family history, Jane Austen's brother Edward was informally adopted by wealthy childless couple the Knights. From them, he inherited the estates at Chawton and Godmersham. Edward married well and had eleven children before his wife finally died in childbirth. Eldest daughter was Fanny, who Jane Austen famously described as more like a sister than a niece. The two exchanged letters in which the author offered the young Fanny advice on her matrimonial prospects. Fanny served her duty as lady of her father's house from the age of fifteen until she married the older Sir Edward Knatchbull at the age of twenty-eight. She was his second wife and he came to the marriage with five children. Of these, the only girl was Mary Dorothea Knatchbull and it is she who is the second protagonist.

The basic plot runs around Fanny and Mary Dorothea's differing perspectives on Fanny's role as stepmother. Fanny believes herself to be dutiful and well-loved. She sees herself as an able and attentive stepmother to the five unprepossessing Knatchbulls. Mary Dorothea has another opinion. In the afterword, Hornby noted that Fanny kept a diary which she seems to have expected people to read. In it, she always prefaced her husband, father and siblings names with 'dear' or 'dearest' even when clearly trying to save space. She never did this for her stepchildren.


Fanny, Lady Knatchbull
Fanny is a divisive figure in the Austen fandom. On the one hand, she was the late author's favourite niece. On the other, in later life she remarked in a letter that Cassandra and Jane Austen had benefited from contact with the Knight family and that without them, the aunts 'would have been... very much below par as to good society and its ways'. So ... she was a snob. Undoubtedly one influenced by the shifting of attitudes as the lax Georgian era transformed into the strait-laced Victorian one, but she was a snob nonetheless. There is something so sad though in how elderly Lady Knatchbull lost her appreciation for her aunt's wit.

I took a moment to consider also who Fanny was also within the continuity of Hornby's writing. She is a supporting character in Godmersham Park, mostly known for her closed mind and lack of independent thinking. Hornby followed the traditional view that Fanny's mother was a villainess and that she had formed her daughter in her own image. The Fanny we meet in The Elopement is clearly the same character. She even makes a snide reference to the governess who her mother saw off. Fanny is not warm. She is not pleasant. But she does want to be seen as such.

Strangely though, Hornby lost her nerve towards the end of the novel and then gave Fanny a baffling change in character where she suddenly became more human for a couple of pages. I am always leery of historical fiction which trashes real people and I would understand if Hornby decided to hold off making her an out-and-out villain but given that she had already had Fanny force her stepdaughter to get her head shaved, it was a little late for a transformation. Rather than humanising her, it seemed more like poor characterisation.

Once again, Hornby poses the question about the amount of choice women have over their fates. Fanny does not realise during her first couple of meetings with Sir Edward Knatchbull that she is being interviewed as a future wife, not even when one of the visits includes meeting his daughter. Her father is fully aware. Mary Dorothea was similarly oblivious. Over the next few years, various women of their circle fall in love and endure bitter disappointments when they are denied permission to wed. Fanny is furious at their impropriety. Mary Dorothea hopes desperately to avoid the same fate.

There is a recurring them across Hornby's three Austen novels about what marriage means for women. On the one hand, it offers love and financial security. A home of one's own. On the other, it is a common cause of death. Fanny's mother dies in childbirth. Mary Dorothea's mother died in childbirth. Two of Fanny's aunts died in childbirth. In the events subsequent to the novel, one of Fanny's younger sisters went on to die in childbirth. [spoiler]Mary Dorothea also goes this way too at the end of the novel. [/spoiler]One of the characters considers to herself how strange it is that the unmarried aunts live to be so old while the mamas so rarely do.

In Miss Austen, Hornby acknowledges that a group of unmarried women teaming together could have a much less risky time of it. But in this novel, spinsterhood is viewed more as a disaster. But perhaps that is because protagonist Mary Dorothea is a teenager rather than the more mature in years Cassandra Austen. With Fanny, Hornby seems to be rolling her eyes at women who become smug after marriage. This echoes the way she depicted Mary Austen in Miss Austen. But is Hornby suggesting that you have to be an adult woman to recognise that happiness can be found in the single life or that if you end up a spinster, you simply grow to accept it? I strongly suspect that Hornby is not actually making either of these points but that in The Elopement has not been written with any clear central message.

Funnily though, Cassandra Austen does make a few cameo appearances in this novel, both in its opening and its final section. Again, she is recognisably Hornby's creation from her earlier book. But I was never quite sure what the point of her was in The Elopement. Perhaps Hornby just wanted to underline that these novels were inter-linked? Plot-wise though the books are all standalones. It is just that Miss Austen was a masterpiece and the latter two have limped in its wake.

I had expected that The Elopement was going to depict the events which precipitated the estrangement between the Knight and Knatchbull families. To an extent it did, but I found the plotting rather rushed with the titular elopement occurring so close to the novel's conclusion. Hornby fails to drive home the pain that estrangement causes. Despite Sir Edward Knatchbull's faults and his tendency to insult and fall out with everyone he meets, Mary Dorothea loves him. Her pain is he would rather dig in his heels on how Right is on his side than recognise the pain he is causing with his behaviour. Mary Dorothea has the choice between a lifetime of misery or going against her father. The result is that their relationship breaks down and he is too weak a man to repair it.

Estrangement is messy and unpleasant and grubby and embarrassing. It comes after you have looked in the eye of someone you love, told them that their behaviour is unbearable and they have looked back at you and not cared at all. It is recognising that the other person is unwilling or incapable of hearing you and that you just have to let go for your own sanity.  Hornby never really engages with this level of complexity. A simple retelling of events is fair enough but after the insight that Hornby has proved she can provide, it is still slightly disappointing.

Overall, this was a fairly muddled little book but a reasonably entertaining one nonetheless. I doubt that it will get its own BBC miniseries but it was a quick enough read which shed some light on the subsequent lives of Jane Austen's relatives. Still, it is not one that I would rush out to buy for myself. Any book is worthwhile that can promote the memory of these tragic short-lived women who did not live to see their children grow up. I do think though that Hornby has taken what she can from the lives of Jane Austen's extended family and that it may be time to go and seek inspiration in pastures new.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is your favorite fall flavor? I love pumpkin everything, especially baked goods.

Miss Fanny Knight of Godmersham Park was Jane Austen’s beloved niece. As the eldest in a large clan of eleven children, she found herself running the household after her mother’s death when she was fifteen. Now at age twenty-seven, she has received an offer from a widowed neighbor, Sir Edward Knatchbull. She wants time to think upon it, but soon finds herself quickly wed to a domineering man. She wants to love her stepdaughter, Mary Dorothea, but can’t warm to the girl. Mary Dorothea grows up into a lovely young woman. Will she follow her family wishes when it comes to love, or will she take destiny into her own hands?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This novel was a slow burn read that I slowly immersed myself into. I enjoyed reading it and felt I couldn’t put I down as I got closer to the end.

• The book was told in four sections. Section 1 was Fanny’s proposal and marriage, Section 2 was Mary Dorothea growing up, Section 3 was Mary Dorothea’s proposal and elopement, and Section 4 was her marriage and life.

• I felt for Fanny at first, but I was disturbed that if Sir Edward or Fanny did like a match for any reason, they could break up a happy couple. It did not seem fair.

• I loved that Cassandra Austen was in the novel at times, especially in the last section.

• I felt immersed in the world of Austen’s family as it continued on after her death. Fanny was her beloved niece, but seemed to veer off the path that she was on during Jane Austen’s life.

• Childbirth was so dangerous for women back then. These were real women and so many lost their lives.

• I liked that Mary Dorothea went for her happiness.

• There is a great author’s note at the end of the novel that gives information on the real history.

• I also enjoyed Miss Austen and Godmersham Park by this author. I can’t see what she writes next!

Overall, The Elopement by Gill Hornby is an excellent novel with riveting characters that makes one feel that they have stepped into the world of Jane Austen’s family. I highly recommend it for all Jane Austen or historical fiction lovers out there.

Book Source: Thank-you to @gill.hornby @pegasus_books @austenprose for a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.

This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2025...

[Marie Girulat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt thank you to @gill.hornby @pegasus_books and @austenprose for the #gifted book, as well as @tantoraudio for the #gifted audiobook.

This book is a captivating exploration of two intertwining families that will leave a lasting impression.

At the very core of this captivating narrative lies Mary Dorothea Knatchbull, whose life is dramatically upended when her widowed father, Sir Edward, marries Fanny Austen Knight. This unexpected union thrusts Mary into the vibrant world of the Knight family, particularly drawing her toward the charming Ned Knight. Their blossoming bond, though frowned upon by her father, ignites a courageous elopement to Scotland, an audacious act of rebellion that sets in motion a series of events with far-reaching consequences.

This was my first introduction to this author, and I was genuinely impressed by the exceptional writing and thorough research. From the very first page, I was ensnared by the story and deeply captivated. The characters are intricately crafted, the pacing is masterful, and the story resonates with authenticity.

Told through alternating perspectives, we are granted profound insight into the experiences of both Fanny and Mary Dorothea. I was particularly struck by the dynamics of their relationship as they navigate their shared challenges. The emotional depth and romance of this tale are truly moving. The characters leap off the page, immersing readers in the rich tapestry of Jane Austen's family life, filled with rich drama.

Though I anticipated the elopement to occur much earlier in the story, this delay lead me to immerse myself in the story.

The narrator deserves high praise for her remarkable ability to breathe life into the characters, employing distinct voices that elevate the storytelling experience to new heights.

This book is currently available, and I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone who appreciates a powerful and moving story that lingers long after the final page.

[Sarah Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Gill Hornby’s latest tale of member of Jane Austen’s extended family, we meet the children of her brother Edward Austen Knight. When his daughter Fanny marries the widower Sir Edward Knatchbull, she also becomes stepmother to his children, including his eldest daughter, Mary. Relations between Fanny and Mary are strained, but Mary does fall in love with Fanny’s family – the Knights, and spends her teenage years in their company.

We follow Mary and Fanny’s perspectives over the course of the years after Fanny marries Edward. While never particularly close, there is no animosity between them until such time as Mary falls in love with a man that her father – and therefore Fanny – deem unacceptable, leading to the titular event of an elopement.

This was an enjoyable read, and I liked having the perspectives of both women as time moved along. I did expect the elopement to happen much earlier in the book, given the title of the novel, meaning that the ending felt a little rushed to me. However, it was interesting to learn more about Mary’s teen years and her relationships with the various members of the Knight/Austen family.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

[Kim]

DNF @ page 140

[Silverboggle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sometimes enjoyable foray back to the Knight family home and following Fanny to a new marriage and stepfamily. I was surprised by how much I disliked Fanny and her interactions with her siblings and stepdaughter in this book-having found her completely tolerable in Godmersham Park. She seemed to me to completely shed her previous character, though her family seemed unfazed by her behaviour so perhaps not!?

This one lacked the intrigue of Miss Austen for me. It got caught up in dull interactions between unlikeable characters in the first half- and the titular elopement eluded the reader. Only after about 60%, did it became much faster paced and interesting.

I enjoyed the period detail, and the easygoing Knight family tales. I found Sir Edward and Fanny rather tough to endure as their character arcs went nowhere- just more of the same on each reacquaintance.

3.5*. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Elopement

[Kayley Hartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed, would recommend. Read as a pre-release on net galley which is a great app to download free books to read before they are released.

[Angela Milligan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undoubtedly a page turner, but for me lacks the wit and sparkle of Godmersham Park. The story is told partly through the eyes of Fanny Knight, Jane Austen’s niece, who marries early on in the book Sir Edward Knatchbull, an older, self- righteous and humourless man. Fanny gratefully relinquishes her duties as housekeeper and surrogate mother to her many siblings, leaving the next sister down to take up the reins. In her determination to love her husband Fanny takes on more and more of his characteristics, becoming an increasingly unsympathetic character. The other perspective we have is that of Mary Dorothea, the eldest of Sir Edward’s children, who have been neglected by their father since their mother’s death, and in whom their step- mother also takes little interest. Gradually the children become friends with Fanny’s warm, fun-loving family at Godmersham Park, and Mary Dorothea blossoms and falls in love, but the attachment is not to her father and step- mother’s liking. The title of the novel tells you what happens next. Gill Hornby is as ever excellent on the limited options open to upper class women in Georgian society, and the horrifyingly high number who die in childbirth. Cassandra Austen also makes a welcome reappearance as the wise and much-loved aunt of the Knight children, finding a new role in later life. It’s not as much fun as Hornby’s last novel, but her deep immersion in the Austen world pays dividends. She’s a very entertaining speaker too, if you get a chance to hear her.

[jolovesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this was a book of two halves.

I didn't have that instant connection with the characters, meaning I was a bit detached from what happened to them and the first half felt like hard work. Plus it felt like there was a lot of repetition of the storyline the author was building; I think this could've been achieved in fewer pages.

By around half way into the book, the friendships and love story start to bloom and it gets more interesting. And I got more of what I came for: glimpses of Jane and Cassandra Austen.


"While her sister had been alive, they had together been the most desperate walkers - that was their phrase."

"'But if you seek any more of my sister's great wisdom, all I suggest is that you return to her novels. That is what I do, when I crave her advice. I am sure, in those pages, you will find something to guide you.'"

[Peggy Stuyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik ben zo triest om afscheid te nemen van al deze geweldige personages, die ook echt bestaan hebben en gelinkt zijn aan Jane Austen. Gill Hornby vindt de juiste toon, schrijft bijna even witty als Jane en creëert prachtige en zeer menselijke karakters met wie je heel hard meeleeft! Ik heb zo genoten van dit boek!
Please @Gill Hornby, do not stop writing about the family of Jane Austen as you do such an amazing job!!!!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads like a Jane Austen novel and is based on some of Jane Austen’s family. I enjoyed and would recommend

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Luana · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 19%
A fifth of the book in and so far there's only a glimpse of the main characters.
I could let this past but it's too boring, dragged out, and nearly 500 pages too long to be worth my time.
Also, when Fanny and Edward's wedding day skipped from the carriage ride home to a few months later I knew this book would lack passion.

[Bookish Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think I could write a review that doesn’t sound gushy, but LA! 5 meet me in the orangery stars for this Austen adjacent tale. Ever since I discovered Austen almost 40 years ago I’ve been mad for her, and I know I’m part of a throng. Fellow Austen lovers, delight in this book!!!!!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third novel Gill Hornby has written based on the lives of members of Jane Austen’s extended family. I loved Miss Austen and Godmersham Park, so I was looking forward to reading The Elopement, which focuses on Jane’s niece, Fanny Knight, and Fanny’s stepdaughter, Mary Dorothea Knatchbull.

Fanny’s father is Jane’s brother Edward, who was made the legal heir of their wealthy Knight relatives and inherited three estates at Steventon, Chawton and Godmersham (Fanny appears as a secondary character in Godmersham Park). For a long time it seems likely that Fanny is going to remain a spinster until, in 1820, she marries Sir Edward Knatchbull of Mersham-le-Hatch at the age of twenty-eight. She doesn’t love him and he doesn’t love her, but Fanny has always been a practical person and decides that it could still be a marriage that works well for both of them.

Sir Edward has five children from his previous marriage and Fanny is sure she can be a good stepmother to them. However, there’s tension between Fanny and the only daughter, Mary Dorothea, from the beginning. Fanny is not a naturally loving or compassionate person and Mary finds it impossible to warm to her, viewing her as aloof and distant. Things come to a head when Mary falls in love with a man her father considers unsuitable. She knows she can expect no empathy or understanding from Fanny, so is forced to do something drastic.

It took me a while to get into this book. The pacing is uneven, with the first half being very slow and the second much more gripping. The title is maybe slightly misleading, as the elopement doesn’t happen until late in the book and doesn’t really play a big part in the story, although the buildup and consequences do. I think I would have preferred not to have known there was going to be an elopement so I wouldn’t have spent most of the book wondering when it was going to happen.

Hornby focuses less on Mary Dorothea’s romance and more on the relationship between stepmother and stepdaughter, which gets off to a bad start and worsens throughout the book. I went from feeling sympathetic towards Fanny to disliking her more and more as she tries to align herself with her husband’s views and closes her mind to Mary’s feelings. Still, the portrayal of Fanny and Sir Edward’s marriage illustrates the limited options available to 19th century women who would often marry out of duty, necessity or to meet society’s expectations. Mary is trying to do something different and marry for love.

In her author’s note at the end of the book, Hornby explains that she has based the novel on Fanny Knight’s own diaries which she kept from 1804 to 1872. I haven’t read the diaries so I don’t know how the personality of the real Fanny compares to the fictional one, but I was sorry not to have liked her more considering that Jane Austen apparently described her as her “favourite niece”.

I’ll be interested to see what Gill Hornby’s next book will be about; I’m sure there’s still more she could write about the Austen family and there seems to be a never-ending appetite for it by readers and TV viewers!

[Emily Pankhurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Netgalley Review

The writing was light, but had emotional threads running through. I liked how the language of the time was peppered throughout the story. That was a nice touch that successfully took you back in time.

There were a couple of viewpoints throughout the story. I enjoyed seeing things from Fanny's point of view and then seeing how the rest of the family saw things. I felt at times that Fanny was quite isolated, which made her point of view appear to be at odds with what the rest of the family were seeing. Some of it was her fault, whereas at other times it seemed that circumstance and society played their part.

The book opened with a character note and then a character list which was helpful as there were quite a few characters to keep track of. There was then a Prologue, 4 Parts split into smaller chapters and an Epilogue. I enjoy a Prologue and an Epilogue. For me they open and close a story well.

Each chapter was fairly long and sometimes split (indicated by a little line). This meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. There was a lot of different things happening to the different groups of characters, which whilst it made for longer chapters, it kept the story going.

The book had a good flow to it and the different parts meant that there was a good pace to the story. As it was based on real events it could easily have been stilted, but it was cleverly brought together into a coherent story.

The characters were good. There were a lot to keep up with, but I managed. I found it harder to keep up with where the characters were. There were lots of place names thrown in and I wasn't always sure that I was thinking about the right place.

I found it interesting that the characters were based on real people. That added an extra layer to the whole thing.

Fanny (one of the main characters) was often portrayed as cold, but the more you read, you saw that actually she was just trying to do her best and support her husband as she was expected to do. She was pulled in different directions and at times I really felt for her.

The time period that the story was set in gave rise to the characters' personalities and it was interesting to see how people interacted with one another during that time period.

Lastly the settings. As I mentioned above, there were a lot of different settings. It was hard to keep up with who was where, but as it wasn't necessarily integral to the story, I didn't concern myself too much with it.

Overall an interesting story.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Elopement, Gill Hornby delivers a captivating historical romance that feels like discovering a long-lost Austen manuscript. This novel, the third in Hornby's unofficial "Austen Adjacent" trilogy following Miss Austen and Godmersham Park, transports readers to the early 19th century with remarkable authenticity and emotional depth. Drawing from Frances (Fanny) Knight's detailed diaries, Hornby crafts a story of forbidden love, familial duty, and societal expectations that resonates beyond its historical setting.

The narrative revolves around Mary Dorothea Knatchbull, whose life changes dramatically when her widowed father, Sir Edward, marries Fanny Knight. Through this marriage, Mary becomes acquainted with the extensive Knight family, including the charismatic Ned Knight. Their growing attachment, forbidden by her father, leads to a desperate elopement to Scotland—an act of defiance with far-reaching consequences.

Masterly Character Development

Hornby excels at breathing life into historical figures with nuance and complexity. Mary Dorothea's evolution from a dutiful, timid daughter to a woman willing to risk everything for love unfolds with compelling authenticity. Her early childhood trauma—losing her mother at a young age and being essentially abandoned at boarding school—shapes her character profoundly, making her eventual rebellion both surprising and inevitable.

Sir Edward Knatchbull emerges as a formidable antagonist—not a villain per se, but a man whose rigid principles and wounded pride prevent him from accepting his daughter's happiness. His frequent insistence that "Right is on my side" becomes a telling refrain of his self-righteousness. Hornby skillfully portrays him not as a monster but as a tragically flawed father whose inflexibility costs him his relationship with his daughter.

Fanny Knight, Mary's stepmother, is perhaps the most fascinating character. Neither hero nor villain, she occupies a complex middle ground—sometimes sympathetic, sometimes frustrating. Her internal struggle between familial loyalty and marital duty creates some of the novel's most psychologically rich moments. When she briefly facilitates a meeting between Ned and Mary (albeit unwittingly enabling their elopement plans), we witness the rare occasions when her own judgment prevails over her husband's influence.

Exquisite Historical Detail

Drawing from extensive research including Fanny Knight's detailed diaries, Hornby recreates the Regency period with impressive accuracy. From the everyday rhythms of country house life to the perilous realities of childbirth in the 1820s and 1830s, the historical context feels lived-in rather than researched:

"The birth of every child is a moment of danger. The loved ones of expectant mothers are on high alert," Hornby notes in her afterword, highlighting the Russian roulette that marriage and motherhood represented for women of the era.

Small details bring the period to life—the excitement around new attractions like Burford's Panorama, the social calendar of balls and country visits, and the complex dance of polite society with its many unspoken rules. The novel's portrayal of the limitations faced by women, particularly their financial dependence on men, adds another layer of significance to Mary's defiance.

A Worthy Addition to the Austen Canon

For Austen enthusiasts, The Elopement offers a particular treat. Cassandra Austen plays a significant supporting role, and references to Jane's works and wisdom appear throughout. Hornby captures the Austen sisters' relationship with tenderness, showing how Cassandra carried Jane's memory and insight with her long after her sister's death.

The novel's language evokes Austen's style without attempting direct imitation—a difficult balance that Hornby strikes successfully. The dialogue crackles with period-appropriate wit, and characters often reveal themselves through what they say (and don't say), just as in Austen's works.

Emotional Resonance and Pacing

The emotional core of The Elopement lies in its exploration of how rigid adherence to social conventions can destroy relationships. Sir Edward's refusal to forgive his daughter for following her heart creates a twelve-year estrangement that ultimately can never be fully repaired.

The pacing is generally excellent, particularly in the sections leading up to the elopement itself. However, the novel's final third, covering approximately thirteen years in relatively few pages, sometimes feels rushed compared to the deliberate pace of earlier chapters. Some readers might wish for more detailed exploration of Mary and Ned's married life at Chawton before the tragic ending.

Where Hornby Occasionally Falters

While The Elopement is beautifully crafted, it has a few minor weaknesses:

- Predictable trajectory: Though based on historical events, the romantic plot follows a somewhat predictable arc. Readers familiar with the genre will anticipate many developments.

- Uneven pacing: The novel devotes substantial pages to the buildup and elopement but compresses Mary and Ned's years at Chawton considerably, sometimes glossing over potentially rich narrative material.

- Supporting characters: Some supporting characters, particularly Mary's brothers, remain somewhat underdeveloped compared to the central figures.

- Modern sensibilities: Occasionally, the characters' thinking seems to reflect more contemporary values than would be likely for the period, particularly regarding gender roles and marriage.

Final Verdict: A Poignant Historical Romance

Despite these minor issues, The Elopement succeeds brilliantly as both historical fiction and romance. Hornby balances historical accuracy with emotional engagement, creating a story that feels authentic to its period while resonating with modern readers.

The novel's bittersweet ending—Mary's death in childbirth after finally beginning to reconcile with her father—provides an emotional gut punch that lingers long after the final page. This tragic conclusion serves as a stark reminder of the dangers women faced in an era when childbirth was a leading cause of death.

Hornby's afterword, which details the historical accuracy of her narrative and the subsequent lives of the characters, adds another layer of poignancy to the story. Learning that Ned eventually remarried a woman who named all five of her daughters after herself creates a fascinating postscript to Mary's story.

[Helen_t_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is 1820 and Sir Edward Knatchbull, a man of strict principles and high Christian values, is a widower solo parenting his brood of children after the death of his wife.

When her father marries Miss Fanny Knight of Godmersham Park, his daughter Mary Dorothea’s life is suddenly changed. Her new stepmother comes from a large, happy and sociable family, and Fanny’s sisters become Mary’s first friends. Her aunt, Miss Cassandra Austen of Chawton, is especially kind, and Fanny's brothers are not only amusing, but handsome and charming.

As Mary Dorothea starts to bloom into a beautiful young woman, she forms an especial bond with one of the brothers in particular.
Soon, they are deeply in love and determined to marry. They expect no opposition. After all, each is from a good family and has known the other for some years.
It promises to be the most perfect match. Who would possibly want to stand in their way?

The Elopement is the third title in Gill Hornby's series of novels about Jane Austen's sister Cassandra, and the wider Austen family. It is beautifully written, perfectly researched, and the Regency world of family and society is richly rendered and perfectly evoked.

I loved and adored the first two, Miss Austen and Godmersham Park, and thought they could not be bettered, but, in this third title, Gill Hornby has excelled herself and has taken the series to another level.

It is based on the diaries of Fanny Knatchbull (née Knight), and is told in the most delicious Austen-esque prose. It is absolutely pitch-perfect, and I revelled in the pithy remarks, the polite and cleverly cloaked put-downs, the dry wit, the characterisation, and the very grounded observations on a polite society built on a rigid code of manners and expectations.

The characters are deftly drawn and the focus of the narrative alternates between Fanny and Mary. From their respective points of view we can gather impressions of the novel's entire cast of characters, but also get an informed view of the two women themselves. We see how Fanny has a lack of self-awareness, and so little awareness of what is going on around her. There is often a huge dissonance between what she thinks and perceives, and reality itself. We also see how Mary Dorothea is far from the wet lettuce that Fanny has written her of as being, and that she has far more spark, spirit and intelligence.

The character development is very skilful though and over the course of the novel Gill Hornby cleverly ensures that Fanny appears neither completely ridiculous or utterly unlikeable.

As the title suggests, an Elopement does occur, and as the novel's four parts play out like the acts of a play, it handles themes of family, love, marriage, as well as familial and societal expectations, and personal obligation and responsibility.

It is an exploration of the choices open to women at that time: whether to be more pragmatic, accommodating or submissive to expectation and obligation, and marry for security and status, or to marry for love. Both options required enormous courage

In exploring these options the novel also portrays the wider lot of women in Regency England: whether that be the spinster roles of Marianne Knight and Cassandra Austen who become enmeshed in house keeping and child minding, or, marriage and the ensuing lottery of multiple pregnancies which at best affect a woman's energy and health, and at worse result in early death.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Elopement and if you're a Jane Austen fan it won't disappoint! I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Gordon Smart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gill Hornby has followed up Miss Austen and Godmersham Park with the story of Fanny Knight and Mary Dorothea Knatchbull., set in the early Nineteenth century. Fanny marries Mary’s widowed father, Sir Edward, an older, stern, strict man with a fiery temper, who struck me as being a bit too much of a stereotype. So Fanny becomes Mary’s stepmother. The pair do not hit it off but Mary becomes close to Fanny’s siblings.
Because it is called The Elopement we assume that such a thing will happen at some point. Relationships which didn’t meet the approval of families forced young people to elope to Gretna Green from England in those days.
The book starts off with a prologue featuring Cassandra Austen, sister of Jane and aunt to Fanny, and refers to an “event “ which I took to mean an elopement. The story then focuses on Fanny and her proposal from Sir Edward. Fanny was a real person and the book is in part based on her real-life diaries as the author admits in a note. However, I found Fanny to be a largely unsympathetic character and also one who had little perception of what was really going on around her.. As a wife, she is completely subservient to her husband which of course women mainly had to be at that time but I didn’t really feel any sympathy for her as a character because of how she treated her step-daughter, Mary. Mary is the most sympathetic character in the book and the narrative switches from Fanny to her for a lot of the novel and became more interesting.
As a historical novel it does examine how women faced great difficulties in finding a husband: it usually wasn’t up to them to choose the man. Their father often made the choice for them. But I liked how Mary developed into a strong and independent woman despite her circumstances and predicament. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, George Eliot and the Brontes it’s for you, though the narrative did jump about a bit and the male characters are rather underdeveloped. Towards the end it felt a bit rushed whereas the pace at the start was a bit slow.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for an advance copy in return for a honest review.

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Rounded up from 4.5)

This novel reads like Jane Austen herself penned it—Hornby’s tone, style, and voice are uncannily close to Austen’s own. The publisher, Pegasus Books, enhances the experience with wide margins (perfect for annotation), a larger font, and ivory-toned pages that evoke a vintage feel. It was like reading a Regency novel in Regency format. This wasn’t just a story—it was a sensory ritual. And yes, I stayed up far too late with it, because I could.

Hornby blends Regency flair with modern clarity and historical depth so seamlessly, I forgot this was a 2025 release. Her dialogue sparkles, her characters feel lived-in, and her knowledge of Austen’s world is both respectful and refreshing.

This book, like Austen’s work itself, is perfect for readers of any age. While much happens off the page, the social language, moral pressures, and period-appropriate dialogue create a rich emotional landscape that’s both authentic and accessible. Hornby voices complex ideas with grace and subtlety, allowing younger readers to safely plunge into Regency society without being overwhelmed. It’s a story that invites reflection, not shock—a gentle immersion into a world of manners, meaning, and quiet rebellion.

Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Regency fiction, and historical novels that feel emotionally and stylistically authentic. If you love Longbourn, The Other Bennet Sister, or The Jane Austen Society, this one belongs on your shelf. A must-read for annotation lovers and period purists alike.

Print Edition Praise: I read The Elopement in its print edition from Pegasus Books, and I have to say—the publisher’s design choices elevated the entire experience. Wide margins perfect for annotation, a larger font that felt gentle on the eyes, and ivory-toned pages that gave the book a vintage, heirloom feel. It was like reading a Regency novel in Regency format. This wasn’t just a story—it was a sensory ritual. And yes, I stayed up far too late with it, because I could.

Thank you Gill Hornby, Pegasus Publishers, and AustenProse PR for the gifted copy that I read and reviewed.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

1820

Fanny Knight, 28 of Godmorsham Park has received a letter from Sir Edward Knatchbull proposing marriage to her. Fanny took over running her home and raising her 10 siblings when at 15 her mother passed away.

Edward is a widower, age 39, and has recently inherited Mercham-le-Hatch. He is father to 5 children - 4 boys and one girl, Mary Dorothea.

Fanny has been a good caretaker of her home and has been a loving replacement for her mother in raising her siblings. A shy and somewhat awkward woman, she never thought she would marry. Now, the running the home is left to her sister, Marianne, who had never even been given a season. So unfair.

We see how Edward’s children have spent years at boarding schools. Mary Dorothea has had the worst experience and wanted nothing more than to be at home with her family. Now, the young girl, rather plain and quiet, has met Fanny who has a difficult time warming to the young girl.

While the story takes in all of the members of the Knight and Knatchbull families, it centers most on Mary Dorothea. How the young girl suffered after the death of her beloved mother with no attention from her father and her stepmother. Actually, I was quite taken aback with the piousness of Fanny and how she looked for ways to see that, as she had been forced to be the caretaker for her siblings after the death of her mother, she managed to see that her own sisters were denied being able to have their own lives instead being forced to care for the family members. I did not like Fanny at all and found her to be quite cold and cruel. I would also have liked to knock her and her husband, Edward’s heads together. He was so mean and self-centered. So sad at times. However, the author has gone into extensive detail to recreate the events of this time after the passing of Jane Austen herself. If you are a Jane Austen fan, I’m sure you will enjoy this delightful book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Cerisaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Book club selection read with St Regulus group, Reading Groups for Everyone

I recently watched the TV adaptation of Hornby's first novel set in the Jane Austen universe, about her elder sister Cassandra, and enjoyed it very much though I'm more a casual reader of the original books not a devoted fan- my preference leans to the Brontes especially Emily. So my expectations were high, perhaps to the detriment of my appreciation of this book and its story focused on the next generations of Austens and Knights?

A good enough read but for me it never fully engaged my interest and I skimmed through some bits. Cassandra appears briefly and every time she does it's like a shifting gear driving the story more smoothly.

Told from the very different perspectives of Cassandra and Jane's niece Fanny Knight and step-daughter Mary Dorothea Knatchbull. Fanny is difficult to warm to and Mary Dorothea I found rather...blank? Each flawed and marked by loss of maternal love (due to early death) and weighed down by family expectations and social conventions of their time. The novel lacks the focus of a strong, likeable (but not perfect), main character and it took me a good while to get them all straight in my head with all the brothers and similar names. I think too knowing about The Elopement somewhat spoils the storyline and leaves the reader impatient for this event to take place, finally. Well that's my experience anyway.

What Hornby does extremely well is to show just how constrained women were in those days, the very limited roles they could fill, the importance of marriage for stability and security, the risk of death in childbirth with successive pregnancies vs a spinster's dependence upon relatives for a home and sustenance. Men really did have it better, and when one wife died she'd quickly be replaced by another.

So, fanfiction then that your enjoyment of will depend on how much you enjoy Austen's world with narrow focus on relationships, marriage, duty, convention, etc in an upper middle class milieu of country houses, privilege and hierarchy.

The writing is good, light enough to read quickly, with period atmosphere and descriptive details to put you there, interestingly layered characters- Fanny for eg becomes easier to like the more you get to know her- and a realism that comes from being based on her (Fanny) actual diaries. Sure to be adapted for TV to fill the insatiable appetite for Jane Austen and period romantic drama.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Elopement” follows on from Gill Hornby’s previous books on the Austen world but this time focuses on the life of Jane Austen’s niece Fanny Knight who has become something of an old maid but is then unexpectedly matched with a wealthy widower, Sir Edward Knatchbull. While there is no love in the marriage, Fanny eventually believes that the match is a good one and takes on the role of mother to his five children. One of these is Mary who is most beloved and yet somewhat neglected. Fanny hopes to give her much guidance but struggles to bond with the girl. And as the Knight and Knatchbull families become better acquainted, an event which no one foresaw brings both joy and despair.

As with “Miss Austen” and “Godmersham Park”, this book is an entertaining and easy read. It really plunges you into the regency era and must have been very well researched both as to the wider history and that of the people involved. And while I found a couple of the characters annoying (which meant I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I’d hoped), that is probably because the author kept their behaviour as true to life as possible and in all of history and the present day, there are annoying people! Additionally, I am always pleased to see the plight of women in that era being highlighted - the good, the bad and the in between. I am certain that people who have enjoyed Hornby’s previous work will enjoy this book, as I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

[rendezvous_with_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I enjoyed this immersion back into Jane Austen's family. A mix of facts and fiction, the author imagines the family life of Jane's beloved niece Fanny Knight, after her marriage to Sir Edward Knatchbull, a widower with several children. As the oldest of eleven motherless children herself, Fanny takes to the role in stride. It seems only natural that she should encourage the association of her step children with her younger siblings, until it  produces a budding romance between her step daughter Mary Dorthea and her brother Ned, a romance that Fanny and her husband are dead set against.


I love the way the author brings Austen's family to life. I've always thought of Fanny to be a lot like her beloved aunt Jane, but using Fanny's diaries for reference, she at times is portrayed as the unlikeable stepmother. Mary Dorthea shows real growth as she blossoms from a little girl into a resilient young woman, and I cheered her on. The novel well depicts the perils of life, marriage, and motherhood for Regency women. How frustrating it must have been to have your life decisions so tightly controlled by men, especially in matters of the heart. There is a trail of disappointed hopes squashed because a suitor is deemed unsuitable. And what a dangerous business child bearing was, when babies came in quick succession. Despite the reality of all this, the novel is witty, moving, and well researched. Gill Hornby must secretly time travel to Austen's world, and she makes it come alive on the page. 

I received a gifted copy of this book from Pegasus Books and AustenprosePR.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready to be immersed in Jane Austen’s family in this story pulled from family diaries. This is a story of family connections, expectations, and relationships, and love. Readers follow Fanny Knight, Jane Austen’s niece, as her life changes. After years of running her widowed father’s house and mothering her siblings she marries Sir Edward Knatchbull and becomes a stepmother to his children.The story continues to highlight Fanny’s changing relationship with her family and her stepchildren, especially Mary, as she tries to fulfill the role of being the wife of Sir Edward. This is also the story of Mary, Fanny’s stepdaughter, and her life after Fanny joins the family and her journey to find love. The main characters, Fanny and Mary were clearly portrayed and I admit that I liked Mary and her love story more. Fanny was constrained by what she felt was her role and the expectations that went along with her roles and I felt she was very rigid especially in contrast to her siblings. I also felt that she never gave Mary a chance. Mary, by contrast, was a character that I felt for and I was drawn into her story and her relationship with the Knight family. I liked that Cassandra Austen, Jane’s sister, played a part in the story and brought Jane and her thoughts and books into the story. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical fiction or those that want to be immersed in the family of Jane Austen.

Thanks to the author and Austenprose for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.