Austen at Sea

Two pairs of siblings,devotees of Jane Austenfind their lives transformed by a visit to England and Sir Francis Austenher last surviving brother and keeper of her memories and surviving artifacts. In Boston1865Charlotte and Henrietta Stevensondaughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justicehave accomplished as much as women are allowed in those days. Chafing against those restrictions and devoted to the works of Jane Austenthey start a secret correspondence with Sir Francis Austenher last surviving brothernow in his nineties. He sends them an original letter from his sister and invites them to come visit him in England. In PhiladelphiaNicholas & Haslett NelsonΓÇöbrothersveterans of the recent Civil Warand rare book dealersare also in correspondence with Sir Francis Austen. Bachelors boththey two are invited to visit Sir Francis in Englandwith the promise of a never-before-seenrare Austen artifact to be evaluated. The Stevenson sisters sneak away without a chaperone to sail to England. On their ship are Nelson brotherswriter Louisa May AlcottSara-Beth GleasonΓÇöwealthy daughter of state senator with her eye on the Nelson brothersand a would-be last-minute chaperone to the Stevenson sistersJustice Thomas Nash. It’s a voyage and trip that transforms each of their lives in ways that are unforeseenwith the transformative spirit of the love of literature and that of Jane Austen herself.