Pembroke GEM

For every fan who has wished Jane Austen herself might have enjoyed the romance and happy ending she so carefully crafted for all her heroines: The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen, by Shannon Winslow. What if the tale Jane Austen told in her last, most poignant novel was inspired by momentous events in her own life? Did she in fact intend Persuasion to stand forever in homage to her one true love?

Charlotte Lucas marries Mr. Collins, a man she can neither love nor respect, but what more can a plain-faced girl with no dowry hope for? When Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam visit Lady Catherine, Charlotte and the Colonel conspire to help Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy reach an understanding before the visit ends. In the process, Charlotte falls in love with the Colonel, and learns that he cares for her as well! Alas, their love is doomed, as Charlotte is very much married. When Mr. Bennet dies, Charlotte and Mr. Collins soon find themselves living at Longbourn. But life at Longbourn is far ...

Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.