A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love & Faith

* Tracing the steps of her literary hero, Smith explores themes of love, heartache, community, independence, creativity, a woman's place in the world, and the depth of Austen's faith. You'll discover the stories that made the author who she was, the subjects she never wrote about, the things that inspired her, and the beliefs that drove her. 256 pages, softcover from Waterbrook.

“In some ways, this trip is about sorting out the possibilities of my life, working and dreaming to ensure that I will still somehow be significant.” Lori Smith writes these personal words in her captivating memoir A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith. Taking a break from the disappointments in her career and romantic life, Smith pursues her dream to trace Jane Austen's history throughout England. In the process of discovering Austen, Smith allows the reader to follow intimately her own journey of self-discovery, search for significance, and, ultimately, a greater realization of God's goodness and grace.

A Walk with Jane Austen takes the reader throughout England, including the colleges in Oxford, a monastery in Hampshire, friends in London, as well as inns in Lyme and Bath. And while there is a great deal of history about Austen and her family, the writing stays entirely fresh with the many personal anecdotes by Smith. Smith's faith is marked by profound thoughts, and her discussion of Austen's faith is both interesting and inspirational.

The love story aspect of Smith's tour is wonderfully engaging, and the rarity of such intelligent and poetic writing makes reading this book pleasurable. In her memoir, Smith describes herself as thoughtful, passionate about faith, but uncomfortable with much of evangelical Christianity. Her candor and humor about the human failings of Christians, herself included, are extremely refreshing. And, whereas some might be offended by her criticisms of the church-at-large, others will appreciate her desire to have a strong intellectual aspect to her faith. Her sometimes-biting wit is used when describing the modern Christian woman's struggle to date within the church and her own fading hopes of finding a man who passionately loves God, loves her, and is not weird. As a Christian with Anglican leanings, she seems to extend grace easily to others, while struggling to find grace for herself.

Not for the ultra-conservatives, A Walk with Jane Austen could appeal to a variety of women in the 18-40 age range. Single women may especially appreciate the dating anecdotes, but the overall themes and humor in the book will be universally appealing. And don't shy away simply because your completed checklist of Austen classics is wanting. I've read only the famous Pride and Prejudice, though now I have the desire to read all the rest. Anyone who has seen movie adaptations of her books would do just as well reading Smith's memoir. Because of Smith's objective perspective toward her faith and her skillful avoidance of Christianese vocabulary, this could be a great reading experience for non-Christians as well as Christians. I would recommend this to anyone who is remotely interested in Jane Austen, or to those who simply are hungry for an interesting and well-written memoir. -- Stacie Miller, Christian Book Previews.com

In this engaging, deeply personal and well-researched travelogue, Smith (a PW contributor) journeys to England to soak in the places of Jane Austen’s life and writings.... This is an unusual look at Jane Austen. Readers will learn plenty of biographical details–about Austen’s small and intimate circle of family and friends, her candid letters to her sister, her possible loves and losses, her never-married status, her religious feelings, and her untimely death at the age of 41. But it is the author’s passionate connection to ‘Jane’–the affinity she feels and her imaginings of Austen’s inner life–that bring Austen to life in ways no conventional biographer could. Smith’s voice swings authentically between her own raw, aching vulnerability as a single Christian woman battling a debilitating and mysterious chronic illness and the surges of faith she finds in the grace of a loving God. And yes, Smith even meets a potential Darcy at the start of her journey. This deliciously uncertain romantic tension holds the book together as Smith weaves her own thoughts, historical research, and fitting references to Austen’s novels into a satisfying whole. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by Debbie Erckert (Buffalo, New York), September 14, 2009

I would definitely have to recommend this book - I wholeheartedly agree with the previous reviewer! If you are a reader (esp. Austen) who would like a very personal story of a single woman's journey alone to England you'll be glad you read this travelogue. After reading this you'll join us in our hopes and prayers for future happiness for this author who feels like a sister after you read her story.

Reviewed by Camy Tang (San Jose, CA), February 15, 2008

This is a well-written travelogue/memoir that struck me as Blue Like Jazz for single Christian women. Or even married Christian women. So many of the things she talks about made me relate to women’s struggles about being the Proverbs 31 woman, or the conflict around being like faithful, conservative Elisabeth Elliot (Passion and Purity) and also trying to be a modern 21st century Christian woman. Since it is a memoir, there are some personal things mentioned, and I have to honestly admit I didn’t feel any interest in some of them. But her romance with Jack and the mono-like virus was a strong thread through the book that held my interest and played an intriguing, significant role in her faith journey. I got a favorite quote from this book: “With my apologies to the stellar Christian single guys I’ve met in the last few years, it’s a truth universally acknowledged among single Christian women that single Christian guys beyond a certain age are weird.” How true is that! I think that readers who are Jane Austen fans will enjoy this more than those who are not. There are lots of quotes and references that won’t have much meaning for people who haven’t read the novels, although I don’t think a non-Austen person would have difficulty following any of the narrative. It just has much more depth of meaning for someone who loves Jane Austen’s works. Someone hoping to only find out about Jane Austen should read a biography. This is an intimate travelogue that delves into some of the events in Jane’s life, relating it to real life, real faith, and the author’s own conflicts and struggles. I enjoyed this book a lot, learned a little more about Jane Austen, and felt renewed in my own faith and identity in Christ. This is a winner for any postmodern Christian woman.

Write a review of A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love & Faith

Author: Lori Smith
Located in: Herndon, VA
Submitted: November 27, 2007

    Tell us a little about yourself.  I'm a full time writer. My first book, The Single Truth, addresses singleness thoughtfully from a Christian perspective. My work has also appeared in Today's Christian Woman, Discipleship Journal, Christian Single, Crosswalk.com and BreakPoint Online.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  I fell in love with Austen's writing when I was in college and picked up Pride and Prejudice at a used book sale. Her books became like literary comfort food for me. I read them so much (and watched the movies) and felt I had nowhere left to go, so I started reading biographies and her letters, and then wanted to see the places she lived and loved. This book grew out of a month-long journey following her life through England.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  I hope this will be a biography that Austen fans will love, that they'll come away with an understanding of her life and faith. It's also a memoir/travelogue -- I've woven my story together with Austen's -- and I hope readers will feel the deep personal connection I feel, and connect with my story as well.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  It was a life-changing trip. Studying Austen's life helped me understand my own, and I think the biggest insight I gained was the value of an ordinary life. Austen didn't want to be famous, she didn't even really want anyone to know she had written her books. She wanted to love her friends and family, to live out her faith, to do good work and tell good stories.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  Madeleine L'Engle, C.S. Lewis, (of course) Jane Austen -- and I wouldn't stay sane without my little writing group with my friends Catherine Claire and Kristine Steakley, who both have books coming out in the next year.

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  I run the blogs Jane Austen Quote of the Day and Following Austen.

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