Gill Hornby

‘Masterly. A brilliant piece of storytelling with all the deft touches and shading of Austen’s novels’ – Helena Kelly, author of Jane Austen, The Secret Radical.

From the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Miss Austen, comes a wonderfully
original, emotionally complex novel.

Set in 1804 the novel follows Anne Sharp, a governess who became close to Jane Austen and her family.
On 21 January 1804, Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent to take up the position of governess. At 31 years old, she has no previous experience of either teaching or fine country houses. Her mother has died, and she has nowhere else to go. Anne is left with no choice. For her new charge – twelve-year-old Fanny Austen – Anne’s arrival is all novelty and excitement. Anne is neither one of the servants, nor one of the family, and to balance a position between the ‘upstairs’ and ‘downstairs’ members of the household is a diplomatic chess game. One wrong move may result in instant dismissal and Anne knows that she must never let down her guard.

We are delighted to welcome Gill Hornby back to the bookshop for an insightful conversation about her latest novel, Godmersham Park, which has been selected by the Sunday Times as one of the best book releases of 2022.