Sanditon

Jane Austen's Unfinished Masterpiece Completed

By: Jane Austen, Juliette Shapiro

Narrated by: Helen Lloyd

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Had Jane Austen lived to complete Sanditon, it would have been as treasured as her other novels. In the half-finished masterpiece, Austen fashions one of her classic heroines: Charlotte Heywood. The surviving fragment also sets the story well on its path as Charlotte begins an adventure to Sanditon where a full cast of characters becomes intertwined in various intrigues.

At first, Charlotte finds amusement enough standing at her ample Venetian window looking over the placid seafront. However, before long, Charlotte discovers that scandals abound. She becomes captivated by the romance of the seaside lifestyle. But is the town of Sanditon truly a haven and will Charlotte find happiness there?

Now, fully completed by respected author and Austen expert Juliette Shapiro, this new edition of Sanditon finishes the original story in a vivid style recognizable to any fan. Shapiro’s prose and plot twists stay true to Austen’s sensibilities at all times while capturing her romance, tragedy, humor, and sardonic wit.

©2009 Juliette Shapiro (P)2014 Audible Inc.

There is a reason Jane didn't finish this book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Jane didn't finish this book, so had no chance to edit it. I wish she had had the chance to make her characters more interesting. There are more of the really silly than she usually includes in her cast of characters.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jane Austen and Juliette Shapiro again?

Probably not.

What three words best describe Helen Lloyd’s voice?

Not too irritating

Did Sanditon inspire you to do anything?

Find the Sanditon I read many years ago by Jane Austen and Another Lady. I believe the Other Lady was Georgette Heyer. Although not the best by either author, I remember it as being more interesting than this version.

Disappointment.

What would have made Sanditon better?

It would have been better if Jane's style had been better imitated. It was really not well developed by Ms. Shapiro. I have read another version of this and it was much more enjoyable. This was just a disappointment and I wouldn't recommend it if you enjoy Jane Austin.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not sure

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Sanditon?

Too many to name. Everything after chapter 11. It just didn't ring true.

Any additional comments?

Please find the edition written by "another Lady" and record that. It is much more satisfying.

Great narration for a decent story

Story not bad. Has a feel of Jane Austen, but not exactly., of course. Narrator adds a lot of the humor and tone.

Thought it was the book from Marie Dobbs

Having read the 1975 version of Sanditon by Marie Dobbs, I was looking forward to that story and found this one imaginative but disappointing in comparison. Charlotte is the point of the first 11 chapters that Jane Austen crafted and to have her story concluded well prior to the story end was less than satisfying.

A struggle

This was very difficult to finish....rather boring. The conversations were so long and uninteresting.

I've tried to listen to this book about 6 times and I am just bored with it . I can't get into it at all. I love Jane normally.

Hated this book not a true Jane Austen book it was boring ! Not the right ghost writer for this story .

Boring

I’m a fan of Austen, but this is not Austen. Whether it is due to a lack of editing and refining on Austen’s part, or the continuation and finishing on Shapiro’s part, it just doesn’t work. It’s boring and seems to be made up of a lot of silly gossip.

Ug

I love Jane Austin and I watched Sanditon on PBS and enjoyed it but this audio book was a snoozer from the start. I stopped counting the number of times I zoned out and lost track of what was going on in the story and, frankly with five hours left, decided I just didn’t care anymore. I know this book was considered an unfinished Austin book, but I have to wonder how much Jane Austin actually wrote. There is so much superfluous verbiage and lengthy diatribes of poets at one point (which I know Austin likes to reference in her writing) I thought for sure the editor had mistakenly edited another book in with this one. Ug. I honestly find movie and television versions of books not worth the time with all the alterations from the actual story line and edits due to time for viewing but in this case I have to 100% recommend the PBS television version over the audiobook. Ug.

A Delight

Bravo to Ms. Shapiro for her masterful, flawless completion of Ms. Austin's final work. To hear the mother tongue spoken and written so perfectly is a delight to my ears. Romantics rejoice. This should be like a beautifully crafted meal for your ears.

Almost Jane

As a lover of the work of Jane Austen, one must wonder about Sanditon. I'm glad I listened to it. However, I can only imagine that had Miss Austen lived to finish and edit this it would have been much better. The first third was not engaging at all.

Disappointed

Shapiro's additional text is not very good. The splice between Austen's halt, and the new text, is glaringly obvious. Character paths that have been carefully set up, in Austen's usually careful style, awaiting their main roles in the book, get sent off to Eastbourne when Shapero takes over! She has copied whole phrases out of Austen's other books, to the point of cheeseyness! the first 11 chapters I thoroughly enjoyed (Austen) then it cascades rapidly down hill.....

Don’t waste your time

I adore Jane Austen and have read & re-read all of her books many times but this is utter rubbish - should have left it unfinished- no storyline no plot lots of inane rambling about lace & muslin, not up to the usual standards

Pretty poor

I was keen to read a plausible interpretation of Jane Austen’ Sanditon which sadly she left unfinished. Shapiro did a rather poor job; I returned the book it became very tedious to listen to.. Jane Austen is a great writer and Shapiro has been unable to capture the essence of Austen’s unfinished work.

Good story poor narration

Enjoyed the story, although most of it was not written by Jane Austin, it was easy to believe that it could have been.
However the narration was very laboured at times & difficult to work out which character was speaking when not fully concentrating. There were times when it seemed like the narrator was about to stop mid sentence!

Eek!

The conclusion to Austins story by Shaprio lacks any novelty if thought and instead smashes together elements of Pride and prejudice and Persuasion. The result is utterly meh. The only saving grace is that at least in this version (unlike the horrific ITV Version) charlot does at least get her happy ending.