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Review: A MAD ENDEAVOR by GL Kriewald
- Sophia Rose
- Jun 12
- 4 min read
ABOUT THE BOOK
She was much too sensible to entertain notions of there being a second spring of youth and beauty for her, yet sensible enough to recognize that the years had brought contentment, patience, and steadiness of temperament.
Having advanced into her fourth decade of life, Jane Austen harbors no false hopes about her own romantic prospect. The quietude of a country life, unpunctuated by griefs and vexations, and supplemented by the affection of a dear sister and devoted mother, was her lot. Taken together with her devotion to her writing and her books, she has determined that for some people, like herself, spinsterhood is a blessing. But into this placid contentment comes a surprise. A widowed gentleman, the former schoolmate of her brother Edward Austen-Knight, has come into the neighborhood bringing with him a son and two daughters, and suddenly, Jane’s life seems will take a turn. Perhaps love need not be something she merely reads and writes about. Alas, behind every widower is a storied past, and when Jane learns of John’s from another lady, he has jilted she knows not who to believe. Is Mr. Wirthemore her Mr. Darcy? Or shall he prove to be a Mr. Wickham? Will she be able to trust him once she learns the truth? A Mad Endeavour: The Last Romance of Jane Austen is a look into the life and love our dear authoress might have had if she had not died at a tragically young age. It is a clean, low-angst, second-chance Regency romance suitable for any age and excellent for anyone who loves Jane Austen.
Opening Lines
Jane Austen- plain, bookish, and reliant on fraternal largesse, with constant reminders of her dependent position and an undeserved reputation for waspishness – seemed to unite some of the most regrettable traits of spinsterhood; and had lived forty-one years in the world with much to distress and vex her.
REVIEW by Sophia Rose
A debut author and former English Lit professor chose for his first novel a late-life romance for Jane Austen. Taking bits of her real-life fused with pure fiction, GL Kriewald gave Austen’s life a new twist.
After eschewing a chance at heart and husband and going on to become a published novelist, Jane Austen, long past the usual age for romance, learns the heart can be opened to romance at any age.
A Mad Endeavour has a written style not unlike Austen’s and has the hallmarks of an Austenesque novel, especially when bits from canon are intertwined into the tale. That said, this is Kriewald’s story, and his character creations shine brightly. Cassandra's colorful personality and a somewhat histrionic Mrs. Austen were a source of humor beyond Jane’s edgier wit and observations of those around her. Chawton country life and London balls were good contrasts in the setting. I liked the uncertainty surrounding Mr. Wirthemore, who builds a little suspense and mystery to the gentle tale. His unsteady son Sebastian could be counted on to shake things up. And Jane has a stalker fan!
I read with appreciation, wondering since he was already adding in a fictional family and a chance for romance if he would go the full length and change Austen’s ending. He did...but he didn’t. A Mad Endeavour is no traditional ‘happily-ever-after, swoony' historical romance. It’s bittersweet but happy, shall we say.
It is a strong debut as a historical fiction and, to a lesser extent, romance. When read with the right expectations going into the story, A Mad Endeavor delivers. A satisfying read.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
GL Kriewald is a retired professor of English literature who resides in Madison, Wisconsin. He has previously published articles in literary journals as well as poetry and has written several plays, one of which was produced by a local theatre company. A Mad Endeavour: the Last Romance of Jane Austen is his first novel.
ABOUT THE GUEST REVIEWER
Sophia is a quiet, curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants, and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and a loving family.
A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, baseball, cats, Scooby Doo, and chocolate. As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. In 2012, she submitted her first book review and is currently an associate reviewer.
Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener, which allows her to experience many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction, particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Sorry, no horror...or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby. Connect with Sophia via FACEBOOK GOODREADS TWITTER
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