Writing Jane Austen

Georgina Jackson received awards and acclaim for her first (and only) grim, Brontëesque novel, so her agent doesn't understand her reluctance to ghostwrite a novel from a newly discovered chapter handwritten by Jane Austen. After picking up a copy of Pride and Prejudice, Gina falls in love with Jane Austen and her Regency world. Actress Julia Whelan's youthful voice is appropriate for the 20-something Gina and her companions. Whelan doesn't seem to have a wide vocal range, but the characters are distinctive enough for her to approximate a British accent. While the novel is slight, Whelan's light rendering makes this work an entertaining listen. A Touchstone hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 22). (May)