Gill Hornby

godmersham-park

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Kate-Atkinson

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

The Elopement

Miss Austen

Godmersham Park

Penguin Shop: 3 Clothbound Classics for £33

So envious of anyone yet to read this. A triumph!

Utterly absorbing and illuminating. Written with a sure and stylish hand. Gill Hornby's best book yet.

I read it straight through without looking up ... Godmersham Park provided me with a perfectly contented day.

The great writer is brought to life in this clever, well-researched piece of fiction.

Thoroughly entertaining, Godmersham Park has some of the same understated wit and sharp observation as Austen's novels.

Meticulously researched, Hornby's absorbing novel revels in the joys and tensions of life above and below stairs.

Early evening, 1804: Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent. 
 
Alone and desperately in need of an independent income, she is to become a governess to twelve-year-old Fanny Austen. 
 
But her new role in this large household where she is neither a servant nor a member of the family is an awkward one, and Anne is keenly aware that one wrong move may result in her instant dismissal. 
 
Then dashing Henry Austen and his younger sister Jane come to stay. 
 
Both take an immediate interest in the pretty, clever governess, and Anne quickly becomes drawn into the above-stairs life of the Austen family. 
 
Soon, and despite her best efforts, she finds she is falling in love. 
 
But has her survival at Godmersham Park just become a good deal more precarious?

From the number one bestselling author of Miss Austen, a powerful and moving novel featuring Jane Austen's closest friend and confidante . . . 
 
* Waterstones Fiction Book of the Month * 
 
'So envious of anyone yet to read this. A triumph!' Nigella Lawson 
'A masterly piece of storytelling.' Helena Kelly 
'The great writer is brought to life in this clever, well-researched piece of fiction' The Times 
'Thoroughly entertaining, Godmersham Park has some of the same understated wit and sharp observation as Austen's novels' Sunday Times 
'Displays a keen sense of wit and rich characterisation ... a thoroughly enjoyable book' Observer 
________________ 
 
January 1804: Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent to take up the position of governess. 
 
At thirty-one years old, she has no previous experience of either teaching or fine country houses. But her mother has died and she desperately needs an independent income if she is to survive. 
 
For her new charge, twelve-year-old Fanny Austen, Anne's arrival is all novelty and excitement. 
 
But Anne is keenly aware that her new role is an awkward one: she 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 her instant dismissal. 
 
She has just begun to settle into her position when dashing Henry Austen and his younger sister Jane come to stay. 
 
Both take an immediate interest in the pretty, clever governess who quickly becomes drawn into the above stairs life of the Austen family. 
 
Despite her best endeavours, Anne finds that she is beginning to fall in love. But has her survival at Godmersham Park just become a good deal more precarious? 
________________ 
 
More love for Godmersham Park . . . 
 
'If you love Jane Austen you're sure to enjoy Gill Hornby's stylish glimpse into the life of young governess Anne Sharp.' The Independent 
 
'Utterly absorbing and illuminating ... Gill Hornby's best book yet.' Esther Freud 
 
'I read it straight through without looking up.' Karen Joy Fowler 
 
'Meticulously researched, Hornby's absorbing novel revels in the joys and tensions of life above and below stairs.' Mail on Sunday 
 
'An invigorating riff on an author whose life and works keep on giving, and an ideal companion for your beach towel this summer.' Metro 
 
'Gill Hornby has created another winning tribute to the genius of Jane.' Woman 
________________ 
 
Loved Godmersham Park? Check out Gill Hornby's wonderful new novel, The Elopement! 
 
 
Sunday Times bestseller, January 2023

Gill Hornby is the author of The Hive and All Together Now, as well as The Story of Jane Austen, a biography of Austen for younger readers. 
 
Her subsequent novels, Miss Austen and Godmersham Park were Sunday Times bestsellers, and Miss Austen is a four-part BBC adaptation starring Keely Hawes as Cassandra Austen. She is also the President of the Jane Austen Society. 
 
She lives in West Berkshire with her husband and four children.

Godmersham Park

Format:

Buy the book from:

So envious of anyone yet to read this. A triumph!

A masterly piece of storytelling.

Utterly absorbing and illuminating. Written with a sure and stylish hand. Gill Hornby's best book yet.

I read it straight through without looking up ... Godmersham Park provided me with a perfectly contented day.

The great writer is brought to life in this clever, well-researched piece of fiction.

Thoroughly entertaining, Godmersham Park has some of the same understated wit and sharp observation as Austen's novels.

Meticulously researched, Hornby's absorbing novel revels in the joys and tensions of life above and below stairs.

About Gill Hornby

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter