“Austen abandoned the book–although, Martel writes, “there is more perfection in it than in many a completed novel”–because of several sad events in her life while she was working on it, including the illness and death of her father. It was only four years later when some of her family responsibilities were lifted that she began to write again.

“She let go and then started up again, able to produce novels that marked the English novel forever. In that, there is something instructive. There is so much we must leave unfinished. How hard it is to let go,” Martel concludes.

Hmm: whatever could Martel be talking about? For more, check out http://www.whatisstephenharperreading.ca. I talk about it in my own blog too http://marysoderstrom.blogspot.com

Cheers

Mary