Shortly before she died, Jane Austen started working on a new novel. Never finished, it was bequeathed to her favourite niece and remained unknown until 1871, when her nephew referred to it in his Memoir of Jane Austen. While her nephew did not consider it worthy of publishing, novelist and critic E M Forester firmly disagreed, stating that the work would undoubtedly "throw light on the last phase of the great novelist" if published. There have been a few attempts to complete this work, but non have captured the true magic of an Austen novel until now. Originally named The Brothers by Austen and dubbed Sanditon by her family, this 'new' novel promises to bring to life another Austen heroine worthy of keeping company with the likes of Elizabeth, Emma, and Anne. Her name is Charlotte.

Early stories tell of postponed weddings, shallow friends, a reluctant bride, and a duke's tragic decline.

Twentieth-century author Julia Barrett completes the Jane Austen novel fragment that Austen called "The Brothers."

Sanditon (1817) is an unfinished novel by the English writer Jane Austen. The novel centers on Charlotte Heywood, the eldest of the daughters still at home in the large family of a country gentleman from Willingdon, Sussex. Upon arrival in Sanditon, Charlotte meets the colorful and largely female inhabitants of the town. Excerpt: "My name perhaps... may be unknown at this distance from the coast – but Sanditon itself – everybody has heard of Sanditon, – the favorite – for a young and rising bathing-place, certainly the favorite spot of all that are to be found along the coast of Sussex; – the most favored by nature, and promising to be the most chosen by man."

From the day Charlotte Jane was born on a pirate ship she has had "formidable oomph," but when she succeeds in conquering sleep by staying up all night, her oomph seems to weigh anchor. Full color.