The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst & #JaneAustenJuly with @katiejlumsden from Books and Things

Katie brings to life her new novel, The Trouble with Mrs. Montgomery Hurst, set in a small Victorian town driven by the gossip and secrets of its inhabitants. We explore how classic literature influenced her narrative and how the early Victorian period and the impact of industrialisation provide a vivid backdrop to the story of this small town. Katie passionately discusses the importance of authentic representation, both of the era’s history and LGBTQA+ narratives like the forbidden love story of Amelia and Clara, and the pressures on women in this era and today to fit a mold, as seen in characters like Falcia. She also shares how her initial passion for the Brontës’ Jane Eyre evolved into a deep appreciation for nuanced storytelling, leading her to Dickens, Austen, and Gaskell. From her academic pursuits to her fascinating tenure at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, we explore how her love of writing has blossomed from her love of reading and the origins of Jane Austen July which Katie started with fellow bookish content creators a few years back. The Trouble with Mrs. Montgomery Hurst out 18 July! The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She Is a Hit in Hollywood Paperback – 18 May 2017 by Paula Byrne (Author) Hook Norton Brewery: https://www.hooky.co.uk/ Challenge Jane Austen July, hosted by @katiejlumsden, @misa1404, and @spinsterslibrary. Goodreads group. Where can you find Katie? Instagram: @katiejlumsden #janeaustenjuly Youtube: @katiejlumsden | Books and Things Penguin Katie Lumsden, other books: The Secrets of Hartwood Hall Support the Show. Where can you find your host (Izzy)? Website: www.whattheausten.com Podcast Instagram: @whattheausten Personal Instagram: @izzy_meakin Youtube: What the Austen? Podcast