The Man Who Loved Jane Austen

Susan McKnight is an administrator with the Ontario government.

At the beginning of this novel, set in Montreal, we learn that Frank, a
CEGEP teacher, has recently lost his wife, Emma. He is determined to
raise their two young children on his own but meets opposition in the
form of Emma’s wealthy parents, the Hatchers. Believing that Frank
will fail as a parent because of his lack of wealth and old money
connections, they are just as determined to assume custody of the
children. Frank’s vulnerability in the face of the machinations of the
Hatcher family recalls some of the darker moments in Jane Austen’s
novels. Interwoven into the main storyline are concerns about the
political situation in Quebec, particularly as it relates to the uneasy
status of that province’s English-speaking residents.

In 1992, Ray Smith received QSPELL’s Hugh MacLennan Award for Best
Novel for A Night at the Opera. His style is a fitting tribute to his
mentor, John Metcalf.