Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kissing in fictional story of Jane Austen's sister's life.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Miss Austen
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In MISS AUSTEN, novelist Jane Austen's older sister, Cassandra (Keeley Hawes, Scoop) receives word that her late family friend's husband is dying. Alarmed, she packs her things and takes a carriage to Kintbury, where she arrives to a cold welcome from her dear friend's daughter. Cassandra offers to help with the inevitable transition for her friend's daughter, but she also has an ulterior motive. There are letters from her famous sister stashed somewhere in the house. Can Cassandra find the letters before her sister's secrets are revealed? What do the letters hide?
Is It Any Good?
Set in the late 1800s, this fictionalized story about letters penned by Jane Austen captures the emotional life of women who penned letters filled with opinions and plans for each other. Miss Austen celebrates the Austen sisterly bond, but the rivalry between in-laws lends frisson.
Based on the book by Gill Hornby, this show is historical fiction masked as biography. Expect taut performances rife with eye rolls and gasps from corseted women of a certain standing. Fans of Jane Austen's work will enjoy this the most.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about perseverance in Miss Austen. How do the characters overcome challenges by working toward goals? What would have happened if Jane Austen had given up?
Letter writing was the form of communication that was most used by people until email and messaging took over. Does sending an immediate message take away something that letters allowed?
Women and girls were subject to strict rules of decorum during the era depicted in this show. How do expectations of self-control affect your life?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 4, 2025
- Cast : Keeley Hawes , Patsy Ferran , Alfred Enoch
- Network : PBS
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Perseverance , Self-control
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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