How could I give anything less than five stars to works by Jane Austen? This collection of writings is impressive in two parts.

The first impression is of amazement. The Juvenilia show that even the most celebrated authors start out with short, sometimes silly stories to practice their writing. You can see Austen's written voice forming in these early experiments. These works are an encouragement for any aspiring writer that it takes time and effort to find your own unique voice.

The second impression is one of regret, lying in the unfinished works. They are the beginnings of what would have been more celebrated Austen material in this day. Instead they are collected in a sadly often overlooked compilation of would-be's.