For the first time, an entire book is devoted to examining the manuscript that Jane Austen was working on during the months preceding her early death in 1817. The sources for the fragment, a detailed description of the manuscript, the history of the text, an analysis of the appropriate title, a detailed text and commentary, a full bibliography, and appendixes offer the reader new views about this final effort that has been praised by some, condemned by others, and ignored by most.

For the first time, an entire book is devoted to examining the manuscript that Jane Austen was working on during the months preceding her early death in 1817. The sources for the fragment, a detailed description of the manuscript, the history of the text, an analysis of the appropriate title, a detailed text and commentary, a full bibliography, and appendixes offer the reader new views about this final effort that has been praised by some, condemned by others, and ignored by most.