‘A touching account … artfully constructed’ Sunday Times ‘The theatrical zest of the narrative, which is a tie-in with a movie of the same name, holds it all together’ The Times Praise for film previews of ‘Belle’: ‘A lovely, female-centric romance that completely reinvents the period movie in a way that will resound for quite some time’ Empire ‘Elegant and emotionally satisfying … this handsome period piece tells a continually fascinating, unusually layered story’ Variety Praise for Paula Byrne’s ‘The Real Jane Austen’: ‘The portrait of Austen that emerges is sparklingly multi-faceted, catching the light in intriguing ways … her Jane is far less likely to go for a quiet walk in the garden than she is to be whisked into town in search of a velvet cushion, a necklace or a smart new dress’ Mail on Sunday ‘Engaging, compelling, a delightful and engrossing book. Of course we all know that the "real" Jane Austen will forever be a mystery, but most 21st century Janeites will adore this one. Byrne's passion is nothing if not persuasive’ Sunday Times ‘Brilliantly illuminating … riveting. By focusing, chapter by chapter, on one thread or another of Austen's experience, Byrne allows us to grasp the richness of her inner life’ Simon Callow, Guardian