In the moving conclusion, Jane and her husband struggle with the illness of their son, confront a bitter relationship with one-time friends, and face the horrific prospect of war. The momentous events of the Regency era and the agonizing trials of their personal lives test Jane’s courage and moral convictions.

The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen resolves the mystery of Austen’s life during the “missing years” of her twenties:
Why the enduring rumors of a lost love or tragic affair? Why, afterward, did the vivacious Jane put on the “garb of middle age” and retire to write her books? Why did her beloved sister destroy her letters and journals from this period?

Marriage leads to a series of awakenings in her personal life and her engagement with the outside world. She grows emotionally through her deepening relationship with her husband, accepts the moral challenges of the biggest issue of the day, and undergoes the shifting emotions of a pregnant woman preparing for the birth of her child.