Overview

• 'Miss Austen,' based on Gill Hornby's novel, premieres May 4 on PBS Masterpiece, following a successful UK run on BBC One.
• Keeley Hawes stars as Cassandra Austen, portraying her as a devoted sister who destroyed Jane's letters to protect her legacy.
• The series blends historical fiction with imagined flashbacks, offering a nuanced look at Jane and Cassandra's bond and sacrifices.
• Critics praise the show's exploration of unmarried and widowed women's lives in Regency-era England, alongside its strong performances.
• Timed with Jane Austen's 250th birth anniversary, the drama revisits the enduring cultural impact of her life and work.