Return to Longbourn by Shannon Winslow

Now to compensate for my very paltry attempt at reviewing The Darcys of Pemberley! Return to Longbourn is the continuation to that story, taking on Mary Bennet as heroine. Let me just state up front, lest there be any confusion, that I've read my share of Mary stories, some very good, but this is by far my favorite. Shannon Winslow has remained rigidly true to Austen's original character while transforming her into a romantic heroine of the highest degree. If anyone doubts that Mary has the potential for a fairytale princess ending, let the fact that she has no less than three dashing suitors for her hand prove the point. This veritable miracle is achieved by Ms. Winslow looking not to Austen for her inspiration but Charlotte Bronte, whose influence is unmistakable in this tale of a governess.

That's right. Rather than remain a burden to her family (and perhaps just to escape them), Mary engages herself as governess to the new family residing at Netherfield: the Farnsworths. Leaving the colorful clothes and social engagements her mother forced upon her behind, she dons the subdued hues and quiet manners of the genteel servant. It's a welcome escape from notice and attention for Mary. Instead of being in the spotlight as she marches towards spinsterhood, she has guarded herself against such humiliations. Now she gets to sit and observe humanity, studying the characters of her fellow humans as assiduously as her father and sister ever did. Her observations are no longer mundane or pedantic, and following the death of Mrs. Farnsworth, she has the entire family's well-being to attend: a task for which she proves uniquely qualified.

Like the first book in this series, Return to Longbourn begins with a death: this time Mr. Bennet's. Mrs. Bennet's fear of the hedgerows is addressed by the appearance of Mr. Tristan Collins, returned from America upon learning of his inheritance, whom she quickly decides ought to marry Kitty. Kitty, fearing another Mr. Collins, flees to Pemberley to avoid him, an arrangement which proves agreeable to Mary, for Tristan in no way resembles his brother, and in his friendship she begins to experience the foundations for joy:

They were just passing the tree-lined lane for Lucas Lodge, when suddenly the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain set full in their faces. There was only one thing to be done, to which the exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety; it was that of running with all possible haste back the way from which they had come. Laughing, Mr. Tristan grasped Mary's hand without warning and compelled her along the road at a gallop. She held her skirt, put her head down, and raced along at his side, drawing deep draughts of the freshening air into her lungs as she went. 

On they ran in unison, stride for stride. Neither of them proved fleet-footed enough to outstrip the rain, however, and they ended huddled together on the front porch of Longbourn, soaked clean through.

Mary's long repressed and controlled emotions slowly begin to relax, increasing both her vibrancy and vulnerable. It is in this style of character development that the influence of Jane Eyre is primarily felt, though the fact that she works as a governess for a family that has a secret certainly helps. The rather one-dimensional Mary Bennet Austen gave us is totally reborn as a woman of immense passion, but I am thankful to acknowledge that when this heroine, heartbroken and guilty, flees the house of her employer, she at least remains cognizant enough to not misplace her purse. Fear no near-death scenes on frozen Moors, madwomen in the attic, or maimed heroes. Ms. Winslow doesn't stray so very far away from Austen's two inches of ivory. Had she dared, I suspect her Mary would have proven resistant to such theatrics.

I absolutely adore this rendition of Mary Bennet and have been in raptures over her for weeks. I could not put the book down until I learned her fate, which remains remarkably mysterious for the bulk of the story. Do not miss this book! Return to Longbourn is an essential read. I look forward to doing so again and again.


This is my twelfth review for The Pride and Prejudice Bicentennial Celebration 2013, hosted by Austenprose. Please see my others below:

Bluebells in the Mourning by KaraLynne Mackrory  

Pride and Platypus by Vera Nazarian 

Mr. Darcy's Little Sister vs. And This Our Life by C. Allyn Pierson 

An Unlikely Missionary by Skylar Hamilton Burris 

The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy by Regina Jeffers 

The Three Colonels by Jack Caldwell 

Pride and Prejudice (1995): Influence and Merits 

His Uncle's Favorite by Lory Lilian 

Mr. Darcy's Refuge and Mr. Darcy's Noble Connections by Abigail Reynolds

          Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise

          The Darcys of Pemberley by Shannon Winslow

The Darcys Of Pemberley by Shannon Winslow

So I've been hearing a lot of buzz about Shannon Winslow's newest novel, Return to Longbourn (which I will review next), but I wanted to read the first story in the series before embarking on it. I purchased a copy of The Darcys of Pemberley and started cruising through the story, only to suddenly realize about a third of the way through that I had read it before, in the days before I started blogging, when I consumed such a constant stream of Austenesque that some of the stories got lost in the mix. I'm sorry to say this was one (though I have my theory why it did), for it is a sweet tale and worth reading. I enjoyed the revisit.

The book begins with Mr. Collins' death (a supplementary account of which can be read in the short story, Mr. Collins's Last Super). The Darcy's have been married long enough for Elizabeth to be confident in her role as Mrs. Darcy, although some, like Lady Catherine, have still not come to grips with the fact. Love and prosperity treats former Bennets well, and both Elizabeth and Jane are reaping the daily benefits of heir marriages. The only real bane to contend with is the Wickhams, who have a tendency to assert themselves at the most inconvenient time, and the challenges we all face in married life.

The novel provides a gratifying glimpse into what life at Pemberley must have been for the Darcys: entertaining their neighbors, guiding Georgiana into society, and relishing their mutual affection. However, conflicting forces arise that threaten the harmony of Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship. On Elizabeth side, there is Georgiana, who confides in her what she cannot repeat to Darcy, and on his side, there is Wickham, still adept at manipulating his former friend and capitalizing on his insecurities. The great tension of the novel derives from Wickham's machinations, and while effectively done, it is this that probably denied the book a distinct place in my memory. So many of the books I read at the time involved an evil Wickham threatening the security of Pemberley. That does not diminish what is unique in this version, but it did help it to blend with the other books in my mind.

It seems this review is going to be shorter than I'd like, but my thoughts keep straying to Return to Longbourn (my review of which I will post later this week), about which I'm much more enthusiastic. As previously stated, The Darcys of Pemberley is a sweet tale, providing lots of gratifying time in the Darcys' most felicitous company. It is also well-written while maintaining a solid pace, and I recommend it to those who never get enough of Pemberley (I'm one of them!), and as an introduction to the continuation, which is, unfortunately, stealing the thunder of its precursor. That seems a bit lukewarm, I know, but please trust it is due to the second book's triumph, rather than something lacking in the first.


This is my eleventh review for The Pride and Prejudice Bicentennial Celebration 2013, hosted by Austenprose. Please see my others below:

Bluebells in the Mourning by KaraLynne Mackrory  

Pride and Platypus by Vera Nazarian 

Mr. Darcy's Little Sister vs. And This Our Life by C. Allyn Pierson 

An Unlikely Missionary by Skylar Hamilton Burris 

The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy by Regina Jeffers 

The Three Colonels by Jack Caldwell 

Pride and Prejudice (1995): Influence and Merits 

His Uncle's Favorite by Lory Lilian 

Mr. Darcy's Refuge and Mr. Darcy's Noble Connections by Abigail Reynolds

          Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise

George Knightley, Esquire: Lend Me Leave by Barbara Cornthwaite

(Note to readers: I began writing this post last Monday, but my daughter has been sick all week, and I never managed to finish it until today. These circumstances have rendered the following content, like that of Northanger Abbey, is a bit dated upon publication, though the closer proximity to Valentine's Day is entirely appropriate for such a wonderful love story)

I meant to spend last weekend reading all twenty-six, frenzied posts from the one woman experiment in insanity that was my version of a Pride & Prejudice Readathon (I'm so out of the loop these days I did not even know the BBC was having their own Readathon on the 200th anniversary until the day before, and the realization only increased the already intensely isolating quality of the experience), but I do not yet have the courage to confront it all. Instead, I delved into the world of Donwell and Highbury with Barbara Cornthwaite, rereading George Knightley, Esquire Book One: Charity Envieth Not (read my review here), and tearing through Book Two: Lend Me Leave. One benefit of the Readathon seems to be the reclamation of my reading time. Hallelujah! May it only last.

I've been aching to read this book for several years, and it is the kind of yearning the makes me nervous, for I have been burned before: adoring the first book of two in a series and finding its  conclusion disappointing. Not this time. Ms. Cornthwaite has again brought alive the world of Mr. Knightley with stunning clarity. In Emma, Austen gives us her most broadly developed community (thanks in no small part to Miss Bates), and Ms. Cornthwaite collects each and every detail, spinning and expounding them into a faithful narrative for our hero. Here is Mr. Knightley, lord of the manor, settling the disputes of his tenants, attending meetings at the Crown, fulfilling his function as magistrate, and generally making sure everyone in his realm has everything they require. Due to my long and abiding interest in the treatment of madness in the 19th century (which, synchronistically, plays a roll in the new P&P sequel I've been planning), I particularly enjoyed his efforts to establish a county asylum, an endeavor compelled by the blatant insanity of a tenant's sister. The book is chock full of similar episodes, anchored in history, of a benevolent landlord's daily occupations and concerns, but the plot's driving force remains those events original to Austen. 

In the first book, the timing of Mr. Knightley's realization of his love for Emma was perfectly developed, and in book two we see him struggling with the consequences of this awakening, particularly his jealously of Frank Churchill. I admit to sensations of discomfort while watching Mr. Knightley lose his well-regulated mind to love. His passion is potent, verging on obsessive, and while I find Ms. Cornthwaite's depiction both believable and touching, it is not how I'm inclined to imagine Mr. Knightley coping with his emotions. I feel somewhat guilty recording this slight criticism, for overall the insight into his mind is blissful in its perfection. His observations of Mrs. Elton are priceless, as in this letter to brother John:

Yes, the new Mrs. Elton is now among us. I imagine that Isabella will soon hear from Emma on the subject, tho' I think Emma will likely moderate her words for her sister. You will have a fairly accurate picture of Mrs. Elton's character when I tell you about the call the Eltons paid to the Abbey today as they returned my wedding-visit. You will be pleased to learn that in her estimation, the Abbey compares favourably with Maple Grove, the seat of her sister's husband. You have never heard of the place before, you say? Neither had I, which now seems incredible, as I gather that it is the pride of Somerset. As Maple grove has been in existance for, I take it, something less than a century. and is evidently decorated in the first stare of fashion, the only resemblance Mrs. Elton could produce between Maple Grove ad Donwell is the air of refinement and - she almost said "wealth", but replaced it just in time with "Prosperity".

She is much disappointed with the card-parties in Highbury. Her hostesses, one and all, have neglected to serve ice at their gatherings (where does she suppose they will get it from? This is not Bath), and, worse, no one has taken the trouble to purchase new packs of cards for each table. She has evidently not grasped the fact that it is done in the large parties of Bath in order to prevent cheating, not as a proof of elegance. Or perhaps she has understood the reason, and is in fact suspicious of Mrs. Goddard or Mrs. Perry, supposing them to be regularly cheating the other ladies out of a sixpence or two. I could believe either of her.

I also love this scene on Box Hill, before Emma's rudeness, as it beautifully displays the keen capabilities of his heart:

"It is breathtaking, is it not, Mr. Knightley?" said Miss Bates at his side. "I was here many years ago - dear me, it must be twenty-years now - when I was rather a young lady. A small party of friends - Captain Fairfax and my sister, Mr. Prescott and his sister - my father's curate, you know."

Mr. Prescott... Good heavens, I had forgotten all about him, thought Knightley. Mr. Prescott had been the last curate in the parish of Highbury, before the town's population had diminished to the point where a curate was not needed. Knightley's memories of the man were verty dim, and he seemed to recall that he had been a tall man who had married a woman from Langham and soon afterwards been given a parish somewhere in Hampshire.

"My dear Jane," said Mrs. Elton, "Come and look at this! I believe you can see that church from here - remember the church with the odd tower we saw on the way here? Come and see if it the same one."

Miss Fairfax came dutifully to Mrs. Elton's side and looked out into the distance in the direction Mrs. Elton was pointing out.

"You may be right, Mrs. Elton," said Jane in so listless a tone that Knightley looked at her thoughtfully. Miss Fairfax had escaped Mrs. Elton's company yesterday by walking home, but she could hardly do the same today.

"My dear Augusta," said Elton, "ought the food baskets to be sitting in the sun there? I would have thought that the shade of a tree might be a better place."

"I told the servants to move the baskets - that shiftless Betty does not hear one word out of three that I say. I will go and see to it that things are done properly - servants can never be expected to think of these things."

She started off, with Elton at her heels, and Knightley saw his chance.

"Miss Bates, Miss Fairfax - will you join me in exploring the hill?"

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Knightley," said Jane, with the first smile he had seen from her all day.

"Have you heard anything of Mr. Prescott lately?" asked Knightley. "I have not thought of him these ten years or more. I believe he was living in Hampshire."

"Oh, yes - he has a parish near Petersfield. Sophia - his sister - writes to me. We used to go on drives quite often - we had the carriage then, and dear Papa would let us drive with - I think he rather hoped - ah, well. How long ago that was, to be sure!" There was a wistful note in her voice as she said the lasy.

Long ago, indeed. The Bates' had not had a carriage for the last decade, at least. Miss Bates had been a young lady then - he could not picture her as demure, for she would always have been talkative - but in her youth her leading characteristic must have been her enthusiasm. He had a vision of her as a young lady with a party of friends - bubbling over with good cheer, enthusiastic for every scheme proposed - perhaps being escorted by Mr. Prescott - who Mr. Bates evidently had hoped would marry his daughter. Knightley glanced at Miss Fairfax to see what she thought and was struck bu her inattention. She walked languidly and seemed to be indifferent to her surroundings. It might be that she was weary - the heat was oppressive and any exercise in it was liable to produce exhaustion in one who had been lately ill.

Like all the best Austenesque, the George Knightley, Esquire series illuminates the original book for a reader, shining new light on the nuances and intimations of the text, while providing what we most crave: more time with Austen's irresistable creations. I love that this genre has given devoted Janeites a new medium for discussing Austen's texts, and Ms. Cornthwaite has added admirably to the conversation.

The Pemberley Chronicles: The Legacy of Pemberley by Rebecca Ann Collins

And so ends The Pemberley Chronicles. Rebecca Ann Collins has brought at least 50 years beyond the end of Pride and Prejudice, creating three generations of descendants for Austen's characters. Those who have read my previous posts on this epic sequel (an overview of books one through six and reviews of Postscript from Pemberley, Recollections of Rosings, and A Woman of Influence) will know that I have been in some dread of this final installment, The Legacy of Pemberley, for after watching the majority of our original cast die off one by one, I was certain that the series would end with the death of at least one or both of the Darcys. You can imagine my relief in discovering that this fear was unfounded. I have to imagine that Ms. Collins did not have the heart to write of such a terrible event. Instead, she wraps up her account by bringing the tale back to Derbyshire and the affairs of the residents in and around Pemberley, providing a vision of stability and continuance for the future.  

The book is split into three parts, and each could almost stand as a mini versions of Ms. Collins previous novels, as they focus on the development of one or two romances. Part one is entitled Emily's Children (as in Emily Courtney, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner) and focuses on the marriage of her youngest son, Jude, and the ongoing disharmony between the core family and Robert Gardiner (Emily's brother) and his wife Rose (daughter of James Fitzwilliam, Colonel Fitzwilliam's older brother). Robert has long been something of the black sheep of the Gardiner clan, being by far the least morally grounded. In the hands of his spoiled wife, who bullies him, he has estranged himself quite forcefully from the Darcys, particularly following the blatant resentment the couple displayed when the Gardiners' business was left to his sister Caroline Fitzwilliam's control, rather than his, and the family estate at Oakleigh Manor went to Emily. Ever since, Robert and Rose have connived to get their hands of Oakleigh, and with Emily ailing and poor, having expended the entirety of her inheritance on charitable causes, and Jude engaged to marry the Teresa Mancini, the granddaughter of the flower merchant who leases a section of the land at Oakleigh, they attempt to take advantage of the Courtneys vulnerability. Robert, however, when fully confronted with the duplicity his wife is willing to stoop to, attempts to assert himself for the first time in years, and while it is enough to garner some sympathy for him from the family, it is not sufficient to restore happiness to his troubled marriage, especially when the actions of his spoiled daughter, Miranda, further complicate matters. This section of the book also accounts for the long absent William Courtney, whose musical talent has taken him far from the lives of those at Pemberley, wrapping up his story and accounting for his long absence, while also touching on the fate of Eliza Harwood, Emily's oldest daughter. Her forth child, Jessica, has had a more prominent role than her siblings in recent books, having married Julian Darcy and established herself at Pemberley.

Part two is entitled Solitary Lives, and its topic is the fate of of two ladies who have been intricate to this story - Georgiana Grantley (nee Darcy) and Caroline Fitzwilliam (who married the Colonel) - following the lose of their husbands. Both have one unmarried daughter left on their hands: the spoiled and self-centered Virginia Grantley, and the sacrificing and modest Rachel Fitzwilliam. These ladies are in their late twenties, and while Georgiana evinces great concern over her daughter's single fate, having lived her own  life dependent on first her brother and than her husband, Caroline is happy to still have Rachel's companionship and to let her find her own path. Georgiana's concern is exacerbated by the fact that Virginia's presence at Pemberley, where she and her mother have relocated, has created great disharmony. In an attempt to alleviate the situation, Caroline invites Virginia to stay with her at Matlock. It is there that two new gentleman, fresh from Australia, come into their lives. First there is the arrival of Daniel Faulkner (the son of Maria Faulkner, nee Lucas, and brother of Anna Bingley, who is married to Jane's oldest son) after having been away from England for twenty years. Soon he is followed by his friend, a Mr. Adam Frasier. Both gentleman will have a lasting impact of the young ladies at Matlock and their mothers.

The final part is called The Inheritance. While its title does not fit its subject matter as the precisely as those of the previous parts of the novel, it is apt in that it demonstrates the ability of those who will inherit Pemberley and the surrounding estates to carry on the Darcy's legacy. They are called upon to rise to the occasion after Mr. Bingley is told to travel to the Mediterranean to restore his ailing health, and Mr. and Mrs. Darcy decide to accompany him and Jane. The section focuses on Laura Ann Gardiner, daughter of Robert and Cassandra (the brother of Caroline, Emily, and Robert and the daughter of Darcy and Elizabeth). Her romance begins to bloom when a new family moves into a long vacant farm adjoining Darcy and Kate Gardiner's property (Darcy is Laura Ann's oldest brother and the manager of Pemberley). Newly arrived from Ireland, the O'Conner's are not a well off family, but the widowed mother, her son, Tom, and her two daughters quickly become friends with this branch of the Gardiner family. But when a wealthy industrialist moves into the area and begins trying to buy up properties for development through crooked means, including the O'Conner's farm, the families in and around Pemberley must act fast to preserve the tranquility and prosperity of Derbyshire, and for the first time, Mr. Darcy isn't there to advise them. Now is the time to see how well the succeeding generation has been equipped to step into their elders' august shoes.

Like all of Ms. Collins books, this novel provides a very pleasant sojourn in the world that Austen inspired, but I think I am a bit relieved to know that the series has come to an end. For one thing, it is trying to keep up with the tangle of relationships she has created between the descendants of the Darcys, Bingleys, Fitzwilliams, Gardiners, and Lucases. I have often considered trying to make a family tree, but with so may cousins intermarried, the thing is a complete hodgepodge. Secondly, I often find Ms. Collins' prose boring, as she tends to be very repetitive (I lost count of how many times in this volume she had a character reflect, in a revelatory manner, on Georgiana Grantley's dependent state). However, this series does what no other has in providing a real glimpse into what changes and developments the Victorian Era might bring to Austen's beloved characters. Ms. Collins develops the generations that follow in depth, all without relying on sexual content and overly dramatic happenings to fuel her plot. I might very well reread the series one day, when I am craving the safety and comfort it provides, as it is entirely free of subject matter that would make the original authoress blush. The one area that Ms. Collins strays into that Austen never touches upon are the political and industrial developments of the period, as well as their effects of the poor and wealthy alike, but as this is what I find most interesting in her stories, I have no complaints about it. Would Austen have agreed that her creations would prove to be such reformers? I have no idea, but my modern values approve of the notion. I recommend this series to any who are looking for a long and detailed account of the future of Pemberley without the graphic content that defines so many Pride and Prejudice sequels.           

Interview with Elizabeth Elliot and Patrick McGillvary at Reading, Writing, Working, Playing

I highly suggest that you stop whatever it is you are doing and dash over to Jane Greensmith's blog, Reading, Writing, Working, Playing, in order to indulge in one of the cleverest blog post it has ever been my pleasure to read. Ms. Greensmith and Laura Hile, author of the Mercy's Embrace series (follow the links to read my reviews of books one, two, and three), have concocted a hilarious interview with the main characters of the story, Elizabeth Elliot and Patrick McGillvary. They are also offering a giveaway (shipping in the US only) of all three books to one lucky participant, but the deadline for entry is tonight, so hurry up and enter! This series is one of my very favorite Austen sequels out there, and I highly recommend it to all.  

Memory by Linda Wells

As I am very behind on reviews, I decided to discuss all three volumes of Linda Wells' rather epic Memory series in a single post. I read these books a few weeks ago while I had the flu, and they were an excellent distraction from my ailments. Though Ms. Wells' novels are highly sexual, which I disapprove of, I cannot help but to continue reading the tombs she produces, as the storylines are absolutely charming. Her first book, Chance Encounters, remains my favorite she has written, and I reread it when I need a thorough dose of romance (though after the first perusal, I have always skipped over the sex scenes). Though Ms. Wells' writing and grammar have remarkably improved since this novel, I still think her first story the best.

Memory is a "What If?" Pride and Prejudice re-imagining premised on the notion that Darcy and Elizabeth meet many years earlier than they do in the original story. Volume one, Lasting Impressions, begins with Fitzwilliam Darcy returning from a grand tour of the continent only to learn that his father is in failing health. Overwhelmed with the potential loss and the responsibilities it thrusts onto his shoulders, he escapes his London town home for Hyde Park, where a young girl's laughter cuts through his grief and makes a "lasting impression" upon him. This is Ms. Wells strength - creating gloriously romantic scenarios to bring our favorite couple together. Unlike the course of events in Miss Austen's story, Ms. Wells always has Darcy and Elizabeth make an instant connection in her books. In this novel, they see each other in passing several times over the course of many years, always separated before they can speak. In am amusing twist, it is Charles Bingley who ends up playing matchmaker, his social background acting as a link between Elizabeth and Darcy's worlds.

Lasting Impressions spans the course of the Darcy's courtship and sees them married and established at Pemberley. This was my favorite book in the trilogy, in no small part because it has the least amount of sex in it. Following Darcy and Elizabeth's discovery of each other, all the other characters' lives are radically changed from how Austen imagined them. Volumes two and three, Trials to Bear and How Far We Have Come (respectively), are largely dedicated to finding comfortable situations for the rest of the cast. I particularly enjoyed Ms. Wells' handling of Mary Bennet, who also finds herself mistress of a rather impressive estate. Jane Bennet takes a very different path than that we are familiar with, and Lydia Bennet is forced to see the dangers of her ways before bringing disgrace upon the family. Readers of Ms. Wells' other books will recall how harshly she deals with Mr. and Mr. Bennet, the latter usually bearing the brunt of her disapproval. In this book, it is Mrs. Bennet who is irredeemable. I continue to feel that Ms. Wells is rather harsh in her analysis of both these characters, but directing that disapproval towards Mrs. Bennet sits a bit more comfortably with me than when it is focused on Mr. Bennet.

All three books combined, the Memory series is about 1500 pages long, which is a lot of Darcy and Elizabeth. Granted, a good chunk of those pages are sex scenes and, in my opinion, unnecessary to the plot, but by spanning the books over several years, Ms. Wells gives those readers who can never get enough of these characters exactly what they want: Elizabeth and Darcy galore.

I must end this post with a question. Does anyone know if the Linda Wells who writes Pride and Prejudice fan fiction is the same Linda Wells who is a beauty editor at Allure? I have been wondering this since Chance Encounters was published but have never found a definite answer.

The Importance of Being Emma by Juliet Archer

The Importance of Being Emma is the first Austen modernization I have read that I absolutely adored. Having long been reluctant to read modernizations, the first few I have tentatively pursued were enjoyable, but not mind boggling. Juliet Archer has boggled my mind. The thing is, I believe that reading The Importance of Being Emma has taught me something fundamental about Emma that I never knew before: how to hate Emma Woodhouse.

I have never really understood why everyone seems to dislikes Miss Woodhouse so much. Yes, she's egotistical and meddlesome, but I identify with her more than with any of Austen's other heroines and proudly display my badge bearing Gwynth Paltrow's picture from the "Which Austen heroine are you?" quiz (see the sidebar). Yet Ms. Archer's modern portrayal of her made my skin crawl. I need to dwell on this for a moment, though I do not mean to criticize the novel, which I loved. Please do not misunderstand the nature of the following rather snippy complaints. It is just that the opportunity to lend my voice to the ranks of those who detest Emma is too novel to waste.

Emma Woodhouse is the new marketing director at Highbury Foods, her family's business. Fresh from an impressive college career, she sets out to bring the old fashioned company her father runs into the 21st century. Perhaps her cause would be aided if she dressed a bit more professionally. As the book opens, she is dismayed by a magazine article featuring a very leggy image of herself but does not learn from this incident to present herself less sexually. The descriptions of her clothing are remarkable. Stilettos, plunging necklines, and skintight skirts are apparently quite unexceptional office attire. I love what she wears to the company Christmas party:

Stunning dress, white and strapless and hugging her body as though she'd been poured into it. Hair falling in glossy waves around her face. Eyes and lips provocatively defined, as if daring someone to accuse her of wearing too much make-up.

Such an ensemble doesn't exactly correspond to what all the female executives I have ever known are likely to wear at a company function, especially those who work at conservative, family-run businesses. Furthermore, she's caddy, selfish, and, in summation, the kind of woman I wouldn't be adverse to running over with my car. Is this not what most fans feel for Austen's Emma Woodhouse?

So why did I love this book so much while positively loathing the heroine? It has everything to do with Mark Knightley. This too makes me feel at one with many of my fellow Janeites, all adoration for Mr. Knightley while despising his lady love. Ms. Archer's development of his character takes him beyond the staid Regency gentleman we know and love, presenting him as an incredibly passionate, socially conscious, and far from perfect modern man. The book is structured so the point of view switches back and forth between Emma and Mark, allowing us inside his head and revealing the not so very gentlemanly thoughts he has. When reading period JAFF, I have a very hard time with the heroes and heroines being presented sexually, but have found that sexual content does not bother me nearly so much when the stories are transposed to the modern era. Mark Knightley is an extremely sexy and sensual character. I found myself unable to put the book down as I waited for Emma to stop scheming and the perspective to flip back to Mark and his struggle over his feelings for Emma. All the intense emotion we imagine Austen's George Knightley to masterly repress is conveyed in indulgent detail through Mark's voice. For example, note the clarity of his emotions upon meeting the modern Frank Churchill:

I walked into the room and stopped short.


They were on the sofa together, their knees almost touching; he was half turned towards her, his hand on her arm. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled. I couldn't see all of his face, but I knew who he was, instantly.


Flynn Churchill.


Several seconds passed before Emma noticed me. 'Oh, there you are,' she said, dismissively, and looked straight back at him. 'Flynn, this is Mark Knightley, I'm sure Tom will have mentioned the name.'


He jumped to his feet and tried to win me over with the same engaging grin I'd seen in that photo-shrine on the Westons' sideboard. We shook hands - he wasn't as limp-wristed as I'd have liked - and I schooled my features into a mask of polite indifference; inside, I was wishing him miles away.


So he'd finally shown up in Highbury, after all those false boasts and empty promises. Putting the Westons to great inconvenience, no doubt; I vaguely remembered Emma saying he wasn't expected until the end of the week. And, with impeccable timing, he'd decided to visit Hartfield at a critical moment between Emma and me.


I took a seat opposite them and willed her to look at me. All in vain; it became increasingly obvious that I may as well not be in the room. He was centre stage, the focus of her attention.


I'd only just met him, yet I hated him - more than I'd ever hated anyone in my life.

The book held me totally riveted from beginning to end. A nice touch were the chapter titles, named in honor of the food industry interests of the Woodhouse and Knightley families, each a course in the grand feast Ms. Archer presents for our delectation. Though I will continue to love and defend Austen's Emma Woodhouse, I have to admit that I never thought I would enjoy disliking a version of her so much. It has been a most enlightening experience, and I cannot wait to see if Ms. Archer causes a similar revolution in my persepective of Persuasion, my favorite Austen novel, in her next book in the Jane Austen in the 21st Century series, Persuade Me. You can learn more about the series and read an excerpt on Ms. Archer's website.

The Heir to Longbourn by Laurence Fleming

I paid the import fees to get this book from England, thrilled to read an Austen continuation written by a man. After three years of devouring this stuff, Laurence Fleming is only male author I have come across (excluding those who insist on incorporating zombies and sea monsters, who I don't, frankly, count). As I cannot find a web page on him, I am assuming that he is not a woman writing under a masculine pen name. We need more men writing JAFF to help dispel the ridiculous notion that Austen wrote chick lit. The Heir to Longbourn is a fine contribution to this cause.

As the title suggests, the main plot line of this story revolves around who shall inherit Longbourn. The question is not as clear as Austen painted it, for with the death of Mrs. Bennet (and a bit of a makeover for Mr. Bennet), the possibility of a second marriage becomes quite probable, much to Mr. Collins' chagrin:

"But it is not only that," he said, "not only that at all. I gave myself the trouble of a journey to Longbourn only to find that your father, a grieving widower of less than a month's duration, had left there for Bath, of all frivolous localities, and that the house was actually in process of new decoration. There are to be new curtains, which I understand to be yellow, of all inappropriate shades, in the drawing-room, new paper in the room where Mrs. Bennet died - it was as though all memory of your mother were to be expunged. It was all too soon, Mrs Darcy, Miss Bennet. A year's deep mourning, in closed solitude at Longbourn, would  have been suitable. But to be Gallivanting off to London, in all the present circumstances, is by no means the action of a person worthy of respect."


"I think you forget yourself," said Elizabeth angrily. "The memory of the mother of five daughters cannot possibly be expunged so long as those daughters are alive; and the changes at Longbourn have been under consideration for a long time. My mother wished to bring them about herseld and would have certainly done so. We thought it best to have them made while my father was away."


"But to come to Bath, Mrs Darcy, a place known for its thoughtless frivolities and which can offer him no opportunity for serious reflection on the permanence of the event which has recently overwhelmed him - who can have made such a decision?"


"In choosing Bath, Mr Collins," said Elizabeth coldly, "I though only of the benefit to my father's health and spirits. e live very quietly here."


"And very well," retorted Mr Collins. "I am astonished to think that the estate at Longborn can support the expense of such a residence as this."


Elizabeth was now too angry to speak, and did not do so. It was Catherine who said, and in a voice which Elizabe5th had never heard before: "You may be quite easy, Mr Collins. It is the estate at Pemberley that supports us here."


"And not content with coming to Bath," continued Mr Collins, in royal rage and as though Catherine had not spoken, "he must needs go jaunting off to London before he has been here a week. Pray, what is the reason for that?"


"The reason for that," said Elizabeth, with an edge to her voice which she made no attempt to conceal, "is that my father is urgently in need of some new clothes. The last person to die in his family was his father, some thirty years ago. He has gone to purchase his mourning which, as you have said yourself, is liable to last for a year. I presume you have no objection to that?"


"I should have thought it possible to purchase mourning a little nearer home," said Mr Collins sullenly. "At his age there can be no requirement to be at the height of the mode. But none of this alters the fact that at no time have I been consulted. As the heir to his estate it is my right to be closely consulted about everything that appertains to that estate. The changes in the house at Longbourn are costly and unnecessary. This visit to Bath is costly and unnecessary. I can hardly express my sense of outrage sufficiently."


Elizabeth stood up, and Catherine with her.


"You appear to be under some misapprehension, Mr Collins," she said very politely. "It is my mother who has died, not my father. Until that event occurs you have no right whatever to concern yourself in what goes on at Longbourn, unless my father specifically invites you to do so. He has been his own master for a great many years and he is most unlikely to require any assistance, or brook any interference, from you or from anyone else."

Take that, you pompous windbag!

The Heir to Longbourn is not just a Pride and Prejudice continuation, also incorporating characters from Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and especially Mansfield Park, with Maria and Tom Bertram taking center stage. Like Maria of Birkthwaite by Judith Brocklehurst, this book seeks to redeem Maria and free her from her exiled state. I find Mr. Fleming's method of doing this far more believable than Ms. Brocklehurst's, but take issue with his handling of other characters from Mansfield, particularly Fanny Bertram nee Price. Though we never hear or see her directly, an insider's account of Fanny makes her appear as dour as possible. I will not turn this review into a defense of Fanny Price, but I do so wish lovers of Austen would be a bit more sympathetic towards this most maligned heroine. I find it particularly frustrating when she is disparaged while Mary Crawford is lauded, as occurs to a degree in this book. Why are these two characters the only ones that Janeites do not trust Austen to have rewarded and punished appropriately?

There are two more books in this series by Mr. Fleming: The Will of Lady Catherine and The Summer at Lyme. I imagine they will continue to combine the stories of Austen's other characters with those of Pride and Prejudice. Both are now in my Amazon shopping cart. I look forward to further enjoying Mr. Fleming's thoughtful and surprising imaginings of where fate might have led these beloved characters.

The Pemberley Chronicles: A Woman of Influence by Rebecca Ann Collins

I was pleasantly surprised by this book (my fears for it being expressed in my review of the last, Recollections from Rosings), which proved to be another tale of second attachments, this time focused on Becky Tate (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Collins). A Woman of Influence sees Becky an established widow, comfortable in her singleness, discovering the joys of love that were absent from her marriage. However, the first half of the book focuses more on Becky's attempts to aid an unrelated character, Alice Grey, to reunite with her husband, falsely accused and incarcerated. Ms. Collins has a tendency to do this: to insert a side story, usually reflective of her characters' reformist propensities, but with little to do with the chronicling the lives of the Darcys, Bingleys, Gardiners, Fitzwilliams, and Collinses. This is particularly frustrating as we approach the final book and the increasingly obvious truth that Lizzy, Darcy, Jane, and Bingley cannot possibly live much longer.

Ms. Collins almost never includes specific dates in her books, but in this one she places the action firmly in the years 1868-1869. This means, best case scenario, that Lizzy is in her seventies and Darcy in his eighties. Though neither make frequent appearances in this volume and their ages are never addressed, that time is slipping away can be clearly felt, particularly in Lizzy. Mrs. Darcy has become very much the grand old lady, in many ways not terribly dissimilar from Lady Catherine. On the few occasions (mostly towards the end of the book) when she takes center stage, her outspoken nature reminds the reader that this is no longer Lizzy Bennet of Longbourn, nor has she been in many years, but a very wealthy lady who has spent the vast majority of her life in command, with her opinions and ideas treated with respect and deference. Note the manner in which she comments on Becky's second match:

"Have they?" said Elizabeth. "Well, I suppose it is not an unsuitable match."


"No indeed," said Mr Darcy. "They are both persons of independent means and, I daresay, mature enough to know their own minds."


"Which is certainly more than could be said for Becky when she married Anthony Tate in such a precipitate fashion," Elizabeth remarked, recalling the day she had heard the news from her sister Jane.


"Why, Becky was scarcely seventeen. When Jane told me of their engagement, you could have knocked me down with a feather. It had all happened so suddenly, I was afraid it would end in tears, and it did. Tate was only interested in business and politics, and poor Becky, for all her hard work, was treated rather shabbily when he left everything to Walter and that dreadful wife of his. Everybody knows she is a grasping, unpleasant sort of person."


Mr Darcy then reminded his wife that Mr Tate had also left the entire proceeds of his American estate in trust for Becky's use and she did get the house in London. To which Elizabeth had to add that it was no more than she deserved, considering all the hard work Becky had done, lobbying for her husband's favorite causes and promoting his business ventures.


"It beggars belief that he could be so unfeeling as to leave their family home to Walter, suggesting that he reach some accommodation with his mother. It was a callous, heartless thing to do, and I am sure Becky was very hurt," she said.

No, it's not quite, "I must have my share of the conversation," but Elizabeth's tone resembles Lady Catherine's more than her own, youthful self.

Usually there books end with an indication of the story line in the next, but not this one. This increases my sense that the final book, entitled The Legacy of Pemberley (due out in November), will see a return to our original cast as they wrap up their lives. I am both excited to get back to the characters I love so much but also terrified that it will be unbearably depressing. A few more months will tell.

Read my other Pemberley Chronicles posts: 
Books 1 - 6
Book 7
Book 8

Mercy's Embrace: The Lady Must Decide by Laura Hile

My signed copy of The Lady Must Decide finally arrived yesterday afternoon. Yeah! Of course, the rest of the day was totally absorbed in reading it! I reread the first two book, So Rough a Course and So Lively a Chase, last week and then pined for four days, anxiously waiting to finally learn how this story would end. Now I know. Again, it was over too soon!

As it is impossible to discuss this book without spoiling the previous two, if you have not read them I suggest you proceed directly to my Mercy's Embrace Giveaway post, where you can take the Elizabeth Elliot quiz and be entered win a complete collection of these delightful continuations of Persuasion. Those who have already read the first two books can safely read the rest of this review.

The Lady Must Decide is a raucous jaunt, just like the proceeding novels. The dignified Elliot family finds themselves in all kinds of outlandish situations, from Sir Walter suffering in a mail coach to Elizabeth stealing a dog. When we left Miss Elliot at the end of So Lively A Chase, Mr. Gill had finally revealed himself as Admiral McGillvary. This story begins with Elizabeth slowly (very slowly) coming to grips with the truth. Once the reality of the hoax sinks in, she needs to grapple with the trust issues that arise from McGillvary's use of a false identity. Unfortunately, everything that could possible go wrong seems to in this book, hindering their ability to come to an understanding until almost the very end. I don't want to give too much away, but in the course of two hundred pages there are carriage accidents, fires, foiled elopements, and near drownings, to mention just a few notable incidents. Louisa Musgrove's cracked skull seems tame indeed! The action progresses quickly, making the book almost impossible to put down. My only complaint is that while Elizabeth and McGillvary find a happy conclusion, many of the other ends are left hanging. I'm dying to hear more from Sir Walter, the Musgroves, the Wentworths, McGillvary's half-brother Ronan, his daughter Cleora, and Yee, the butler, as all their tales are largely unresolved. Let me use this opportunity to humbly beg Ms. Hile to continue the story, allowing us to follow these loose ends while glorying in Elizabeth and McGillvary as they take their place in society. Three books are simply not enough to satiate my interest in the world she has created.

Not only have I come to adore Elizabeth Elliot (a feat I once thought impossible), but I simply can't get enough of Admiral McGillvary. He is a phenomenal hero. I love this scene in which he and Elizabeth attend a ball, defying the gossips who are alive with news of her broken engagement to Mr. Rushworth:

The Dance floor was crowded; Elizabeth could see no opening in any of the sets. "Perhaps we should wait-" she began, but McxGillvary cut her off.


"Not on your life," he said, leaning to speak into her ear. "Once one decides to engage the enemy, one cannot hesitate. I thought you knew that."


"What?' she said blankly.


He caught hold of her hand. "Come," he murmured, "keep your courage up, my dear! This might be a desperate enterprise, but we'll see it through."


Elizabeth's cheeks were burning. He was holding her hand, heedless of the interested eyes all around. he was smiling, too...a particularly attractive smile. Indeed, his eyes were shinning with a light that quite took her breath away. Elizabeth tore her gaze from him, unsure of what to think. Truly this was a desperate enterprise-did he think she could forget? Elizabeth put up her chin.


"That's the spirit," he said. "Let's give the gossips something to talk about."


The music began just then, and Elizabeth's panic increased. All around them dancers began to move...and the two of them were standing on the dance floor with nowhere to go.


"Come," he said, and pulled her by the hand. And then she saw it-a set near the centre of the room had an empty spot. She glanced again at Patrick's face; he was grinning. "You see?" he said, leading her to her place and pivoting in time to make the required bow. "Tactics."


"Tactics," she whispered, wishing she were as much at ease as he.


"And now," he said, taking hold of her hand once more, "let's show them how it's done, shall we?"


"I wish I had your confidence," she confessed shyly when they were joined in the dance.


The smile disappeared from his lips but not from his eyes. "What can possibly go wrong?" he said softly. "We are together. And together we are unassailable."

Sigh. I love this couple. I want more from them just like I want more from Austen's original creations: more Darcy and Elizabeth, more Emma and Knightley, and more of Miss Elliot and Admiral McGillvary. Mercy's Embrace is definitely one of the most entertaining Austen sequels I have read. Thank you, Ms. Hile, for your contribution to the genre!

Mercy's Embrace Giveaway!

I am thoroughly honored to be the first blogger to be able to offer my readers signed copies of ALL THREE books of Laura Hile's Mercy's Embrace: Elizabeth Elliot's Story. Yes indeed, the final book, The Lady Must Decide (read my review)- which I have pinning for ever since finishing book two, So Lively a Chase - is finally available! Even better, since I was bad tempered enough to have grumbled about the price of these books in my review of the second, Ms. Hile has graciously offered me a copy of The Lady Must Decide (it's in the mail and I can't wait to get my hands on it), and the complete collection to one lucky winner - So Rough a Course (read my review here), So Lively a Chase, and The Lady Must Decide, all signed by the author. I'm so excited!

So here is the deal. I've crafted something of an Elizabeth Elliot quiz, based on the Elizabeth that we all know and hate from Persuasion, thinking that it would be interesting to reflect on how little information about her Austen really provides. For each question you can answer correctly, you will receive one entry. Include your email address with your comments by 12:00 AM EST on Saturday, July 24th. Unfortunately, I can only offer participation to US residents. I'll post the answers when I announce the winner. Good luck!

1) What is Elizabeth birth date?

2) How old was Elizabeth when her mother died?

3) Why does Elizabeth not enjoy reading the Baronetage as much as her father?

4) How does Elizabeth commemorate the death of Mrs. Elliot?

5) In what two manners does Elizabeth attempt to economize?

6) Regarding hat does Sir Walter recommend Elizabeth be on her guard?

7) What does Anne wish Elizabeth could hear their father say?

8) Why does Elizabeth argue that Mrs. Clay should ride in Lady Dalrymple's barouche rather than Anne.

9) What does Elizabeth do the first time she meets Captain Wentworth in Bath?

10) What causes Elizabeth to suffer when the Musgroves arrive in Bath?

Epistolary Fan Fiction: Letters From Pemberley and More Letters From Pemberley by Jane Dawkins

So I am currently reading My Dear Charlotte by Hazel Holt, an epistolary mystery that makes free use of quotes from Jane Austen's letters, and it has gotten me thinking about Austen's use of the epistolary form and the temptation it poses for writers of JAFF. We know one of Austen's biggest influences, Samuel Richardson, was something of the king of the epistolary novel, and that she frequently experimented with it, both in her juvenalia (like recently reviewed The Three Sisters) and early novels. Lady Susan remains intact as an example of Austen's prowess with letters, giving ample food for our fantasies about what Elinor and Marianne (Sense and Sensibility) and First Impressions (Pride and Prejudice) might have been like. For unknown reasons, Austen decided to abandon the format (not that I am complaining), but it seems to be a favorite of her fans, especially those who have opted to pick up the pen and elaborate on her work. I have read two short series written in epistolary form: Letters From Pemberley and More Letters From Pemberley by Jane Dawkins and A Visit to Highbury and Later Days at Highbury (both of which are in desperate need of reprinting as copies are getting scarce and expensive) by Joan Austen-Leigh. As I have commented on the books by Ms. Austen-Leigh previously (you may read my glowing reviews here and here), today I'd like to focus on Ms. Dawkins' work.

Letters From Pemberley was one of the earliest pieces of Austen fan fiction I read, and I continue to return to it to pursue its peaceful pages again and again. Ms. Dawkins' books are my favorite Pride and Prejudice continuations available, as they provide those desperately wanted glimpses of Darcy and Elizabeth's lives at Pemberley (it chronicles the first year of their marriage) without including anything untoward like over the top drama and gushy sex scenes. The epistolary form works very well towards this end. As Elizabeth is our letter writer (Jane is the recipient), Ms. Dawkins is freed from the burden of trying to capture Austen's voice, saving her energy for creating a years worth of activity upon nothing more than those few teasing words at the end of Pride and Prejudice, indicating what the future holds in store for our happily married couples.

More Letters from Pemberley is also excellent, though perhaps not quite as fulfilling as it's predecessor. Here we learn about the next five years of married life, rendering this book more speculative than the first, and the picture is broadened by including Elizabeth's correspondence with several parties: Jane, Aunt Gardiner, Georgianna, Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, Charlotte, Darcy himself, several new acquaintances (some bearing a striking resemblance to characters from Austen's other novels), and even Mr. Humphrey Repton! In one carefully worded letter to Lady Catherine, Ms. Dawkins demonstrates her excellent grasp of Elizabeth's voice and character while playing with some of the advantages the epistolary form allows:

I am also deeply obliged to you for your words of advice; it was most kind of you to take so much of your valuable time to impart your own experience , and I intend to make careful study of your words, particularly since you mention that my dear friend, Mrs. Collins (whose good sense I value highly) has benefited so greatly from the. Your Ladyship may rest assured that I am resolved to be a good Mother to my Children, to pray for the, to set them good examples, to give them good advice, to be careful of their souls and bodies, and to watch over their tender minds. Since (as you say) my Children will have all the advantage of wealth and position, I am sure you will agree that as their Parents, Mr. Darcy and I will be obliged to remind them how priviledged they are, and instill in them the qualities of good character, modesty, integrity and compassion for others, without which wealth and position are meaningless.

Now, we never read the letter to which this was written in response, just as we never hear Lady Catherine's reply, but the epistolary format allows us to infer what both might have looked like. Knowing Lady Catherine as we do, the high handed condescension (or is it honesty and frankness?) doled out in the former is easy to envision, as is her vocal response (perhaps "Obstinate, headstrong girl!") upon reading the above. And isn't it just like Lizzy to choose her words so carefully, so as to claim agreement while simultaneously undermining the sentiment expressed? Lady Catherine's outrage, though never witnessed, is palpable: therein lies the beauty of an epistolatory narrative.

As I consider the novels of both Ms. Dawkins and Ms. Austen-Leigh some of the very best JAFF available, I hope that more sincere Janeites will follow their example by adopting this somewhat archaic format. Its use both honors Austen's literary foundations and encourages her style of witticism, all while providing an excellent vehicle for capturing her tone without besmirching her subject matter with our modernism.

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

I'd like to thank those of you who urged me to read Laurie Viera Rigler's Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict after expressing my disinclination for it in my post on the novel's predecessor, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. I enjoyed Rude Awakenings far more than I had imagined. In fact, it in many ways told the story that I have long been telling myself in my mind: the narrative that sparked my Austen mania. I can't tell you how often I have envisioned one of Austen's heroines, usually Anne Elliot or Elizabeth Bennet, sitting beside me in a movie theater or in the passenger seat of my car, expressing her awe at the spectacle. Such imaginings as these were what initial drove me to start rereading Austen's work. This book is, in that sense, is much like a fantasy come true for me.

Jane Mansfield (of Somerset, not pinup fame) awakens one morning to find herself in the body of Courtney Stone, 21st century Californian. She must adapt to both her unusual situation and the modern world, which, while difficult, she manages with a deal of finesse. I must say I like her much more than Courtney, whose irritating personality greatly impeded my enjoyment of Confessions. While Courtney, with the benefit of knowing something about the time she is in, bungles her way through Jane's life, Jane, though she commits more overall blunders, is far more conscious of her role as "steward", thereby doing more to improve Courtney's situation. I think Ms. Rigler intended both ladies to bring fresh perspectives to their respective situations but, by my way of thinking, it is not an even trade.

The one benefit Courtney bequeaths to Jane is a set of steadfast friends, without whose help Jane would really have had a hard time. With good intentions, they whisk her off to a psychiatrist when she insists she is not Courtney. I love this scene between Jane and the doctor:

She poises her writing instrument atop her paper. "Do you have any history of mental illness in your family?"

What an impertinent question. As if any family would reveal such information. "Indeed not."

"Have you any thoughts of hurting yourself? Any suicidal thought?"

"Of course not. Are you a magistrate as well?"

But other than highly devoted friends, Courtney has given Jane a life of dead end work, overdue bills, and a wreck of a relationship. All this Jane goes about setting to right, and her observations on modern dating are some of the most intriguing moments of the book. These range from highly humorous, like this exchange ...

"Let me buy you a coffee. An iced coffee, if you like. And I'll tell you all about it, okay?"

I manage a smile. "Only if you allow me to buy the coffee."

For that is what independent women may do with their non-boyfriend gentlemen friends, is it not?

... to far more serious, philosophical observations on the state of gender equality ...

"No man expects his wife to be untouched. Maybe our grandparents might have, but even that I doubt. Birth control changed everything."

"Doesn't look to me like much has changed."

"Oh, so I suppose we can just ignore the entire women's movement."

"Movement? Towards what - a lack of respect for oneself?"

"I've never heard you talk like this, Courtney. I thought you were a feminist."

"If that means I am a defender of my sex against blackguards like you, then yes, I suppose I am a feminist."

By the end of the story, Jane has succeeded in incorporating her 19th century values into the modern world. Amusingly, not much has really changed, as the solution to a lady's predicament apparently remains a good marriage, regardless of the century.

The book is simply fascinating. I still feel like the body swapping mechanism is poorly explained but was glad, at the end, to have a better understanding of our heroines fates. I am considering rereading the series with my husband, who enjoyed Lost in Austen (my review of which you can read here) and is generally open minded to Austen based narratives, especially when there is a fantasy twist. I recommend this book to anyone who, like me, spends hours wondering what kind of reaction Marianne Dashwood would have to techno music and Emma Woodhouse to flip flops.

The Pemberley Chronicles: Recollections of Rosings by Rebecca Ann Collins

Warning: Slight spoiler alert. Please proceed with caution, though I do not believe that reading my review will diminish your enjoyment of the book. For some reason I don't seem to be able to review The Pemberley Chronicles without giving something away.

Read my review of volume seven, Postscript from Pemberley, here.

Read my summary of the first six books in The Pemberley Chronicles here.

His eyes were fixed on Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second attachments."

"No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic."

"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist."

"I believe she does. But how she contrives it without reflecting on the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know not."

I commence this review of the eighth volume in The Pemberley Chronicles with the above quote from Sense & Sensibility because I have come to the conclusion that second attachments are the pervasive theme of the series. Yes, several of the characters enjoy very happy first attachments, but as each book proceeds, Rebecca Ann Collins focuses increasingly on the more mature and fuller love to be found later in life, after early romantic expectations have been disappointed. Such is certainly the case in Recollections of Rosings, where the focus falls upon the eldest daughter of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas, Catherine Harrison.

While the back cover of this book would lead you to believe that this story is primarily about Catherine's youngest daughter, Lillian, and conflict over her romance, it is her mother's relationships that dominate. Following in her mother's footsteps, Catherine (the favorite and namesake of Lady Catherine de Bourgh) married the rector of Hunsford at the age of twenty-nine. As the book begins, disaster has struck at Rosings in the form of a devastating fire. In his anxiety to help in the emergency, Dr. Harrison overexerts himself and has a heart attack, precipitating a rapid decline. The family is relocated to the Dower House on the estate, where the doctor breaths his last, leaving Catherine and Lillian, the only child still at home, alone.

Into this scene comes Frank Burnett, an expert brought in to assist the in the preservation and restoration of the scorched main house. Soon it is revealed that this same man, in Catherine's youth, held the position of librarian at Rosings and that the two had developed a close friendship. Due to the will of a rather officious and overbearing lady (need I mention names?), that friendship came to an abrupt halt. Now, with no one to stand in their way, Catherine and Frank have the freedom to get to know each other again.

The most striking thing about this novel are the images of Rosings, that imposing edifice that so impressed Mr. Collins with its expensive fireplaces, after the fire:

It was nearly four days since the fire, yet parts of the building were still smoldering - the smoke, acrid and dark, drifting upwards - while everywhere across the once immaculate park was strewn the debris of days past, Scorched walls, crumbling masonry, and shattered windows - all those many dozens of windows that her father used to speak of in a hushed voice, whose glazing had cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh a fortune - shattered now, hung with raged bits of rich curtains blowing in the wind.

Catherine gasped. She could hardly breathe, and beside her Lillian was weeping as Jonathan and Mr Grantham helped them alight. The driver of the vehicle they had hired stood beside them open-mouthed, so shocked he seemed to have been paralysed, unable to even recall the agreed hire when Mr Grantham attempted to pay him. "Jesus!" he said. "Jesus, I never seen such a sight before!" and it seemed he spoke for them all.

Rosings, in this novel, stands as a monument to Lady Catherine's legacy. It's near total destruction represents the end of her notable influence, freeing those who were subjected to her rule from the burden of her legacy. Strangely, I feel almost sorry for the great lady as her morals, priorities, and values are swept away in a tide of change. But if nothing else, the Victorian Era was about progress, and the younger representatives of the Darcy, Fitzwilliam, and Collins families are clearly members of this evolving world, while Lady Catherine is distinctly a relic of the past.

This book almost entirely focuses on this next generation while their elders - Darcy, Lizzy, Jane, and Charlotte - are very much relegated to the background. I prefer it when Ms. Collins includes these original characters more. There is even a marriage from Longbourn without any mention that the ceremony is taking place in the same church that saw the Darcys and Bingleys married, the unions that are the premise for the entire saga. Several other things bother me about this volume. While Ms. Collins is usually a very careful writer, she obvious overlooks a typo that skews the chronology of events, includes an episode of high drama that does nothing to advance the plot, only making the book unnecessarily longer, and never even has it occur to Catherine, while mourning lost years of potential happiness, that had things proceeded differently she would not have her beloved children until the very end, when the obvious is thrust in her face. For the woman who is supposed to be the heir to all of her mother's kindness and pragmatism, I find this frustratingly oblivious.

So this isn't my favorite episode in this sprawling Victorian epic, but neither is it the one I liked least. Like all Ms. Collins' books, it's somewhat repetitive and dry, but if you don't read this book, how can you proceed to the next? A Woman of Influence will be released in June and promises to be about the life and times of Rebecca Tate, Catherine's younger sister. I fear this book is going to be a lot like My Cousin Caroline, more of a recap than new material, but I will, of course, read it anyway.