In this continuation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, one of the best-loved novels in the English language, Elizabeth Bennet, now Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy and mistress of Pemberley, finds herself living a very different life of wealth and privilege. Writing to her sister, Jane, she confides her uncertainty and anxieties, and describes the every-day of her new life. Her first year at Pemberley is sometimes bewildering but Lizzy’s spirited sense of humour and satirical eye never desert her.
Incorporating Jane Austen’s own words and characters from her other works (who appear here with different names, either associated with Austen’s life, borrowed from another of her novels, or a word-play on their original name), Jane Dawkins pieces together a literary patchwork quilt to tell the story of Lizzy’s first eventful year as Mrs. Darcy. The result is an entertaining and satisfying tale that will surely delight Jane Austen fans everywhere.
This is the second P&P sequel I have ever read. It’s very different from the first one (Linda Berdoll’s sequel-also available from Sourcebooks). Letters from Pemberley is an epistolary novel and I found it made for a very quick read. I usually don’t enjoy this type of format, but here I did. We were given glimpses of Lizzy’s new life through the loving correspondence of her sister, Jane, also newly married.
This book is available from Sourcebooks. You can buy it here or here in ebook format.
I’ve had to review some different versions of P&P too, most notably “An Assembly Such as This,” and “Duty and Desire” by Pamela Aiden, which basically represented the first two thirds of P&P told from Darcy’s point of view.
You’d think that would be awesome, right? Yes…until in the second book Darcy finds himself up against … evil Irish witchcraft. I kid you not. Eeeehhh….
Ames,
I felt pretty much the same way about this book when I read it. It was good, but not the best sequel ever.
AnimeJune,
0_o. Seriously? Evil Irish witchcraft? That is just…beyond wrong.
I already had this on my wishlist! Some sequels are very short and just like a ‘taste’ or ‘visit’ from the characters, not always in depth or a big plot or anything to make it a recommendation but more of a good side read. I’m not sure if its this author but I read a couple of ‘follow ups’ to P&P and some wonderful ones. I want more Darcy tho, too. LOL. A few authors that I like that wrote sequels or related books:
Diana Birchall
Amanda Grange
and
Linda Berdoll
That I can think of right now (Oh too THE CONFESSION OF FITXWILIAM DARCY by Mary Street. It was re-released in trade paperback (finally) and is in bargain for $4.99 at Amazon).
Witchcraft…ugh… I didn’t read those. I can’t see those fitting with these books or Jane Austen’s.
AnimeJune – IRISH WITCHCRAFT?? WTF? That’s just way too odd. The other sequel I read was Mr.Darcy Takes a Wife. It was saucy, and I’m a saucy wench so I loved it. LOL
Holly-Good to know I’m not totally off base here. hehe
Caffey-Thanks for those recs!