Showing posts with label
Historical Fiction Challenge 2011.
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Showing posts with label
Historical Fiction Challenge 2011.
Show all posts
Do you ever wonder what happened to Charlotte Collins in Miss Austen's Pride & Prejudice? Yeah, me neither, but I have just burned through Jennifer Becton's Charlotte Collins: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Summary: When Charlotte Lucas married Mr. Collins in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, she believed herself to be fortunate indeed. Her nuptials gained her a comfortable home and financial security. If she acquired these things at the expense of true love, it did not matter one whit. To Charlotte, love in marriage was nothing more than a pleasant coincidence.
As the years of her marriage dragged by, Charlotte began to question her idea of love as she suffered continual embarrassment at her husband's simpering and fawning manners. When Mr. Collins dies, finally relieving everyone of his tedious conversation, she must work feverishly to secure her income and home. She give no further thought to the prospect of love until her flighty sister Maria begs her to act as her chaperone in place of their ailing parents. Hoping to prevent Maria from also entering an unhappy union, Charlotte agrees, and they are quickly thrust into a world of country dances, dinner parties, and marriageable gentlemen.
But when an unprincipled gentleman compromises Charlotte's reputation, her romantic thoughts disappear at the prospect of losing her independence. As she struggles to extricate herself from her slander, her situation reveals both the nature of each gentleman and of true love. (source: bectonliterary.com) *
Comments: As mentioned, I burned through this book. It is a great read and so very enjoyable. Charlotte, as a character in Pride and Prejudice, was so practical and in my mind lowered herself by accepting the odious Mr. Collins. No one could want to get married that badly, could they? Really? But Jennifer Becton has really made Charlotte Collins into a more complete, three dimensional character. Evidently intelligent (she must be, to be Lizzie Bennett's best friend), she's rational and conventional, but in reviewing her life with Mr. Collins she sees that perhaps she had made a mistake by agreeing to marry for security instead of love or even for respect. She does not want her younger sister Maria to make the same mistake.
Bring in the ugly Americans - a devise that I find absolutely charming in this case because it is handled so very well. Mr. James Westfield and his uncle and chaperone, Mr. Benjamin Basford arrive in the area on Mr. Westfield's tour his historical homeland. Westfield is practically worshiped by the younger ladies in attendance as he is both handsome and rich (which a young man should be, if possible). He shows a decided interest in Maria and they make a handsome couple. While Basford seems to have an odd sense of humor and plagues Charlotte with what she considers inappropriate comments. He's also relaxed and dressed quite differently from what she is accustomed to - but that's only the beginning. I adored him from the first - what a charming, disarming, and fun gentleman. Ms. Becton's description of the first ball in the novel made it almost feel like I was there - a nice place to be, I have to say.
Ms. Becton creates real characters, real situations and real tension. I do so hope there is a follow up to this book because I would like to see what happens next to both Charlotte and Maria.
Questions: Does rosemary grow in Kent? In England? I don't remember seeing any there while I was there, but who is to say.
Would Charlotte have used "Mrs. Charlotte Collins" on her calling card? What was Mr. Collins's christian name? Did he have one in Pride & Prejudice?
Would Sir William and Lady Lucas have sunk like that financially?
I totally think about random things like this while reading.
*The last sentence of this summary isn't clear if you don't know that there are two gentlemen interested in Charlotte.
Summary: Henry and Catherine Tilney are content with their married life: a comfortable parsonage, their dogs, and one another. The idea of returning to Bath a year after they first met there seems like it can only add to their happiness; but Catherine finds that Bath still
carries social dangers that she must learn to navigate. What is the nature of Henry's past relationship with a beautiful young woman? Why is a rakish baronet paying Catherine such particular attention? Is General Tilney going to marry the woman known in Bath as The Merry Widow—and what did she have to do with her husband's death? And will Henry ever be able to keep his Newfoundland out of the river? Revisit the winter pleasures of Georgian Bath with your favorite characters from Jane Austen's hilarious Northanger Abbey, and prepare for a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, and a very nice story indeed! (Summary
Source: Amazon)
Comments: I must say in the beginning, I love the way Mags writes, so take my effusions with a grain of salt if you must, but this is just such a wonderful story. Ms. Sullivan retains the main characters of the Tilney clan, which now includes Catherine Morland, as the wife of
the Reverend Henry Tilney of Woodston parish, and adds a new family known to the Tilneys, the Beauclerks, and some strong supporting characters.
Henry suggests to Catherine that they return to Bath on the anniversary of the day they met there one year previously. Traveling with MacGuffin, their Newfoundland, and Matthew, Henry's very intelligent and subtle clerk/groom, the couple venture to Bath. Unexpectedly, they meet General Tilney, Henry's less than delightful father, who is there with the intention, it appears, of courting Lady Beauclerk, a widowed friend of the family who inherited a good deal of money on her husband's recent death. Eleanor, Henry's sister, and her husband (Viscount) Lord Whiting, are also in Bath so perhaps all is not lost in the trip. Lord Whiting is charming, funny, and rather blunt. Eleanor is charming as ever and kind almost to a fault.
Lady Beauclerk has taken a place in Bath with her still unmarried though etherial daughter, Miss Beauclerk whose beauty and charm are enough to make poor Catherine feel clunky in comparison. Thankfully, Henry is always Henry and there is no hint that he's interested in
Miss Beauclerk and does his best to reassure Catherine. Catherine is also introduced to Philip Beauclerk, the nephew of Lady Beauclerk, who will inherit the Beauclerk estate.
Catherine must learn how not to let her love of Gothic mysteries get the better of her (as it did in Northanger Abbey) when Lord Beauclerk's slightly odd sister accuses Lady Beauclerk and Miss Beauclerk of killing their husband/father.
Mags has crafted some charming characters including Matthew, who is intelligent, and a skilled "spy" for Henry. Lord Whiting is so real that when I last read Northanger Abbey, I expected him to be in the story. Henry and Catherine are true to their characters, though perhaps Catherine is a bit wiser now. Would I be too terrible if I said one of my favorite characters is MacGuffin? I hope not. The illustrations are wonderful - Great job - Cassandra Chouinard. This is a great story and I highly recommend it.
Okay, some of these books may overlap with other reading challenges, but the hosts of the challenge say that's okay. I'm going to come up with my list and see what happens. I plan to review the Historical Tapestry for some ideas of books that can be added to my to-be-read list which seems to increase exponentially.
So here is my list (in no particular order):
Col. Brandon's Diary - Amanda Grange
Sense & Sensibility - Marvel Illustrated Edition - Jane Austen
Secret History of the Pink Carnation - Lauren Willig
An Infamous Army - Georgette Heyer
The Darcy Cousins - Monica Fairview
There Must be Murder - Margaret Sullivan
Sprig Muslin - Georgette Heyer
Charlotte Collins - Jennifer Becton
Mr. Darcy's Diary - Amanda Grange
Convenient Marriage - Georgette Heyer
A Man of Few Words - Katherine Woodbury
Toll Gate - Georgette Heyer
