Book review

The idea of a 'sequel' to P & P was indeed attractive to me (since of course I am a great fan of Jane Austen's P&P), but the title sounded a little negative. However that didn’t stop me from borrowing the book from the local library. The few pages I had read in the book club were certainly entertaining and made an eager read.

Six years have passed since Elizabeth’s marriage to Mr Darcy. Jane and Mr Bingley are their neighbours, settled at Highmarten. It is the eve of Lady Anne’s ball which is celebrated with great pomp every year. All the Darcy’s neighbours and friends are invited except, of course, the infamous Wickham and his wife.

On the eve of the ball, the family and some close friends like Mr Alveston and Colonel Forster (who is now Viscount) are gathered for dinner when Lydia comes distraught and hysteric. The coach man only knows that Mr Wickham and his friend Mr Denny were in the coach, and all of a sudden Mr Denny leaves the coach in a huff, halfway through the woods in PEmberly. Mr Wickham follows him and a little later a gunshot is heard. The coachman, young and inexperienced as he is and Lydia who breaks into easy hysterics just like the ‘poor nerves’ of her mother urges the coachman to approach the house.

For the main part of the book, the trial unfolds in great detail – the inquest, the imprisonment and the actual trial. The narrative is lengthy and small particulars are sometimes described in great detail. For the most part the narrative is of a somber nature, of course given the circumstances it is understandable. But what happened to the carefree and clever remarks of Elizabeth and her ability to laugh at others and herself? This or the lack of this is what I missed most in the story.

The author has cleverly entwined the characters of Miss Elliot (Persuation?); Mrs Knightley and Mrs Robert Martin (Emma) though briefly which is very enjoyable and is a refreshing surprise.

I like P&P for is seemingly simple plot, the human folly of its characters, the fairy tale ending with conquered pride and broken prejudices and the beautiful time of the story. This book makes a good read as an individual story, but I wouldn’t consider it as a fitting sequel to my favorite book.