Pemberley: Or Pride & Prejudice Continued 
asked by ronmiller on November 23, 2006 9:47 PM
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a married man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a son and heir....Thus begins Emma Tennant's inspired sequel to Jane Austen's most beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice. With wit and style and genuine insight into character, Pemberley brilliantly delineates the perils and pleasures of a marriage between two people as strong-willed and prickly as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.A year after wedding, Christmas approaches. As happy as she has been living in relative seclusion with Mr. Darcy and his sister Georgiana at their magnificent Derbyshire estate, Pemberley, Elizabeth is sensible that the time has come to invite her mother and sister to visit her. What begins as a small and manageable family party (although any party any includes the regrettable Mrs. Bennet will take considerable managing) soon grows all out of proportion. A gathering including the Bennets, the Bingleys, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh-as affable and condescending as ever-can only mean missteps, gaffes and hurt feelings. When Darcy becomes increasingly distant and Elizabeth falls prey to vicious gossip, the forces of pride and prejudice are at work once again.
Reviews
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Not worth reading. I'm on page 59 of this 184 page book and it's horrible. I have been forcing myself to read it in hopes that it will get better. But now that I see the other reviews, I can safely say it won't.
reviewed by librarian on November 26, 2006 2:56 AM
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I was really excited when I started to read the book, but then my hopes plumetted. There were several mistakes too. It's impossible for Wickham and Lydia to have four children unless they were twins and Jane can't possibly have a daugter as well as another one on the way. These are simple editorial mistakes..... And the Bingley's illigitiment child totally messes up everything. That's so not Bingley.... Nothing in this book really matches up with what Jane Austen says happens..... as Lady Catherine said,"I am most seriosly displeased."
reviewed by mags on November 27, 2006 1:35 AM
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What was Emma Tennant about?! I was so disappointed and even angry with this sequel to Jane Austen's superb "Pride and Prejudice". I was first jarred by the playing with facts and then by the total misrepresentation of the characters of Lizzy, Darcy, Bingley, Georgianna, and even Kitty. The smart, acerbic, and funny wit of Miss Austen became melodramatic soap opera in Ms Tennant's hands, no more believable than a Danielle Steele novel. "But before I run away with my emotions" as Mr. Collins would say, I strongly urge, if you're an Austen fan, that you don't read this book!
reviewed by localhost on November 27, 2006 3:31 PM
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I had great hopes for this book, as I do for anything that continues the work of Jane Austen, but I was very disappointed. I did not find Ms. Tennant's Elizabeth at all like the original. She had no spirit! And Darcy was even more autocratic and uncommunicative than in the original. Moreso, the book did not continue based upon details given in the original in many particulars - Mrs. Collins discovers a first pregnancy that had already been revealed in the ending chapters of Pride & Prejudice, and Mr. Bennett is dead, when in the original, he delights in popping in unexpectedly at Pemberly. Better research and a better understanding of the original stories and character are required in my opinion. Not worth the read. The writing style, although consistent with the original, makes too much of reiterating certain phrases. Ms. Austen did not do this herself in her works. I have read many, many Pride & Prejudice continuances, and I found this one weak. I have enjoyed the Carrie Brebis books, and I liked the series of three (I'm sorry I can't recall the author) that viewed the story from Darcy's point of view.
reviewed by teacher on November 27, 2006 8:23 PM