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It is a truth universally acknowledged that creating a sequel of a beloved story is a daunting task. McVeigh’s work is a masterclass in this. Based on the events of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, this novel follows the lives of the Bennet sisters—Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia—as they navigate polite society amid their mother’s matchmaking machinations. However, while Austen’s original work is told mainly from Elizabeth’s perspective as she matches wits with Fitzwilliam Darcy, this retelling shines a light on Darcy’s perspective. Snippets from his diary reveal a previously unexplored romance with an Italian opera singer, his reflections on his ill-fated first meeting with Elizabeth, and his gradual development from distaste to enduring love.
In addition to Darcy’s musings, other overlooked characters are brought to the forefront, including Mary, the intellectual and, at times, insufferable middle sister. Readers are treated to passages from her work The Wisdom and Wit of Miss Mary Bennet and are introduced to a new love interest for the surprisingly delightful Mary. Also featured are side conversations between characters such as Caroline, Louisa, and Mr. Hurst, and Charlotte and Mr. Collins, revealing new dimensions to the familiar tale.
Although most readers will be familiar with the original Pride and Prejudice plot, McVeigh gives such a unique take as to make the entire story fresh and compelling. Her stunning command of the language of eighteenth-century Britain makes the reader wonder if this is indeed Jane Austen’s lost companion to her original work, so true is it to the original style. McVeigh infuses gentle humor, keen observations, and surprising dimensions to beloved characters. In her deft hand, entirely new shades of the beloved story are revealed, and the most unlikely characters become sympathetic. For all Janeites out there, this is not to be missed!
RECOMMENDED by the US Review