Pink Heart Reviews
Letters From Pemberley
Jane Dawkins
ISBN-10: 1402209061
ISBN-13: 978-1402209062
Sourcebooks, May 2007, 224 pp
Historical Fiction
$13.95 (US)
Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
November 2007
I believe there are a multitude of devoted fans who have read Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, loved it, and wanted to see it continue. With this book, LETTERS FROM PEMBERLEY, author Jane Dawkins does an admirable job of what could be. She is not necessarily trying to write a sequel in Ms. Austen’s style; as this would be impossible, but gives a believable look at Elizabeth’s life through a series of letters to her sister Jane during the first year of her marriage. These letters, all written by Elizabeth bring back fond memories of lovable characters from both the book and the BBC series (which I’ve watched numerous times) and introduces new characters as well.
I say now, I liked this book! The letters, all written by Elizabeth to her beloved sister Jane, were concise enough for the reader to read between the lines and able to imagine Jane’s responses. Elizabeth’s letters were witty and lively describing her initial discomfiture at becoming the mistress of such a grand estate and how worried she was at making a good impression in front of Mr. Darcy’s friends; knowing full well, that in their mind Darcy had married beneath him.
What I found so very sweet were the lovely and thoughtful things Mr. Darcy did to ease Elizabeth’s path into feeling like Pemberley was indeed her home, and how she described how very dear her Mr. Darcy truly was after her initial harsh determination of his character. And of course, I laughed out loud when she made mention of their mother’s (Mrs. Bennet) ‘nerves’ and how ‘vexed’ she could get with her two elder married daughters.
In Elizabeth’s letters, one is able to see the joy she has found in her new life with new friends she’s met as well as keeping up with the daily lives of past friends, such as her friend Charlotte, who married Mr. Collins; her selfish sister Lydia (now Mrs. Wickam) and a multitude of other acquaintances during her first year at Pemberley. I was fully engrossed from the first letter to the last, and so wish there were more. For all Jane Austen fans, this is definitely a must read!
Marilyn Rondeau, also reviews for RIO – Reviewers International Organization