Charlotte explores the life of Elizabeth Bennet's closest friend after the events of Pride and Prejudice. Having married the generally disliked Mr Collins, whose proposal Elizabeth had previously rejected, Charlotte moved to a new life away from everything she knew. This book is set about seven years later, though it also takes some familiar turns back to events from the original novel. I enjoyed how these flashbacks were tied in, and known events from Austen's book were made part of Charlotte's history, from her perspective, and integrated with her present. Charlotte's concern for her two young daughters, who will have to marry well in order to secure their futures, has echoes of Jane Austen’s creation. This reimagining explores the ways in which women of the time were bound by their circumstances, and how they may push back.
It could even be considered that the beginning of her story, and the root of her troubles, lay in the fact that she, Charlotte, had been born a woman--a gentle woman of impecunious means. This had never been a productive route for contemplation, and yet, if she was honest, perhaps her current situation stemmed from that one significant day back in Meryton, that moment she had stood in the lane between Netherfield Park and Lucas Lodge, experiencing all the helplessness of her situation as a single woman with no prospects. Perhaps the spark of her present history had been set at that moment of frustration.
The beginning is powerful, darker (and more realistic) than the events of the original. From these first scenes, it was clear that this book would portray a less romanticised version of Jane Austen’s Regency world, in context of the harsh realities of the time. From what I remember, Charlotte came across as a bit of a weak character in Pride and Prejudice--it was great to explore her perspective, and her life after the original book was set. I always thought she had an interesting story to tell.
It would be easy to believe that this book was written in the early nineteenth century by someone who knew the places well, as far as settings and social customs go, anyway. Disclaimer: I base this statement almost entirely on novels and adaptations set in this time period. The book is mostly written in keeping with the style of Pride and Prejudice, while not copying Austen's writing. But the feminist characters are taken a step further, at times to a point which may not have gone down well with readers in Austen's time.
My opinion on this book shifted a few times while reading it, and I can see why there may be some polarised feelings from readers. Charlotte in particular deviates from how she is portrayed in Pride and Prejudice, and this movement away from the ingrained view of her character is not easily believable at surface level. This book explores a side to her character that is hidden, and as she didn't get much of a look in before now (certainly not at the intimate level of a POV character), there was room for exploration.
Sometimes Charlotte seems quite a modern in her attitudes and actions. I enjoyed this take on her character, in a world where it was a misfortune to be born a woman, and the extent of this misfortune depended almost entirely on how much wealth someone was born into. There was a scene near the end which was so out of keeping with the rest of the book that it was a shock. I've heard mixed opinions on this, but I'm in the camp who think Charlotte's actions do fit her situation which has been built up and developed by this point. This particular scene is brazen in its depictions compared to the rest of the narration.
Anne De Bourgh as a reimagined character is great--seeing how she’s been given personality beyond the barely heard from invalid was a highlight. She's unconventional despite the expectations of her social standing, and this modern take on her character still manages to be believable.
Mr Collins is just as verbose as he was in Pride and Prejudice, but here he is seen from a more rounded angle, and is a much more sympathetic character. There are some emotional scenes where he and Charlotte are brought together by grief, and in these very real moments it's difficult to not feel affection for them both. Theirs is a marriage of convenience, and while there is love, it is a practical kind. Through necessity, Charlotte is a pragmatist rather than a romantic. There are many different forms of love and loyalty throughout this book, through the lens of a complicated and sometimes difficult life during this time period.
I mostly enjoyed how Charlotte blended elements from Pride and Prejudice with this new story, but there were a couple of references to the original book which made me cringe a little, most memorably “his pride, my hasty prejudice”. This is a matter of personal taste, and the instances aren't too common. There is not a lot of speech compared to the average novel, and in this case I think it works in favour of this book. I found the internal thoughts of Charlotte to be the stronger element.
Overall, this book is in keeping with the style of Austen, without copying it. It was a pleasant read, and engaging to the end. Die hard Austen fans may struggle with accepting this reimagining, but if you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, and are willing to accept some decisions which seem on the surface to be out of character, it is a solid read.
Thank you to Zaffre and Readers First for providing an Advance Review Copy, which I have reviewed voluntarily and based on my own opinion.
It could even be considered that the beginning of her story, and the root of her troubles, lay in the fact that she, Charlotte, had been born a woman--a gentle woman of impecunious means. This had never been a productive route for contemplation, and yet, if she was honest, perhaps her current situation stemmed from that one significant day back in Meryton, that moment she had stood in the lane between Netherfield Park and Lucas Lodge, experiencing all the helplessness of her situation as a single woman with no prospects. Perhaps the spark of her present history had been set at that moment of frustration.
The beginning is powerful, darker (and more realistic) than the events of the original. From these first scenes, it was clear that this book would portray a less romanticised version of Jane Austen’s Regency world, in context of the harsh realities of the time. From what I remember, Charlotte came across as a bit of a weak character in Pride and Prejudice--it was great to explore her perspective, and her life after the original book was set. I always thought she had an interesting story to tell.
It would be easy to believe that this book was written in the early nineteenth century by someone who knew the places well, as far as settings and social customs go, anyway. Disclaimer: I base this statement almost entirely on novels and adaptations set in this time period. The book is mostly written in keeping with the style of Pride and Prejudice, while not copying Austen's writing. But the feminist characters are taken a step further, at times to a point which may not have gone down well with readers in Austen's time.
My opinion on this book shifted a few times while reading it, and I can see why there may be some polarised feelings from readers. Charlotte in particular deviates from how she is portrayed in Pride and Prejudice, and this movement away from the ingrained view of her character is not easily believable at surface level. This book explores a side to her character that is hidden, and as she didn't get much of a look in before now (certainly not at the intimate level of a POV character), there was room for exploration.
Sometimes Charlotte seems quite a modern in her attitudes and actions. I enjoyed this take on her character, in a world where it was a misfortune to be born a woman, and the extent of this misfortune depended almost entirely on how much wealth someone was born into. There was a scene near the end which was so out of keeping with the rest of the book that it was a shock. I've heard mixed opinions on this, but I'm in the camp who think Charlotte's actions do fit her situation which has been built up and developed by this point. This particular scene is brazen in its depictions compared to the rest of the narration.
Anne De Bourgh as a reimagined character is great--seeing how she’s been given personality beyond the barely heard from invalid was a highlight. She's unconventional despite the expectations of her social standing, and this modern take on her character still manages to be believable.
Mr Collins is just as verbose as he was in Pride and Prejudice, but here he is seen from a more rounded angle, and is a much more sympathetic character. There are some emotional scenes where he and Charlotte are brought together by grief, and in these very real moments it's difficult to not feel affection for them both. Theirs is a marriage of convenience, and while there is love, it is a practical kind. Through necessity, Charlotte is a pragmatist rather than a romantic. There are many different forms of love and loyalty throughout this book, through the lens of a complicated and sometimes difficult life during this time period.
I mostly enjoyed how Charlotte blended elements from Pride and Prejudice with this new story, but there were a couple of references to the original book which made me cringe a little, most memorably “his pride, my hasty prejudice”. This is a matter of personal taste, and the instances aren't too common. There is not a lot of speech compared to the average novel, and in this case I think it works in favour of this book. I found the internal thoughts of Charlotte to be the stronger element.
Overall, this book is in keeping with the style of Austen, without copying it. It was a pleasant read, and engaging to the end. Die hard Austen fans may struggle with accepting this reimagining, but if you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, and are willing to accept some decisions which seem on the surface to be out of character, it is a solid read.
Thank you to Zaffre and Readers First for providing an Advance Review Copy, which I have reviewed voluntarily and based on my own opinion.