Something of an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Helen Moffett succeeds in giving new depth to Austen's most tragically overlooked female character, Charlotte Lucas. Although now married to the infamous Mr Collins, Charlotte continues to battle with the confining limits of her gender, and in doing so unwittingly becomes something of a feminist icon.
Wrestling with sudden death of her young son, our once mild-mannered heroine faces defining questions of motherhood, female sexuality, and the societal role of womanhood. Building on the themes that dominate Pride and Prejudice, Moffett nonetheless brings something entirely new to the characters, lending them the depth and texture that comes with a modern retelling.
Tonally this book differs very much from the original Austen, and yet in essence it remains as much of an exploration of the female experience as its predecessor. Through touchingly intimate moments, the narrative succeeds in humanising even the ludicrous Mr Collins and the hard Lady Catherine, rounding the two-dimensional caricatures that Austen set forth.
It has a refreshingly modern and authentic feel to it.
Wrestling with sudden death of her young son, our once mild-mannered heroine faces defining questions of motherhood, female sexuality, and the societal role of womanhood. Building on the themes that dominate Pride and Prejudice, Moffett nonetheless brings something entirely new to the characters, lending them the depth and texture that comes with a modern retelling.
Tonally this book differs very much from the original Austen, and yet in essence it remains as much of an exploration of the female experience as its predecessor. Through touchingly intimate moments, the narrative succeeds in humanising even the ludicrous Mr Collins and the hard Lady Catherine, rounding the two-dimensional caricatures that Austen set forth.
It has a refreshingly modern and authentic feel to it.