Friday, 4 April 2014
No
one who has ever seen me would suppose me a heroine. My situation in life, the
character of my father and mother, indeed my own person and disposition are all
against me.
MARY BENNET
Mrs Bennet is determined that all five of her daughters must
marry. Mary overhears a conversation between her parents that shatters her
already fragile sense of self-worth. She knows she is the least attractive of
the sisters but to hear that her attempts to overcome this by being intelligent
and accomplished are laughable sends her into a deep depression.
Mary and her her sister Kitty are sent to Derbyshire so that their
elder sister, Mrs Darcy, can introduce them to suitable young gentlemen. Mary
is satisfied to remain a spinster and is shy with gentleman. But she does
decide she should try and improve herself.
On the way to Derbyshire she meets a strange gentleman who she
considers ill mannered. However she is intrigued by his knowledgeable
conversation about old buildings.
On arrival at Pemberley, the home of the Darcy’s, Mary discovers
that the stranger is a Mr Sharnbrook of Kent and also a house guest. Mr
Sharnbrook is an amateur archaeologist and has come to Pemberley to excavate
possible burial mounds as part of his studies. Mary is interested in his work
and offers to help him sort out his notes. Engrossed in the work, her spirits
begin to lift.
A continuation of Pride and Prejudice beginning eight
months after the end of Jane Austen's novel, Mary Bennet tells the story
of how the Bennet's neglected middle daughter tries to overcome the
disadvantages of her character and find happiness.
My Review
If like me, you loved Pride and Prejudice then you will absolutely adore Mary Bennet. Kate Allan has continued in the writing style Jane Austen managed to capture the hearts of so many readers with. The story is about Mary, the Bennet sister considered less attractive and less interesting by her family. She is called 'bookish.' This just made me love her all the more. I could so relate to Mary. It was wonderful to connect once again with the other characters from Pride and Prejudice, especially the brooding Mr Darcy and the lovely Elizabeth! I was completely drawn in once again by the romance of the era and the beautiful language.
About Kate Allan
Kate
lives in the Bedfordshire countryside, England, close to the Chiltern Hills.
She developed plans to be a novelist at the age of seven after reading
about the career of prolific children's author Enid Blyton, whose adventure and
mystery story books she read avidly. She taught herself to use her mother's
typewriter to try and make her stories look like "proper books".
Endlessly fascinated by "the past", Kate took a degree in History
before starting a commercial career.
She began
seriously writing in 2001, taking a notebook with her on the train to make best
use of her commute to work. She wrote two historical novel manuscripts before
receiving an offer of publication for the second - a short novel - in 2004 from
DC Thomson. Fateful Deception is a romantic adventure set in the
early 19th century and was shortlisted for the 2005 RNA New Writers
Award.
2006
saw the publication of Perfidy and Perfection, Kate's romantic comedy set in
Jane Austen's England, and the publication of two short novels: Fateful
Deception and The Restless Heart.
Kate
also writes in partnership with author Michelle Styles under the name Jennifer
Lindsay. Jennifer Lindsay's first novel, The Lady Soldier, is a
romantic adventure about a lady who disguises herself as a man in order to
join Wellington's army. It was published in 2005.
The
kind of stories Kate writes are those that she would like to read, and she
hopes that others will find them enjoyable and entertaining too.
Kate
is member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors.
Lovely review... it defenitely made me want to re-read Pride & Prejudice, followed by Mary Bennet...
Awesome review to end the tour with JB.
Thank you for taking part!
Shaz